Pigmentation / Melasma

Skin pigmentation is a common problem and can be challenging.

What are the causes of pigmentation on skin?

There are many causes of pigmentation on skin. Some of these include conditions like: 

• Melasma
• Sun damage
• Certain medications
• Infections and inflammatory skin conditions
• Hormonal causes

What treatments are available?

Skin pigmentation problems can be very difficult to treat. Like in all conditions making a correct diagnosis is very important. Obviously, an incorrect diagnosis can be detrimental and missing a skin cancer can be fatal. 

Once we are convinced that the pigmentation is benign:

• Sun avoidance and sun block use should be the starting point.
• Certain pigment lightening creams can be very effective in the treatment of superficial skin pigmentation.
• Melasma is a special condition which requires careful consideration and treatments with a combination of different modalities such as sunscreen, bleaching creams, laser toning and some medication such as tranexamic acid.
• Chemical peels can be tried to improve the superficial pigmentation
• Certain deep pigmentation problems such as Naevus of Ota, can be improved with lasers.