Melasma, chloasma presents as dark patches of coloured skin mainly the facial area. Melasma is very common and affects millions of people worldwide. While it is sometimes seen in men mainly women with olive skin tones are afflicted.
The nose, chin, cheeks and forehead can be affected. Some sufferers have Melasma on the upper lip (like a moustache). This is particularly upsetting for many women who lament the fact that they look masculine or as if they have a facial hair problem. While the forearms and sometimes affected the facial Melasma appears to be the most common variety.
One thing that many writers and researcher fail to acknowledge about Melasma is that is a chronic skin condition that can have substantial emotional, psychological and social repercussions on the sufferers’ life. For many with Melasma it often much more than just a skin condition. Often only the sufferer themselves and close family members and friends fully understand the impact that Melasma has on their mental and emotional well-being.
The impact of Melasma emotionally needs to be understood from several perspectives.
First the impact of the condition is huge in terms of the practical limitations that are placed upon the sufferer. As all sufferers know Melasma is only worsened by sun exposure (and in some cases exposure to excessive heat and harsh artificial lighting). This means that those with Melasma must avoid the sun almost totally. In warmer climates this can mean staying inside all day. Some sufferers start to avoid social contact outside their home and immediate family and friends out of fear they will have too much sun exposure while socialising outside. This can limit the amount of exercising they do outside and can also severely limit their desire to travel long distances in their cars during the day (for fear of accidental sun exposure).
In addition the condition has severe social implications. For example, researchers who surveyed individuals with Melasma found many held strong negative emotions about their condition. Some said they felt disfigured and embarrassed. Some said they believed that other people seemed to focus on their skin when they were interacting with them. Others said they avoided people and social situations as there were ashamed of their skin and the way they looked. In addition nearly all those surveyed reported their lives would be much better without Melasma (Pawaskar et al.,2007).
Financially treatments for Melasma can be extremely expensive. Some sufferers pay thousands of dollars on unsatisfactory dermatologist consultations and over-the-counter creams are often ineffective or offer only temporary relief. Indeed, for some suffers their skin type prohibits certain kinds of treatments due to the risk of hyper pigmentation after treatment (i.e. rebound Melasma caused by harsh treatments on the skin). That is right. Bleaching Creams with Hydroquinone (HQ), Vitamin A creams (mild and strong), Chemical Peels (Glycolic), Azelaic Acid, Kojic Acid, Microdermabrasion, Fraxel Laser Treatment - can make the condition much worse for some people.
Given the lack of mealasma treatment options and Melasma cures it is not surprising that emotional depression is common among those who have very severe Melasma or who have suffered for long periods of time. Some have a sense of hopelessness that their condition will never be cured.
Despite the fact that treatment has historically been challenging numerous alternative Melasma treatments, Melasma cures and home-made remedies have been developed to address these dark spots on the face. Many who have suffered Melasma for years have changed their lifestyle, diet, used natural supplementation to improve their overall physical health and cured their Melasma from within. While this takes time and effort the improvements can be permanent and less deleterious than some of the more expensive treatments that address only the superficial skin layers. This alternative or natural approach to Melasma treatment offers hope for many who suffer the embarrassing and sometimes traumatic influence this skin condition brings.
References: Pawaskar, M., Parikh, P., Markowski, T., McMichael, A., Feldman , S., Balkrishnan R. (2007). Melasma and its impact on health-related quality of life in Hispanic women. Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 2007;18(1):5-9.
