Is home treatment safe and effective?

Melasma is a common skin disorder that is characterized by patches of brownish-gray discoloration on sun-exposed areas of skin. The condition of melasma causes loss of aesthetics, causing many people to lose confidence. However, you can overcome this situation with simple home remedies such as applying aloe vera, glutathione, tranexamic acid,...

Melasma is a common skin disorder characterized by patches of gray-brown skin discoloration on sun-exposed areas of skin. Symmetrical dark patches of melasma are brown to grayish brown. They can occur on the forehead, cheeks, chin, nose, upper lip, etc. Melasma can affect anyone, but it occurs most often in dark-skinned women. Because melasma is related to female hormones. Accordingly, melasma is also a common skin disorder for the following groups:
Women using oral contraceptives Pregnant women Menopausal women using hormone replacement therapy. Distinguish melasma and freckles

Depending on the skin pigmentation and location of each person, there are suitable treatment methods. If the case of melasma is not too severe, you can apply the following home remedies to treat melasma:

Aloe vera contains high levels of vitamins A, E, C and minerals. Therefore, in beauty and skin care products, aloe vera is often chosen as one of the main skin care ingredients. According to a 2017 study in pregnant women with melasma, topical application of aloe vera containing liposomes significantly improved their melasma.

Polypodium leucotomos is a fern native to Central and South America, it is also known as calaguala and anapsos. A 2014 review found that taking a product made from Polypodium leucotomos can treat melasma. However, the researchers didn't pinpoint the right dosage.

Glutathione is an antioxidant consisting of three amino acids, cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine, found in most mammals. A 2017 review found that when taken in oral form, glutathione reduced melasma in people with melasma compared with those taking a placebo. Overproduction of melanin can lead to hyperpigmentation and melasma. Therefore, this will be a simple, easy to use and effective measure when treating melasma at home.
SEE ALSO: Does postpartum melasma go away on its own?

Tranexamic acid is a synthetic derivative of the amino acid lysine. This is an oral therapy that gives very good results in the treatment of melasma.

Sun exposure is the leading cause of skin pigmentation. So to prevent this, protect your skin by applying sunscreen every day and reapplying it every two hours. Consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat when going outside.

Treatment of melasma at home is very safe, but you have to be very patient to get the desired results. Therefore, if your skin pigmentation is severe, go to a dermatologist for diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Another option may be to use hydroquinone. This topical medication treats hyperpigmentation and is available over-the-counter. Besides, there are other methods to treat melasma such as:
Tretinoin Corticosteroids Triple cream combining hydroquinone, tretinoin and corticosteroids Azelaic acid kojic Acid If topical home remedies don't work, you can using melasma treatment procedures such as:
Chemical exfoliation Skin grinding Laser treatment Microdermabrasion Microneedling In short, melasma is a common condition, although it does not affect health, but melasma makes you lose confidence. and affect external beauty. Therefore, home remedies for melasma are very popular because of their ease of implementation and high safety. However, the effect they bring is not great and must be very patient during treatment. It usually takes many months before a noticeable improvement in melasma is seen. Besides, prevent melasma with sunscreen every day so that they do not recur. If your skin pigmentation is severe, go to a medical facility specializing in dermatology for advice and appropriate treatment.

References: healthline.com, health.harvard.edu