Symptoms of melasma

There are no symptoms for melisma, instead, there are signs. The difference is that there is no feeling that comes with melasma. Instead, the signs are what people see.

The common sign of melasma is the appearance of dark patches on the face, usually on the forehead, cheeks, chin, nose bridge and above the upper lip. The patches can also show up on other parts of the body like the neck. However, these are less common, and its appearance depends on the level of exposure of these parts to the sun.

Be advised that you are to consult a dermatologist and not a general physician. Although a physician will be able to help you, a dermatologist London will understand your symptoms better because it has to do with the skin. Clearskin London has one of the best team of professional dermatologists in London that will examine your skin for possible signs of skin cancer.

Reach out to our team of dermatologist London to get examined.

Who is at risk?

Anyone can get melasma, including men and women. However, there are more cases of women having melasma more than men. About 1 in every 10 persons who have melasma are men. Aside from women being the most likely candidate for melasma, certain other factors put people at risk of having melasma. They are;

• Skin tone

People with darker skin have been reported to have melasma more than light-skinned people. This is because they have more active melanoma than light-skinned people.

• Family medical history

People who have a family member that has melasma are more likely to have melasma too, unlike people who don’t have family members members with melasma.

Triggers of melasma

Even though some people are more prone to having melasma than others, there are still certain factors that seem to trigger melasma, even in people who are not at risk of having them. These triggers are;

• UV light exposure

UV light comes from the sun, and exposure to it can stimulate the melanocytes in the skin. This is the reason why there is a greater record of melasma during the summer season. Even if you have had melasma earlier and it fades, it can still return after exposure to the sun.

• The skin care products used

There is a wide range of skin products on sale everywhere. The best thing to do is to find one that suits your skin and won’t cause any irritation. Some might no know, but the irritation of skin probably as a result of skincare product can aggravate a case of melasma.

• Change in hormonal levels

This is applicable for pregnant women mostly. Melasma in pregnant women is called chloasma or ‘the mark of pregnancy ‘. This happens when the hormone levels fluctuate as a result of the pregnancy.

Furthermore, hormone levels can change, not due to pregnancy, but due to the intake of contraceptives or birth control pills and hormone replacement pills.

Dermatologist London and all over the world will advice people to constantly protect themselves whenever they go out in the sun.