Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on March 4, 2020.
- Health Guide
- White spots on the skin often occur when skin proteins or dead cells become trapped under the skin’s surface. They may also occur as a result of depigmentation, or color loss. White skin spots are.
- Eczema often causes skin bumps and itching. Keratosis pilaris, a skin condition that is most commonly responsible for dry skin bumps, is a result of excess proteins in the body blocking hair follicles. The result is raised, hard, white bumps on the surface of the skin, which often have a red or pink edging.
- Sometimes, dry, cool air can strip your skin of moisture and cause you to develop dry skin patches. In the summer, higher humidity levels can help stop your skin from drying out. But too much sun.
- What Causes Rough, Dry Skin Patches Rough bumpy skin can appear on the face and body, including dry, scaly skin on the legs, bumpy patches on the backs of the arms and thighs, and rough skin on the face and neck (often due to shaving). One way to help smooth and soften skin texture is with skincare products that help provide hydration.
What is Melasma (Chloasma)?
The change of body hormone has a direct influence on the skin tissue to trigger overproduction of melanin by melanocytes that can result in dark spots or patches on the skin. The change of body hormone is common during adolescent stage, pregnancy and menstruation periods.
Melasma is a condition in which areas of the skin become darker than the surrounding skin. Doctors call this hyperpigmentation. It typically occurs on the face, particularly the forehead, cheeks and above the upper lip. The dark patches often appear on both sides of the face in a nearly identical pattern. The darker-colored patches of skin can be any shade, from tan to deep brown. Rarely, these dark patches may appear on other sun-exposed areas of the body.
Melasma occurs much more often in women than in men, and usually is associated with hormonal changes. That is why the dark patches develop often during pregnancy, or if a woman is taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or oral contraceptives. Melasma during pregnancy is relatively common. Sometimes it is called the 'mask of pregnancy' or 'chloasma.' The dark patches typically last until the pregnancy ends.
The most important factor in the development of melasma is exposure to sunlight. Using medications that make you sensitive to the sun (photosensitizing) can increase your risk of developing melasma. These can include some cosmetics and medicines used to treat ovarian or thyroid problems. Protection from the sun is a necessary part of treatment of melasma. For example, women who are pregnant or who take a hormone medication and avoid the sun are less likely to develop melasma than are those who spend a lot of time in the sun.
Symptoms
Darker patches of skin appear on the forehead, temples, cheeks or above the upper lip. The symptoms are strictly cosmetic — you won't feel ill, and the darker skin won't be sore.
Diagnosis
A doctor will diagnose melasma simply by looking at your skin. Your medical history will help to determine any factors that may have caused the disorder.
Your doctor may use a special lamp that gives off ultraviolet light. This allows the doctor to see patterns and depth of skin discoloration more clearly. Slots of vegas download casino.
Expected Duration
The dark patches typically last until the pregnancy ends or you stop taking the hormonal medications and protect from the sun. The patches gradually fade over many months. In some people, the discoloration never entirely disappears.
Prevention
The best way to prevent melasma is to limit skin exposure to the sun. If you go out in the sun, take these preventive measures:
- Wear a hat with a brim to shade and protect your face.
- Apply sun block (such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) to vulnerable areas.
- Use sunscreen that protects against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation. The sunscreen should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.
Treatment
As hormones stabilize, the dark patches of melasma usually fade. Women who develop melasma as a result of pregnancy often see the patches fade months after the baby is born. Women who take oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy often see the patches fade once they stop taking the medications.
A few options may help fade or treat dark patches:
- Hydroquinone is a cream that takes pigment out of the skin. It blocks the natural chemical process that leads to the creation of melanin, the substance that makes skin dark.
- Tretinoin is a type of vitamin A that helps to increase the rate at which dead skin cells fall off and new ones appear. This makes the melasma patch fade more quickly as the pigmented cells are shed.
- Azelaic acid cream appears to work by slowing down or stopping the production of pigment, the substance that makes the skin darker.
- Chemical peels are liquid solutions applied to the skin to provide a mild chemical burn, similar to sunburn. Over time, the burned layers peel off, leaving fresh, new skin. Chemical peels vary in strength. Glycolic acid is among the mildest, and therefore has a lower risk of causing scarring or skin discoloration. Chemical peels may be used if melasma does not respond to other treatments.
- Intense Pulsed Light therapy utilizes certain wave lengths of light to target and remove pigmented areas of skin.
When To Call a Professional
Dry Spots On Skin Body Oil
See your doctor if you develop any unexplained discoloration of the skin. Although melasma does not require treatment, a doctor can distinguish melasma from other skin disorders that may need to be treated.
Prognosis
Much of the discoloration will fade or disappear once hormones stabilize and you stay out of the sun. For people who find the discolorations unsightly, treatment may help to fade stubborn patches. You also can use cosmetics to even out the skin color.
Learn more about Melasma (Chloasma)
Dry Spots On Skin Body Odor
Associated drugs
IBM Watson Micromedex
External resources
American Academy of Dermatology
http://www.aad.org/
http://www.aad.org/
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
http://www.niams.nih.gov/
http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.