With Reflexologist Nuria Weaver
Home Remedies for Melasma
Melasma is one form of pigmentation on the skin. This is a major concern with people having brown skin. This is a result of some dysfunction of the skin cells that contain the melanin pigment. The disorder is concentrated on the face it may however, occur on the different parts of the body. A person suffering from melasma has dark spots and patches on the nose, forehead, upper lip, cheeks and the chin. This is more common in women with brown skin tone than in men. Women between the ages of 21 to 40 are susceptible to this skin problem. Melasma is also termed as "the mask of pregnancy" as this occurs among women who are pregnant as result of taking contraceptive pills. Most people and experts recommend using some home remedies for melasma as these are completely natural and do not have any side-effects.
Melasma has three major patterns and among them the first pattern has the tendency to affect the central portion of the face like the chin, nose, forehead and the cheeks. This is known as the Centro facial type. The second types are the ones that affect the cheeks and are called the malar type. The third ones are those which occur on the jawbone and are the least common type. They are called the mandibular type. Melasma can in rare cases occur on the forearms and neck as well.
Causes of Melasma:
The exact cause of melasma is not known yet, but there are some factors that may responsible for the skin disorder. Some of them are:
- Pregnancy
- Hormonal replacement treatments like estrogens
- Use of oral contraceptives
- Hormonal abnormalities
- Sun exposure
- Heredity
- Stress
- Cosmetics
- Anti-seizure medications
Symptoms of Melasma
The common symptoms of this skin discoloration are:
- Irregular patches
- Dark patches
These patches develop over a period of time gradually. These are the only symptoms which involves with only cosmetic discoloration.
Some of the home made remedies for melasma which are extremely beneficial for the problem. This remedies speed up the healing process and also helps in the skin renewal by bringing up the elastin levels back to the normal. Try out one of these natural remedies to eliminate the dead skin cells.
- Vinegar has a very effective way of cleaning the skin. This is because it contains acetic acid which improves the complexion of the skin as well. Dilute the vinegar solution with some equal amount of water. Apart from treating melasma it can be used as a skin softener. Among the natural vinegars you can go for apple cider vinegar too.
- Onion juice is also effective so you can also try squeezing some of the grinded onion to treat the melasma problem. A mixture of onion juice and apple cider vinegar can be applied on the affected area two times a day to see some very good results. You can also soak some slices of onion in some solution of vinegar and place them on the melasma area.
- Lemon too contains acetic acid which is also effective for getting rid of the problems. This acidic nature peals off the top layer of the damaged skin and helps to get rid of melasma in no time.
- Bleaching creams are also effective in the treatment of melasma. These creams contain hydroquinone that treats the melasma. However, you should discontinue the use of the cream after six months. While using these creams, do not use harsh creams, soaps and cosmetics and strong cleansers.
Below are other home remedies you can try out for the treatment of melasma.
- Use essential oils like lavender which are extremely useful. This cools and soothes the skin and can be used in for a soothing bath.
- Cucumbers are also effective to cool down the skin and make it relax. Use some portion of grated cucumber and apply on the affected face. This can be used around the eyes too as it completely natural and effective.
- Sandalwood which is beneficial for sunburns can be used for melasma too.
- To prevent any kind of secondary skin infection, wash the area with some antibacterial soap and then you can apply some Aloe Vera gel on the area.
- One of the old folk remedies which can try out is massage the whole body and especially the affected with some coconut oil or some neem oil before you go for a shower.
- A paste prepared from turmeric, barley and yogurt taken in equal proportion can be used directly on the area. Keep this for at least twenty minutes before wash them off. Use a good moisturizer after you dry the area.
- As stress may be one of the factors for melasma, try some stress free activities like exercises. Regular and moderate exercises are helpful to combat stress and tensions. Nevertheless, this reduces the chances of getting melasma as well.
- You can also try out papayas to treat melasma and reduce its symptoms. This contains the enzyme called papain which induces some skin exfoliation. This is effective because, the papaya helps to remove the outer layer and regenerates new skin cells which create even skin tone. For this you simply have to mash some papayas and use it as a face mask and keep it for 20 minutes before removing it.
These home remedies for melasma are extremely cost-effective and has been the only solution to many people who finds it difficult to get rid of the disorder.
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