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Pregnancy mask - Melasma - Melasma

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These are brown spots caused by the accumulation of melanin, which appear symmetrically in areas exposed to the sun. There are two types of melasma, epidermal and dermal, depending on where the melanin accumulates. It mainly affects women, and in particular, women who are pregnant or taking oral contraceptives.

It is caused by an increase in melanin production due to changes in hormone levels.

Diagnosis is clinical, although Wood's lamp can sometimes be used to confirm excess melanin in the skin.

It requires long-term treatment, which aims to whiten the lesions. A combination of creams, peels, lasers and pulsed light is used. Prevention with high protection sunscreens all year round is very important. It is not contagious and does not turn into skin cancer, but it cannot be cured.

Bibliographic references
  1. Cohen P. Melasma Treatment: A novel approach using a topical agent that contains an anti-estrogen and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor. El Sevier, Medical Hypotheses 2017;101:1-5 .
  2. Muñoz B, Estébanez E, Estrada R. Treatmentofmelasma. Piel formación continuada en Dermatología. 2010;25(7):405-410.
  3. Vaneeta M, MD, Amit G. Pandya, MD. Melasma: A comprehensive update Part I. J Am AcadDermatol 2011;65:989-97.
  4. Uribe CM, Jaramillo CI. MELASMA: Etiología, factores asociados y correlación de hallazgos clínicos, a la Luz de Wood e histopatológicos, con la respuesta al tratamiento.
  5. Vaneeta M, MD, Amit G. Pandya, MD. Melasma: A comprehensive update Part II. J Am AcadDermatol 2011;65:699-714.
  6. Gupta A, MD, PhD, MBA/HCM, FRCP (C), Gover M, BSc, Nouri K, MD, Taylor S, MD. The treatment of melasma: A review of clinical trials. J Am AcadDermatol 2006;55:1048-65.
  7. Muñoz B, Estébanez E, Estrada R. Treatmentofmelasma. Piel formación continuada en Dermatología. 2010;25(7):405-410.
  8. HM Torok, T Jones, P Rich, S Smith, E Tschen. Hydroquinone 4%, tretinoin 0,05%, fluocinolone acetonide 0,01%: a safe and efficacius 12-month treatment for melasma. Cutis 2005;75:57-62.
  9. Duteil L, Cardot-Leccia N, Queille-Roussel C, et al. Differences in visible light induced pigmentation according to wavelengths: a clinical and histological study in comparison with UVB exposure. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2014; 27: 8.
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Symptoms

    Brown patch

    Change in the normal colour of ALL the skin

    Skin patches in areas exposed to the sun

    Symmetrical skin blemishes

    Skin lesions after medicine intake

Symptoms to watch out for

Asymmetrical spots with irregular edges, of variable colour, shape and size and more than six millimetres in diameter.
Wound with signs of infection (heat, reddening, painful sensation, fever, swelling)

Self-care

Avoid excessive sun exposure.
Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Use depigmenting creams in combination with retinoic acid once a day.
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