If you’re one of the many people in Glen Allen, Virginia, who suffer from melasma, you know just how frustrating and embarrassing it can be. This condition, characterized by brown patches on the skin, can make it challenging to feel confident in your appearance. It’s good to read a comprehensive guide to the most common causes. Who is better to approach than a specialist in melasma in Glen Allen? Armed with this information, you can better understand what might be causing your condition and work to address it. Let’s learn about these primary causes.

Hormonal Imbalance

A hormonal imbalance is a condition that occurs when the body produces too much or too little of certain hormones. This can lead to various symptoms, including changes in mood, weight gain or loss, and difficulty getting pregnant.

There are a few different ways that hormonal imbalance can cause melasma. First, when there’s an increase in the hormone estrogen, it can stimulate melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment in the skin. This can cause the brown patches associated with melasma. Hormonal imbalance can also worsen the condition in people who are already prone to it.

Sun Exposure

This is because ultraviolet (UV) light can stimulate melanocytes and cause them to produce more pigment. It’s why melasma is often worse in the summertime when people are exposed to more UV light.

You can do a few things to protect yourself from sun exposure and reduce your risk of developing melasma. First, make sure to wear sunscreen whenever you’re going to be outdoors. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it generously. You should also wear protective clothing, such as a hat, when you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period.

Genetics

Some people are more prone to developing melasma than others due to genetics. If your parents or grandparents have had melasma, you’re more likely to develop it as well.

There’s not much you can do to change your genes, but knowing that you’re at risk can help you be more vigilant about protecting your skin from the sun and monitoring your hormone levels.

Phototoxic Drugs

Photosensitivity is a condition that makes the skin more sensitive to UV light. Certain drugs can cause this condition, leading to an increase in melasma.

Some of the most common phototoxic drugs include antibiotics, birth control pills, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you’re taking any of these drugs and start to notice an increase in melasma, talk to your doctor about whether there might be a different medication that would be better for you.

Tanning Beds

Like sun exposure, using tanning beds can also lead to an increase in melasma. It’s because the UV light emitted by these devices can stimulate melanocytes and cause them to produce more pigment. If you’re trying to get rid of melasma or prevent it from getting worse, it’s best to avoid using tanning beds altogether.

Melasma has many causes. With explicit knowledge about them, you can have a better chance of laying preventative measures. Or at least prevent it from worsening over time. What’s important is ensuring that you look for the best specialist as they’ll guide you on the leading causes as they put you under treatment. Besides, they monitor the progress of the melasma closely, which is crucial during the recovery.