Do you long for the days when you can just wake up, wash your face, and head out the door? No makeup, and no worries at all about whether or not your brown spots are more prominent today? Melasma treatment at Ariel Ostad MD PC can help rid your skin of brown spots and uneven skin tone that can sometimes cause feelings of embarrassment or self-consciousness.

Where Does Melasma Show Up?

Melasma causes discolored patches of skin or hyperpigmentation on the cheeks, nose, chin, above the upper lip, and the forehead. It can also sometimes affect the arms, neck, and back, as well as any other part of the body that is exposed to a lot of sunlight. The good thing about melasma is that it does not hurt or itch. These brown spots are also not harmful to the body.

What Causes Melasma?

There is no “one cause” of melasma, but young women between the ages of 20 and 40 are more likely to get it than anyone else. Female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are often associated with melasma and can affect women who:

• Take birth control
• Take hormone replacement therapy
• Are pregnant

These changes to the body, sunlight, and even stress can cause melasma to show up on the face or body.

How Long Does It Last?

Melasma can last for a few weeks, or it could last years. If it isn’t bothering you, then there is no need to worry or do anything about it. But, if it is an annoyance or is embarrassing for you, then treatment can help. Dr. Ariel Ostad can perform chemical peels or PicoWay® Laser treatment to improve the discolored spots. Melasma can also be treated with a variety of options, including steroids, depigmenting agents, topical antiseptics, and vitamins. A thorough evaluation during your consultation with Dr. Ostad will determine the method of treatment that will be used for treating your melasma.

For more information about melasma treatments, contact Dr. Ariel Ostad online or call us at 212-517-7900.