We often see the term “hyperpigmentation” used as a catch-all for a wide range of skin pigment disorders. But in causes, triggers, and treatments—not all hyperpigmentation is the same!
Melasma, a skin condition that causes brown or gray-brown patches to form on the face, has its own unique set of challenges for proper treatment. Hormonal changes in the body often trigger melasma, and it affects 1 out of 3 people at some point in their lives.
The condition may be common, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. At Kansas City Skin & Cancer Center, we can help you combat melasma with personalized care and the latest melasma treatments in Kansas City.
Ready to say goodbye to uneven pigmentation? Let’s dive into how you can protect your skin and restore your confidence!
What is melasma?
If you’ve developed melasma before, you probably experienced light brown, dark brown, or grayish-brown spots on your skin. These pigmentation spots can appear as flat patches or freckle-like spots that often darken in the summer. Though the condition doesn’t harm your health, it can have a drastic impact on your self-confidence.
Melasma most commonly appears on areas like your:
- Cheeks
- Nose
- Chin
- Above the upper lip
- Forehead
The areas of your skin most often exposed to sunlight have a higher chance of melasma spots.
What causes melasma?
Melasma has 2 major causes. The first: ultraviolet (UV) and infrared radiation from the sun can cause and worsen melasma patches. Hormonal changes also create melasma. This condition often affects pregnant women, earning this increased pigmentation the nickname “the mask of pregnancy.”
Melasma most commonly affects women in their 20s and 40s, likely linked to estrogen fluctuations in women as their hormones change because of pregnancy, birch control, or menopause.
Though this pigmentation problem more often impacts women, men can suffer from it too. Melasma is frustrating and affects your self-confidence, regardless of gender.
Preventing Melasma
Taking steps to avoid melasma pigmentation can reduce the number of melasma treatments in Kansas City you need to treat flare-ups. You can’t avoid all melasma, but you can take precautionary steps to help prevent or reduce pigmentation patches.
Proper Sun Protection
UV exposure is the leading cause of hyperpigmentation. Consistently wearing a high-quality mineral sunscreen year-round can help prevent melasma spots from popping up, and it can help reduce flare-ups of existing melasma.
Kansas City Skin & Cancer Center offers medical-grade skincare products, including powerful sunscreens. A member of our team can help you find the perfect match for your skin, but our Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield allows you to enjoy full sun protection with a hydrating, antioxidant-rich formula.
Specialized Skincare Routine
Following a proper skincare routine does more than just preventing melasma. You can enjoy better hydrated skin, an even skin texture, and a reduction in acne when you pick up a morning and evening product schedule.
A skincare routine can also help prevent melasma patches from darkening further if you already have concerns. When choosing products, look for gentle cleansers containing Vitamin C, tranexamic acid, and vitamin B3.
Vitamin C helps protect the skin from environmental aggressors, like UV radiation, that inhibit regular melanin production. Tranexamic acid also helps to inhibit pigmentation production, working to stop melasma before it starts. Vitamin B3 increases your cell’s natural turnover rate, helping to reduce your chances of dark spots.
We often recommended the Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex for those looking to stop melasma before it forms. This cleanser formula defends and corrects skin damaged by free radicals, leaving you with brighter, more even skin.
Treating Melasma
Sometimes, even over-the-counter skincare products and a good cleansing routine don’t stop melasma from forming. If you’ve noticed stubborn dark spots that seem to flare up and refuse to budge, no matter what serums you try, a melasma treatment in Kansas City can help reduce stubborn pigmentation.
Once melasma settles deeper into the skin’s dermal layer, you’ll need professional help to treat it. Make sure you choose an experienced skin specialist to perform your melasma treatments, since inexperienced providers can irritate melasma spots rather than reducing them.
At Kansas City Skin & Cancer Center, our expert skin-care specialist will recommend and perform any appropriate, in-clinic treatments that can help reduce pigmentation without causing excessive inflammation.
During an initial consultation, our team sits down with you to assess your skin condition and your skin goals. We might recommend any of several proven treatments to reduce and treat your melasma, but here are some of our most effective methods!
