Melasma causes- a close perspective - Feb 2020
You must have heard about melasma but do you actually know what is melasma?
Well, this is a form of chronic disorder which leads to brownish, blotchy, symmetrical facial pigmentation that can result in distress and considerable embarrassment.
Also called chloasma this is mostly seen (50%-70%) in women sometimes known as 'the mask of pregnancy.
Men have been known to have melasma just on a lower scale then women.
Although it happens mostly in adults children too at times can suffer from this.
Know more about what causes melasma
Its causes are complex. This pigmentation happens because of the overproduction of melanin via melanocytes,
the pigment cells that is taken up via the epidermal melanosis (keratinocytes) or/and deposited in the dermis (melanophages,
dermalmelanosis). Melasma in most cases can be a chronic disorder.
Melasma and its known triggers
* Hypothyroidism that is, circulating thyroid hormone of low levels
*Certain cosmetics, toiletries, deodorant or scented soaps and a medication which is likely to
cause phototoxic reactions which triggers melasma that may persist long term.
*Hormone treatments such as oral contraceptive pills that contains implants, intrauterine devices,
hormone replacement, progesterone or oestrogen
*Pregnancy in the case of affected women where the pigment will fade a couple of months after delivery.
*Sun damage and sun exposure are the most significant avoidable risk factor
People with darker skin, or relatives that have had it are more likely to get melasma.
Melasma can be found in healthy adults with no other health issues.
Sun exposure for lifelong leads to deposition of pigment in the dermis, which at times persists for a long term.
In fact exposure to UVR (ultraviolet radiation) deepens the pigmentation as it actually
activates the melanocytes for producing more melanin. Today there are different forms of treatments available for Melasma,
so consult an expert soon and get it treated at as soon as possible.
Acne is one of the most embarrassing and irritating ailments one can have.
Most of us at some stage of life especially in adolescence have battled it.
Acne occurs both on the face and on the rest of the body- on the chest, back, upper arms and legs.
While moderate acne is easily treated, severe acne takes time and effort to clear and may leave blemishes not only on the skin but also on one's psyche.
Luckily nowadays all types of acne are treatable if one is patient and persistent.
The first step of body acne treatment is a good understanding of the ailment.
What is acne?
Acne commonly called pimples are skin eruptions that occurs due to the clogging of skin pores by oil and dead cells. Facial acne is a very common condition faced by people especially teenagers. Body acne or acne on the rest of the body is equally common but less discussed. People who suffer from body acne are more likely to also suffer from facial acne.
What causes an acne outbreak?
Acne is caused by overactive sebaceous glands or oil secreting glands that are found throughout the body except on the palms and soles. These glands secrete lots of oil that mixes with sweat and dead skin creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and cysts all are caused due to this. The following factors, though not directly causing acne, may play a role in aggravating it.
Body Acne:
Body acne treatment is tougher than facial acne treatment as body pores are bigger. Though poor hygiene is not a direct cause of acne it is a factor which makes it worse. If you like to work-out frequently be sure to shower and keep yourself clean after sweating it out.
Stress:
Stress is one of the proven causes of acne. Day-to-day stress may sometimes become chronic which leads to a hormonal imbalance. Our adrenal glands release more cortisol which in turn makes the sebaceous glands produce more oil. Stress also reduces the immunity of the body thus making body acne treatment very difficult as blemishes do not heal quickly. A regular exercise regimen and a sound sleeping pattern are foolproof ways to alleviate stress. Other body conditions that disrupt the normal hormone cycle like pregnancy in which excess progesterone hormone is released also lead to acne.
Imbalanced diet:
The effect of diet on acne has not been scientifically proved. But there is no denying the fact that a balanced diet which incorporates whole grains, vegetables and fruits rich in antioxidants is responsible for a healthy and glowing body. Body acne treatments according to the ancient Indian science of Ayurveda recommend a diet rich in fluids, citrus fruits and green vegetables along with reduced consumption of oil and spicy food. Such a diet hydrates the body flushing out wastes efficiently which goes a long way in reducing acne. However moderate to severe acne may require professional products along with a healthy diet and professional treatments.
Friction due to improper clothing:
Tight fitting or synthetic clothing which leads to sweating may increase acne. While suffering from acne, one should wear loose cotton based clothes that allow the body to breathe.
