Is melasma really the "mask of pregnancy"?

Melasma is a very common visual skin disease that can affect both men and women. In this article, revered London-based consultant dermatologist, Dr Hiba Injibar, speaks us about its causes, its diagnosis, as well as its treatment.

What is melasma?

Melasma is a kind of pigmentation that usually occurs in the central part of the face. Usually, melasma will affect the cheeks, the forehead, and the general area surrounding the nose. It is a hyper-pigmentation type of disease, where this is an excess amount of pigmentation deposited in certain layers of the skin.

Is melasma really the “mask of pregnancy”?

It is very common in pregnancy, but that does not mean that all pregnant women get melasma. In women who are pregnant, melasma is very common due to the fact that pregnancy hormones exacerbate melasma.

What are the causes of melasma?

It occurs as a result of hyperactivity of pigment-producing cells in the skin. These are the cells responsible for giving the skin its colour.

How is it diagnosed?

We typically diagnose melasma by looking at the skin. Skin diseases are visual. It is a visual, clinical diagnosis.

How is it treated? Is it life-long or is it curable?

It is treated by medication that will remove the excess pigmentation that has been deposited. The skin will shed off this excess pigment. The medication will also control the hyperactivity of the pigment-producing cells. In addition, a very strict use of suncream all year round is recommended. Avoiding the sun will reduce people’s chances of getting diagnosed with melasma.

Melasma, unfortunately, can indeed recur. The treatment involves a treatment phase to get rid of the disease, followed by a maintenance phase.

Dr Hiba Injibar is a highly accomplished and experienced consultant dermatologist. Consult with her today via her Top Doctors profile if you feel as though you are risk of melasma.