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels, a skin resurfacing treatment, use an applied chemical mask to exfoliate the outer layers of skin. This exfoliation triggers the body’s natural healing process, helping to increase your skin’s cell turnover rate.
Chemical peels effectively treat melasma and reduces skin discoloration. When we apply a chemical mask to the affected area, they can lessen the appearance of hyperpigmentation and prevent the future accumulation of melanin in the skin.
Outside of melasma, chemical peels also effectively treat:
- Dullness
- Flakiness
- Fine lines
- Acne scars
- Sun damage
Forever Clear BBL
Forever Clear BBL is another powerful melasma treatment in Kansas City we use to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation spots. This treatment has the added benefit of being completely noninvasive—which means no side effects or uncomfortable downtime.
Our team at Kansas City Skin & Cancer Center utilizes Scinton’s unique BBL device tod e lv;ier a combination of blue, yellow, and infrared light to the skin. This light penetrates into the top layers of skin, helping to address acne, eliminate bacteria, reduce inflammation, and promote your body’s natural healing process.
Though this treatment gained popularity as an acne treatment, skincare professionals have shifted toward using it to address hyperpigmentation caused by melasma, helping to target uneven skin tone and promote a more even complexion without invasive processes or procedures.
Forever Clear BBL has a number of advantages, including:
- Convenient and effective
- Noninvasive and pain-free
- Safe for almost all skin types
- No downtime required
NanoLaserPeel
NanoLaserPeels allow patients to experience the benefits of chemical peels in a completely customizable way. Unlike chemical peels—where downtime depends on exposure time and the consistency of the chemical formulation—a NanoLaserPeel can be highly customized. This customization of depth and coagulation to achieve the desired results and recovery time.
The downtime is so manageable that this treatment is often known as the “weekend peel”. This treatment requires only topical anesthetic and has very little downtime, with most patients returning to work by Monday with refreshed, luminous skin.
The NanoLaserPeel can effectively treat:
- Sagging skin
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Age spots
- Rosacea or redness
- Unwanted pigmentation
- Lesions and scars
- Cherry angiomas
This light treatment works by removing the topmost layer of the “stratum corneum,” (the outer layer of your skin) returning a natural smoothness and lustrous glow to the skin.
LimeLight IPL
We tailor this adaptive photofacial to your specific skin concerns, making it an excellent option for treating melasma. This noninvasive, light-based treatment reduces pigmentation by emitting a high-intensity light beam that penetrates the skin and heats targeted cells.
This heat causes the cells to break down, and the body naturally flushes out these dead cells. This reduces melasma and pigmentation and addresses signs of aging, sun damage, and genetic conditions affecting skin tone and texture.
IPL may not always be the best option for those experiencing an active melasma flare-up. An initial consultation with our qualified team of skin experts will ensure you receive the right treatment for your unique needs. If IPL isn’t right for you, our team will recommend other effective treatment options.
Halo
The Halo laser isn’t your normal skin care treatment. It uses cutting-edge technology to tackle melasma using both ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to treat the skin. The advantages of choosing the Halo laser for a melasma treatment in Kansas City include:
- Fast results
- Less downtime
- Minimally invasive treatment
- Reduced risk of scarring
- Effectiveness for all skin types
The Halo laser works so effectively by targeting pigmentation on multiple skin layers. It simultaneously removes damaged and pigmented skin cells on the surface while stimulating collagen production in deeper layers of the skin.
We can also customize your Halo treatment to your specific needs, allowing for a completely tailored intensity for your melasma treatment. This allows us to focus on only the melasma spots, preserving the surrounding tissue to allow for faster recovery with noticeable results.
Science-Backed Methods for Melasma Care at Kansas City Skin & Cancer Center
Say ‘goodbye’ to melasma and ‘hello’ to confident, glowing skin. With the right prevention strategies and effective treatments, you can take control and restore your skin’s natural glow. At Kansas City Skin & Cancer Center, we’re committed to finding the right melasma treatment in Kansas City for your unique needs.
Book a consultation with our team and start your skincare journey. If you have questions about melasma, contact us to find out more about treating this common skin condition.