MELASMA

Melasma is a common skin problem. It causes brown patches on the face; most commonly appearing on the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead, chin, and above the upper lip. It also can appear on other parts of the body that get lots of sun. Hormone changes along with sun exposure are the most common triggers for melasma. Although melasma may affect both men and women, the majority of those affected are women.

 The chronic condition is caused by an overproduction of melanin, which is the pigment responsible for determining skin, hair, and eye colour. It’s thought that 25-30% of those with Melasma may have a genetic predisposition to the condition with other family members also being affected.