PT Health Life – Melasma and freckles are two common dermatological conditions that cause uneven skin tone and poor color. Correct understanding of melasma and freckles helps you choose appropriate and effective treatment methods.
1. What are melasma and freckles ?
1.1 About melasma
Melasma is large, dark pigmented patches that appear on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin.
Melasma is common in pregnant women and premenopausal women due to the influence of hormonal disorders.
1.2 About freckles
Different from melasma, freckles are small light to dark brown spots that appear on the skin, causing the skin to become mottled and uneven. In addition to the face, freckles can also appear on many other parts of the body, especially areas frequently exposed to sunlight such as the neck, shoulders, chest, arms…
| Melasma | Blackhead | |
|---|---|---|
| Reason | The cause of melasma can be genetics, sunlight, hormonal disorders, abuse of cosmetics of unknown origin… | Mainly genetic causes, due to prolonged exposure to sunlight… |
| Age | Melasma often appears in premenopausal women, postpartum women… Rarely appears during puberty. | Can appear at any age. |
| Shape | Melasma can be in the form of spots or patches, often appearing symmetrically on both cheeks. Patchy melasma is often widespread. | Freckles are small dots that can be located individually or linked into patches but are uneven. |
| Location | Located deep under the skin’s epidermis, often appearing mainly on the face | Located in the shallow layer of skin on the skin’s surface, in addition to appearing on the face, it can also be seen in other locations such as the neck, arms, chest… |
2. How to treat melasma and freckles from a dermatologist
Although melasma and freckles do not affect the health of the sufferer, if not treated, this condition can spread to other skin areas, affecting aesthetics.
2.1 Treatment of melasma
a dermatologist, the principles in treating melasma are as follows:
- Treat the cause if possible
- Treatment combined with relapse prevention
- Treatment is with topical and oral medications
- Medical treatment combined with a number of other high-tech melasma treatment procedures such as skin peeling , laser melasma treatment …
Currently, to treat melasma, users often use the following methods:
- Topical treatment by topical route: Commonly used active ingredients such as hydroquinol, arbutin, kojic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid, vitamin C, tranexamic acid, mild or moderate corticosteroids…
- Oral medicine: Use anti-aging substances such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin PP, L-cysteine.
- Injection route: Microinjection technique in the skin (mesotherapy) in treating melasma is also very popular today, helping to inhibit pigment cells from producing melanin, while providing nutrients to help the skin become white and rosy.
- Applying high-tech therapies such as laser treatment, skin peeling…
2.2 Treatment of freckles
For freckles, products containing glycolic acid and alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) help remove the outer layer of skin and limit discoloration on the skin./span>
You can also consult a dermatologist about some high-tech treatments such as skin peeling, laser freckle treatment…
In addition, it is important to note that the important thing in treating and preventing melasma and freckles is to regularly apply sunscreen. This is an effective measure to protect the skin against the negative effects of ultraviolet rays. To ensure effectiveness, apply sunscreen 20 – 30 minutes before going out, use opportunistic sun protection measures (long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses…) to prevent skin damage. due to sunlight.
