Malasma

[Invisy]

I have had Malasma for a few years now on my face, nose and above my lip.  I have been controllling it with skin whitening creams and facial scrubs and have been thinking of getting microdermabrasion to see if this will get it off my face for good.  I am tired of spending tons of money to try all of these different types of creams and I hate not being able to go out in the sun for fear that my face will turn a terrible brown color.  Does anybody know if Microdermabrasion will remove the dark places from my face?  I was also wondering if a chemical peel would be better than the dermabrasion.  Any suggestions on how I can get rid of this would be greatly appreciated.  I am so self conscious of these and hate looking at myself in the mirror.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

What you seem to be having are called chloasm/melasma. These changes are caused by hormonal changes, which stimulate a temporary increase in your body's production of melanin. Women with darker complexions are more prone to this condition than women with lighter skin.

Treatment options include treatment with vitamin C and hydrocortisone, peel with carbon dioxide snow and alexandrite and ND-Yag Q-Switched laser treatment preceded by a hydroquinone-based application.Pls discuss these options with your dermatologist.Out of all these laser treatment is the best and most long lasting.

Hope it helps. Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing if you have any additional queries.