Causes of Melasma and Vitiligo

It is not clear what causes melasma, but it typically occurs when the melanocytes produce too much color. This means that individuals with darker skin are more prone to the condition because they have more melanocytes compared to individuals with lighter skin. While the exact causes are unknown, melasma has common triggers which include: 

• Sun exposure
• Hormonal changes
• Skincare products that irritate the skin

Vitiligo also does not have clear causes. However, many people with vitiligo also have a personal or family history of autoimmune disease, suggesting that vitiligo has an autoimmune cause. It sometimes “runs in families,” suggesting that genetics may play a role. Aside from having an immune system dysfunction, vitiligo is reported to appear after: 

• Incidents of high levels of stress
• Severe sunburns and cuts
• Certain viruses
• Exposure to chemicals and toxins

For some women, melasma can fade on its own. This typically occurs when a trigger, such as pregnancy or birth control pills, causes the melasma. Some melasma conditions can last for years, even a lifetime.

Melasma is one of the hardest dermatologic conditions to treat which is why you need a true expert, such as Millburn Laser Center in New Jersey.

Common treatments include medications such as hydroquinone, tretinoin, and corticosteroids, as well as other topical applications like azelaic acid or kojic acid. If topical treatments don’t work, certain procedures may be more successful. Examples are:

• Microdermabrasion
• Dermabrasion
• Chemical peel
• Laser Treatment
• Light therapy

There are people who choose not to receive treatment for vitiligo. They simply opt to use cosmetics to camouflage the lost color on their skin. This is recommended for children because it avoids possible side effects of taking medications.

For those who want to get treated for vitiligo or other skin pigmentation disorders, there are many options. The main goal of most treatments is to help restore your lost skin color. Examples include topical creams like corticosteroids and oral medications such as antibiotics and steroids.

There are also procedure options that include:

• Psoralen and Ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy
• Narrowband UVB light therapy
• Laser treatment
• Depigmentation

When medicines and light therapy don’t work, surgery may be performed. Surgery may involve skin grafting, melanocyte transplants, or micropigmentation.