Healthy RGV Issue 112 - Is Getting A Colonoscopy Worth it?

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · MARCH 2018
There’s also
a genetic
component
to melasma.
If your mother
suffered from it,
you might struggle
with it at some point
too. It’s believed that
our skin is genetically
predisposed to this
condition. It also tends to
occur in people of color more often
than those with lighter skin tone and also
affects those who live in sunny locations
more often than those that live other parts
of the world or country.
“
What is called genius
is the abundance of
life and health.
”
— Henry David Thoreau
If you’re pregnant or plan to become
pregnant soon or know you’ll be starting a
hormone replacement therapy, be mindful
of any blemishes. Be on the lookout for
them.
MELASMA: THE
MASK OF PREGNANCY
Melasma is a difficult to control facial discoloration that, unfortunately, is often
unavoidable. It’s not a sudden tan or a freak accident. It most cases it is classified as
darkening around the mouth, under your nose, or on your cheeks. Most often it is
seen in pregnant women, new birth control, or hormone replacement therapy. Those
pesky hormones! It could appear as brown spots on your jawline or across your
forehead. Finding these blemishes can be shocking and throw you off balance. You
might work yourself up into a frenzy, trying desperately to get rid of these marks. The
good news is you don’t have to panic. There are ways to cope with these blemishes.
To know how to treat it, you first have to
have a full grasp of what it is and why it
appears. It’s a skin condition that presents
as light-to-dark brown patches on the skin.
These are caused by an overstimulation of
melanocytes.
Recognizing that what you have might be
melasma depends on the circumstances
around the flare-up. As mentioned
previously, these spots or patches appear
as a result of hormonal changes. That’s
what fuels them. If you’ve not experienced
recent hormonal changes, you might not
have melasma. It could be a condition known
as hyperpigmentation, which will show the
long-term residual damage from teen acne
or another skin injury. While treatment for
both might be similar, only melasma will
come back more eagerly later.
If you already have it, the harder it can
be to treat, but don’t worry, not all hope
is lost. The first thing you need to do is
find or make a chemical/pollutant free
exfoliator and start exfoliating. Also, you
may want to consult with your physician
for topical prescription medications that
can help with the symptoms. Depending
on your budget, you may want to look into
laser treatments to treat the discoloration.
Chemical peels have also been known
to work well to fight melasma. Try some
with glycolic, mandelic, or lactic acid to
promote a brighter complexion. Avoid skin
bleaching products unless prescribed by
your dermatologist.
Once you’ve treated your melasma, you’ll
want to take steps to avoid a recurrence.
Sunscreen is your number one defense
against most skin ailments. Use physical
sunscreens not harmful chemical
sunscreens. Avoid Bikram yoga, infrared
saunas, and ditch the hot tub. Turn down
the water temperature in your house. Stop
cleansing your skin with warm water. If for
some reason you do feel the heat on your
face, cool off quickly with a refrigerated
sheet mask. The whole key is to keep
the skin cool to avoid a breakout of new
blemishes.
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