Melasma- What is it?

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Melasma if a form of hyperpigmentation can affect anyone. It generally affects patches of skin on the areas most exposed to the sun. The pigmentation pressents itself as brown or grey patches with an irregular pattern.

 

Melasma is caused by increased melanin in the skin, which reacts to UV light. It may have several triggers and is therefore difficult to "cure", our role is to help you reduce its appearance, maintain or manage your skin to get you the best results.

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Your MELINE treatment will help to create you an even skin colour, however clients can find over time that their skin reverts to its patchy state after a break in treatment due to the high levels of Melanin in the skin and its hyper sensitivity to continued sun exposure. For this reason, to prolong the effects of your treatment, we recommend the use of a daily high SPF/Sunblock on areas which are exposed to the sun and a cream specific to your needs.

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Melasma prevails among people with dark skin. While approximately only an 8,8% of Latin women are affected of Melasma,  40% of population have it in South Asia. It can be caused by the presence of melanocytes biologically more active in the affected skin instead of a simple increase of melanocytes. The incidence of melasma among the same members of a family suggests that there is also a genetic susceptibility. Sun exposure exacerbates this alteration probably because the positive regulation induced by ultraviolet radiation on melanocyte-stimulating cytokines.

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In ethnic skins, the development of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentations (as it happens with affections of melasma) can be deposited only in the epidermis or in both, dermis and epidermis. It is mostly caused by acne, atopic dermatitis, irritant, allergic and/or contact dermatitis, trauma, psoriasis, lichen planus and drug eruptions.

Skin trauma or inflammation can either increase or reduce the production of melanocytes.  It is believed that hyperpigmentation is caused by the activity of cytokines, mediators of inflammation and reactive oxygen species.

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It is extremely important for dark -skinned people to use different methods to control and reduce the pigmentation. Ideal hypopigmenting agents should have a controlled and selective effect upon melanocytes not entailing any risks of adverse effects. These agents can act on many stages during the melanin production and degradation processes such as: tyrosinase transcription and activationtyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase related protein 2 (TRP-2) and/or peroxidase; capitation and distribution of melanosomes among kerotinocytes; and melanosomic degradation and rotation of “pigmented” keratinocytes.

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Meline caucasion and Ethnic skin fomulations have been developed with these skin differences in mind, to get great results.

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Melasma Treatment with MELINE 

@ Estetica Permanent Cosmetics

MELINE not only works to reduce the amount of pigmentation in the skin, but also contains inhibitors which block the formation of melanin in the dermis, which can help the pigmentation from returning.

Melanin becomes visible when it rises up from the dermis, into the epidermis. The MELINE treatment, a form of chemical peel, exfoliates the epidermis, whilst promoting cell renewal of healthy tissue.

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With this treatment, every skin will react differently; some skins will see a mild peeling whilst others will see a deeper noticeable peeling which can last for approximately 1 week. We advise planning to work from home or planning your treatment around a period where you can keep contact to a minimum, should you feel self conscious about your appearance in this period.

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For a few days, your Melasma patches may look darker than they did before- don't panic! This is normal, temporary and shows that your treatment is working. Before it peels away, the skin dehydrates, making the appearance of any dark patches darker. Once it exfoliates, your fresh skin will be lighter underneath.

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Melasma Maintenance

We recommend the following three steps to keep your Melasma under control:

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• Complete the homecare section of your Meline Treatment after your in clinic treatment with Estetica Permanent Cosmetics. This is very improtant!

• Daily use of broad spectrum, high SPF UVA and UVB sunscreen is essential to protect the skin from sun exposure and avoid the melanin cells being stimulated to create further pigmentation.

• Cosmaceutical Skincare. Bin any "regular" face creams you use and use a product which works in the dermis as well as nourishing the epidermis. We recommend the Juliette Armand Brightening Cream, which helps to maintain an even skin tone, without bleaching the natural colour of your skin. We can order this in for you.