What is melasma?

Melasma is a skin condition in which pigmentation, ranging from light tan to dark brown, develops on the skin. It's most commonly seen on the face, but can also occur in other areas like the neck. Melasma is a quite common problem for many patients today, and it's often seen during pregnancy. Melasma may be worsened with regular exposure to sunlight or indoor tanning lamps. It's sometimes more pronounced in the summer months and lighter during the winter. This condition may occur in both men and women, and it's seen in all skin types. However, it's most common in patients who have darker skin types, for example Asian skin. Melasma isn't an indicator of skin cancer, and while it's not dangerous, it does cause significant embarrassment and personal distress for many patients.

What causes melasma?

The cause of melasma can vary, with common causes including:

• Pregnancy
• Hormone supplements
• Changes in natural hormone levels
• Genetics

How is melasma treated?

There are several options for treating melasma. Dr. Miyashiro at Hilo Laser Skincare treats melasma patients with the Picosure laser system for several important reasons. First, the Picosure laser offers an excellent safety profile. Older laser based treatments could only treat melasma by breaking the skin -- essentially, older lasers would cause serious skin damage before they could actually treat the melasma. Picosure pulses are only a trillionth of a second in length.

Picosure uses a highly advanced technology to acoustically break apart melasma pigment into tiny particles. Those particles are then metabolized naturally with only minor thermal effect. Another reason that Picosure is the treatment of choice for melasma is that it works well for all skin types, including darker skin types -- something that traditional older lasers simply can't offer.

How can you maintain your good results after melasma treatment?

Taking good care of your skin is absolutely essential when it comes to maintaining good results after melasma treatments. Avoid excess sun exposure and don't use indoor tanning beds. If you must be out in the sun for any period of time, wear a high SPF sun block to protect any exposed skin. This includes your face, your hands, your arms, your legs, and any other exposed skin. This will help you stay melasma-free after your treatment.