How can acne be treated?
Body acne treatments and facial acne treatments depend on the severity of the condition. While a mild acne breakout can be treated with visits to your skincare professional with minimal treatments, a severe case of acne might have to be treated with longer series of treatments and should be started as soon as possible.
The following methods of treatment are generally used. For mild acne, cleansers and creams that contain acne fighting ingredients like salicylic acid (dries the scars), benzoyl peroxide (reduces pore clogging), alpha-hydroxy acid (dries scars) and tea-tree oil (kills bacteria) can be used. For very severe cases, Accutane may be prescribed but it is often given as a last resort as it has some side-effects. Here we do not use Accutane but other effective methods.
Body acne treatments if followed regularly are bound to yield results and free you from the dreaded acne. You are in total control of the outcome of your acne condition. You have to impose yourself some disciplinary measures and follow the regimen strictly provided by the dermatologist. Be patient with the results and you will be on your way towards an acne-free lifestyle.
Let's face it, no matter what the pigment of skin color you may be, we all suffer from skin care issues. However, the treatment of these issues will often differ and if not treated carefully by an expert who understands and has experience treating skin more harm than good can be caused.
About Acne vulgaris, it is a skin problem which is common and consists of blackheads, whiteheads and also some big boil-like nodules or cysts. In puberty, acne occurs due to the changes in the hormone levels. It usually occurs on the face, chest, arms and back.
Some people tend to have more inflammatory acne, which is the most common type of acne, in one way it’s actually good news because inflammatory acne is easier to treat than non- inflammatory acne. However, often it leaves scarring and dark spots behind.
There is so much conflicting information on what causes Acne and what can make it better. Acne is not curable, but it is 100% manageable to a point where no one would ever think that you have a problem. And that comes with living a healthier life, eating a better diet, managing stress and following a skincare regime for your particular type of skin.
The etiology of acne is unknown. However, acne can result from several factors such an increase in hormone levels. In males testosterone or androgens. In females, androgens respectively. The increase in androgen levels can stimulate the oil glands to become enlarged and thus more oil production is produce. An increased oil production can clog the pores with oil or sebum ( white thick substance) which cause the cell walls of the pores in the skin to breakdown. This process allows bacteria to form and thus breakouts develop. While teens are more susceptible to acne, men and women in their 20's-40's even as late as their 70s can get acne as well.
Being the biggest organ the skin is definitely one quite important part of your body which you should not forget about at any time. It is important to take good care of it. As you may have already experienced a lot happen as a result of not taking good care of your skin, for example, you can get fungal infections, if you are susceptible to some skin conditions like acne, lack of proper skin care will for sure aggravate the situation, you can get some bacterial infections especially in the moist sections of your skin which if not well taken care of can lead to complicated skin conditions especially the skin discoloration conditions. There are some few things which you can do daily or once in a while to ensure that we stay healthy and presentable at all times.
For you to have a clear skin care plan you must first learn what type of skin you have so that you can administer the right treatment to it. There are basically four types of skin namely: the dry skin, oily skin, normal and combination. Apart from that, you should also know conditions which you suffer from or which you are susceptible to and their treatment this is because our skins usually react differently to different procedures, what works for one might not work for another.
A clean skin is very important both to a healthy skin and to a skin that is suffering from any condition. A well cleaned skin is a solution to some skin conditions like acne and the sensitive skin conditions. Dirt usually clogs the skin pores, skin conditions like acne are usually aggravated by dirt because by clogging the pores, the excess oil that is the characteristic of acne infected skin, will not be eliminated which leads to sores and bacterial attack. Sensitive skin will also respond to dirt in its own way, it is therefore quite important to keep the skin clean.
Exfoliation is the process which helps you clear off the upper skin layer which is usually made of dead cells. You can either use scrubbing, microdermabrasion, chemical peels or retinoid to do this. This is extremely important to people with psoriasis to be careful with their skin.
Apart from giving you the soft, youthful skin appearance, moisturizing is good for various skin conditions and aging skin. On the other hand, protecting your skin from the sun reduces the aging marks and also helps you avoid the inflammations that lead to sensitive skin conditions.
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