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AAD offers melasma tips, tricks

The American Academy of Dermatology has presented a list of everyday tips for preserving a more even skin tone in patients with melasma.

Melasma affects more than 6 million women in the U.S. and although the causes are unknown, common triggers include sun exposure, pregnancy, birth control pills and cosmetics.

Bethanee J. Schlosser, MD, PhD, FAAD, an assistant professor of dermatology and director of Women’s Skin Health at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, recommends wearing sunscreen daily and a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors, as well as using gentle skin care products and avoiding waxing to prevent irritation or inflammation of the skin that may worsen melasma.

“Sometimes melasma will fade on its own, particularly if it is triggered by pregnancy or birth controls pills,” Schlosser said in a press release from the AAD. “After a woman has her baby or stops taking the birth control pills, melasma can fade. However, if your melasma does not go away or you want to keep taking birth control pills, see a board-certified dermatologist to discuss available treatments for melasma, such as prescription medications or in-office procedures.”