3 Melasma Treatments Dermatology Specialists Often Prescribe
If you suffer from melasma, then your skin pigmentation problem may have worsened due to exposure to the summer sun. While you should always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors to prevent melasma flare-ups, many people still need additional melasma treatments to keep their symptoms under control during the sunny season.
While there are over-the-counter products that can help control melasma, they are rarely as effective as the melasma treatments dermatologists prescribe.
Read on to learn about three melasma treatments dermatology specialists often prescribe their patients who are suffering from stubborn cases of melasma.
1. Hydroquinone
Many dermatologists prescribe hydroquinone creams and gels to their patients suffering from melasma. While this ingredient was once available over the counter in low strength formulations, it is now available by prescription only.
Hydroquinone fights melasma pigmentation by inhibiting the activity of a natural enzyme the body creates called tyrosinase. Your skin needs this enzyme to create your skin's melanin, including the excess melanin that melasma patches contain.
Most people who begin hydroquinone therapy see a great reduction in their melasma symptoms after just four weeks, although some people must use a hydroquinone product for up to three months before they experience the full effect of the medication.
2. Topical Corticosteroids
Dermatology specialists often also prescribe topical corticosteroids to patients suffering from melasma. Corticosteroids are medications that help treat a wide variety of health problems by suppressing inflammation in the body or skin.
While not typically effective at controlling melasma when used alone, topical corticosteroids can help eradicate melasma pigmentation more quickly and effectively when combined with other melasma-fighting medications. Typically, topical corticosteroids are prescribed alongside both hydroquinone and another prescription skin medication called tretinoin, or retinoic acid. This medication combination helps suppress melanin production much more effectively than any one of the medications alone can.
3. Azelaic Acid
A newer prescription melasma medication that is naturally found in wheat and barley is azelaic acid. This natural substance has been shown to inhibit the production of the melanocytes that help the body produce melanin. In fact, several studies have shown that a topical solution that contains 20 percent azelaic acid is as effective at controlling melasma as a topical product that contains 4 percent hydroquinone.
Unlike many other prescription melasma medications that cannot be used during pregnancy, some dermatology specialists will prescribe azelaic acid creams to pregnant patients suffering from melasma because it is considered relatively pregnancy safe.
If your mild melasma has worsened due to exposure to the summer sun, then along with ensuring you are wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, you should visit a dermatologist to obtain a prescription melasma remedy that works more effectively than over-the-counter melasma treatments. Contact a dermatology office like Hamzavi Dermatology to learn more.
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