When women find out that they are pregnant, they start preparing their minds for some unwelcome bodily changes. From swollen feet to stretch marks, women have to experience a lot of changes. During pregnancy, females are also likely to deal with a pigmentation disorder known as melasma. In fact, it is so common in expecting mothers as it affects 50-75% of them, and that is why it is called the mask of pregnancy. With this, many women have to go through dark patches on their skin.

We have drafted this post to let our readers understand what melasma is and why it is called the mask of pregnancy. Toward the end, we will delve into the treatments that help treat melasma. To make this post dermatologically correct, we took insights from renowned skin doctors, one like Dr. Roopi Khera. She founded The Glo Medispa Clinic and is known for offering the best melasma treatment in Ludhiana. Let’s first learn what melasma is.

What is Melasma?

Individuals who have developed gray or brown patches on the skin could be dealing with a condition known as melasma. Melasma, also known as chloasma, is a skin condition that results in pigmentation changes. It often occurs due to melanocytes that are responsible for producing pigmentation. The condition tends to affect both men and women but is called the “mask of pregnancy,” as it commonly occurs in women who are pregnant.

What Factors Cause Melasma?

Melasma appears when there is a rise in estrogen levels, which stimulates excessive melanin. Melasma helps determine skin and hair color. Dark-skinned individuals have much more melanin in their skin compared with light-skinned people. With a rise in melanin, the freckles and moles may become darker, too. Even a darker line can appear at the center of the abdomen. This is especially common in darker-skinned women. High exposure to sunlight can also make the appearance of brown patches worse.

If one is experiencing melasma and wishes to get rid of it, they must consult a top dermatologist. They can schedule a consultation with Dr. Roopi Khera, a renowned skin specialist at The Glo Medispa Clinic, the best skin clinic in Ludhiana.

Let us Understand the Mask of Pregnancy.

Now that one knows why melasma is called the mask of pregnancy; one must be wondering why many women have to deal with this unwelcome skin condition during pregnancy. This is because of the hormones that keep fluctuating during pregnancy. In fact, a lot of women experience melasma when they start taking hormonal birth control. But why does this happen? This happens because the estrogen and progesterone levels increase and cause the body to create more melanin. In this, the skin appears in the form of dark spots. Fortunately, as the hormones regulate after pregnancy or breastfeeding, the melasma clears up. But if it does not, several treatments are available to help eliminate melasma.

How Can the Mask of Pregnancy Be Prevented?

The mask of pregnancy often fades after the baby is delivered. However, one can take preventative measures to prevent the condition from progressing by following the steps below:

Minimize sun exposure and avoid sun tanning. Avoid outdoors when the UV index is high.
Use sunscreen daily with SPF 30 or more; this should be applied at least 20 minutes before going outside.
Avoid using cosmetics that irritate the skin.
Wear clothes that cover the body completely.

How Can Melasma Be Treated?

Treatments that work for preventing new pigment formation include:

Sun protection by using caps, hats, and clothes
Use of sunscreen
Tyrosinase inhibitors

Treatments that work by breaking the existing pigment are:

Laser Toning: Laser toning improves melasma’s appearance and the skin’s unevenness and texture. It also reduces the size of melanocytes, which minimizes pigmentation permanently with the help of a Q-switched Nd YAG laser.
Chemical Peels: Chemical peels involve applying a chemical mask that effectively helps treat melasma. The mask reacts with the dead skin cells in the outer layer of the skin and exfoliates the area.

Microneedling: Microneedling significantly reduces the appearance of melasma and fine lines, wrinkles, and pores in the skin by creating small wounds that stimulate collagen production.

Treatment that treats the underlying cause includes:

Iron therapy
IV antioxidants
Mindfulness and relaxation therapy
Oral antiandrogens

Final Takeaway

We hope that through this blog, we have answered why melasma is called the “mask of pregnancy.” Also, we have discussed the dermatological treatments that can help treat melasma effectively. If one is experiencing melasma, one must seek the help of a notable dermatologist.

For this, one can make an appointment with Dr. Roopi Khera, a top skin doctor in Ludhiana, at The Glo Medispa Clinic. With the help of dermatological treatments such as chemical peels, laser toning, and microneedling, she can help individuals get rid of dark spots.

For more details, visit The Glo Medispa Clinic.