Melasma Treatments

There have been many studies suggesting that the use of gentle, topical home care products and professionally applied treatments is the best way to prevent melasma, who are prone to this condition.  At Dermablue, we prescribe our patient a daily care regimen with products that include a variety of the following ingredients will help suppress the formation of excess melanin through multiple mechanisms of action, delivering faster, more beneficial treatment outcomes.

At Dermablue, we typically use a good quality sunscreen containing minerals like zinc and/or titanium to minimize UVA and UVB exposure, which prevents brown spots and melasma from returning. We also prescribe a gentle, natural product developed by Dr. LaMond, (link to skincare) ‘natural brightening serum’ to help prevent and correct melasma. It contains several natural skin brighteners which have been proven to correct browns and melasma:

Arbutin, which is naturally found in blueberries, pears, bearberries and wheat, suppresses the activity of tyrosinase and inhibits melanosome maturation.

Kojic acid, naturally found in soy and mushrooms, chelates copper bound to tyrosinase, and decreases the number of melanosomes and dendrites.

Lactic acid is naturally found in milk and sugars. It suppresses the formation of tyrosinase.

Azelaic acid can be found in many grains and castor beans. It provides anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects on melanocytes and inhibits tyrosinase.

At Dermablue, at times we use prescription products like Hydroquinone to treat melasma. This ingredient inhibits copper from binding with tyrosinase and induces melanocyte-specific cytotoxicity. Although it can be a surface irritant for some skin types, using hydroquinone at a lower percentage, such as a 2%, will help avoid any undo irritation or inflammation in the skin.