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Both men and women can suffer from melasma. It produces large, dark patches of skin over certain parts of your face. This skin discoloration, or hyperpigmentation, generally appears on the forehead, cheeks and nose.

It is most often seen in people with darker or olive toned skin, but can affect anyone. There are two different factors that can cause melasma: hormonal fluctuations and excessive sun exposure. In pregnant women it is normal to see these marks appear because of hormonal changes.

Melasma may sound scary, but there is nothing to fear other than a few uneven patches of skin. As a matter of fact, in some people it can show up as very noticeable, dark spots, and for this reason, melasma treatment is a priority for those who have developed it.

The most common treatment options are the following:

*Chemical Peels

Because the intensity of a chemical peel can be controlled to best suit your needs, it is one of the best options for treating melasma. The depth of the chemical peel will depend on the chemicals used by the specialist. Any discomfort that you might feel can easily be treated with topical anesthetics or cooling agents.

*Laser Treatment

Laser resurfacing is another treatment in which you can apply different depths depending on your skin care needs. This procedure offers the specialist great control over the area that is being treated. In other words, it can repair the affected skin and not interfere with the surrounding tissue.

When undergoing treatment you will need a local anesthetic. Once the treatment has been completed you may experience some swelling and redness. This is normal and should pass in a couple of days.

*Microdermabrasion

If you prefer a more gentle treatment that requires no downtime, you should try microdermabrasion. It doesn't require anesthesia, but may require more than one session if your condition is serious.

*Bleaching Creams

Bleaching creams are also used to correct skin tone problems and melasma. These products help lighten the skin. They will probably work best over larger areas of the skin as it is difficult to apply them on a tiny spot.

All of the previously mentioned procedures and products have one goal in common and that is to get an even skin tone, however, their effects may not be long-lasting so take good care after having undergone treatment. Exposing your skin to sun exposure can cause melasma to reappear.

Therefore, wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply frequently during the day. Also, wear wide brimmed hats to keep the sun from directly hitting your face.