Fighting Melasma Article Series, Two of Three

Melasma goes by many names including chloasma, age spots, hyper-pigmentation, and mask of pregnancy. The condition is not dangerous or contagious and the types of treatment range from topical products to laser treatments to a detox. Most of these treatments don't eliminate melasma altogether, but they will improve your skin's fitness.

Two steps in your melasma skin care regimen should include the following products and treatments.

To improve your melasma obtain skin treatments

There are three skin treatments that an esthetician at a skin spa can provide that will minimize the appearance of melasma and improve the overall look of your skin including chemical peels, pulse light therapy, and laser treatment. All skin treatments should be done in a series since it takes about six weeks for complete cell renewal.

A chemical peel is composed of glycolic, retin-A, alphahydroxy, trichloroacetic, and phenol acids, and will exfoliate the superficial layers of the skin and encourage healthy, new cell growth. Your skin will absorb skin brightening products better with an aggressive exfoliation like this, another benefit.

To penetrate the skin, pulse light therapy uses special wavelength of light. The light's heat encourages blood vessels to disappear.

Laser treatments are able to reach lower layers of your skin making it successful. New cell growth and collagen production are encouraged by the laser providing brighter and firmer skin.

Using products that will make melasma disappear

There are dozens of products that advertise amazing removal of dark spots. You should not expect these products that exfoliate skin, bleach skin, and brighten skin to work miracles, although they may lighten your melasma. Four product types should be in your melasma skin care plan.

Topical brighteners and bleaches should contain alpha and beta hydroxyl acids. The products are absorbed into the skin reducing the amount of melanin produced, which is one way. Some products are particularly beneficial because they contains hydroquinone which has proven to correct discoloration more than many other ingredients.

Using a gentle exfoliation scrub two to three times a week is another step. It is important because it removes dead skin cells on the surface and leaves healthier cells. A scrub encourages new cell growth and allows brighteners and bleaches to be absorbed more efficiently, like a chemical peel.

Choose moisturizers that include vitamin B3 and botanicals because these elements calm redness and help neutralize the skin's color. Many products also contain vitamins C and E, which are antioxidants and will aid in fighting off free radicals in the environment.

Last, but definitely not least, apply sun block (If exposed) to your face, ears, hands, and chest every day. If you are using a bleaching agent the skin cells have lost some or all of their pigment making this particularly important. UVA and UVB rays from the sun will worsen your melasma.

In fighting melasma, treatments and products are just two factors. In the second and third articles of the Fighting Melasma series, more melasma removal information is discussed.

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Author Sara Musfeldt created SkinFitnessFacts.com to help people achieve fit skin. The website has info on melasma treatments, male melasma, and help figuring out if it's melasma or freckles.