Dr. Desanka Raskovic explains how to treat dark spots on the face …
Melasma is a typical case of skin hyperpigmentation, which affects areas more or less extensive epidermis. Considering a local blemish in all respects, which particularly affects the fair sex, it usually manifests in the areas of the cheeks, forehead, upper lip and chin, and can present itself as a set of brown or darker brown spots, or as a larger area with irregular contours.
To know the characteristics, the triggering factors and the most effective treatment possibilities, we met Dr. Desanka Raskovic, a well-known Dermatologist from Rome.
Dr. Raskovic, what are the main causes of this unsightly cutaneous blemish?
The typical spots of melasma are due to hyperpigmentation, that is to an excessive production of melanin – pigment produced by our organism to protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays – by the melanocytes, ie the cells used to produce the pigment. When melanin accumulates on the epidermis of the face it causes the characteristic spots of the melasma. A number of factors have also been identified – including genetic predisposition, exposure to sun or artificial rays, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, endocrine thyroid disorders and hormone imbalances of progesterone and estrogen – which play a important role in the appearance of such spots.
How is this imperfection treated?
In order to solve the problem in a definitive way, it is first of all necessary to establish the nature of the skin spots through an in-depth dermatological examination. In general, in less severe cases (when the patches are not very dark and deep), the dermatologist prescribes treatment with depigmenting products (creams or gels) containing, for example, retinoic acid (0.025%). Vitamin 2p is also very effective, a powerful antioxidant, whose effectiveness is universally recognized by the medical-scientific community. In cases where the spots are very extensive and cause a strong psychological discomfort, you can intervene more incisively with treatments that can solve the problem in a short time. Among these, the chemical peel is a particularly indicated: in fact, it is extremely effective, leaves no trace, does not damage the surrounding tissues and, moreover, guarantees the containment of transient side effects (post-treatment redness). It is, however, a procedure that can only be carried out by expert hands, cyclically in autumn-winter.
More info (studioraskovic@libero.it)
