[Trisha]

my mom has some dark patches of skin on her forehead and cheeks. How does she know if it is melasma?

 

[vtoodler]

Has she been taking birth control? is she pregnant? If so, it could be melasma.

 

[vtoodler]

But it could also be an allergic reaction.

 

[Trisha]

Thanks. She did have my brother about 8 months ago. I will tell her to go see a doctor. Can it spread? And is it harmful to you (besides looking bad)?

 

[SusyQ]

Melasma is just a cosmetic problem. It doesnt cause any harm to the body.

 

[Trisha]

It turns out the doctor said it was melasma. He prescribed her triluma for it.

 

[Rishi]

Can only women get melasma? I have some brown spots on my face but not sure what is the cause.

 

[dtilford]

Hello. I am an esthetician and to answer your question melasma does not spread. If your mom was pregnant 8 months ago then the melasma shouldn't of been from that, usually in cases of pregnancy melasma tends to dissapear. Does your mom have Lupis or was she an avid tanner? Melasma is not harmful other than looking like you have shading on your face. Dark spots can accur from sun, aging, using products with alcohol on your face and then exposing it to the sun, lupis, and hereditary. The medicine the Dr. gave your mother is a quick fix, she needs to protect her skin with sunscreen always!

 

[SusanRL]

Hmm.. I have heard different regarding Melasma. I have been diagnosed with it too. However mine has spread over time. My condition was the result of birth control... I now know that melasma is actually a rather common side effect of the pill. My doctor also prescribed me TriLuma, however I have not yet started the applications. But I do agree on one thing, sun protection is a MUST.

 

[dtilford]

SusanRL, I would like for you to explain to me more about Melasma. I knew that birth control could be a factor and the whole pregnancy thing, but what I don't understand is thatthat melasma can spread? When I think of spreading I think of rash spreading, but with melasma is it really spreading or is it just appearing in other areas do to the circumstances or medicine. Poison Ivy spreads when I think of melasma appearing I think of freckles appearing. Please explain I want to understand your opinion better.

 

[SusanRL]

SusanRL, I would like for you to explain to me more about Melasma. I knew that birth control could be a factor and the whole pregnancy thing, but what I don't understand is thatthat melasma can spread? When I think of spreading I think of rash spreading, but with melasma is it really spreading or is it just appearing in other areas do to the circumstances or medicine. Poison Ivy spreads when I think of melasma appearing I think of freckles appearing. Please explain I want to understand your opinion better.

What i mean by spreading is, when I first noticed it, there were only small light spots on my cheeks. But over time, the spots have become darker and have also appeared on new areas that were once clear. I am not sure if it is actually spreading or if the new spots are just surfacing.