THESince pregnancy onwards, my facial skin has had unsightly dark spots. In particular, I really can’t stand the obvious one on my lip. I’ve tried to lighten it with all kinds of cosmetics but it’s still quite noticeable. What can I do to lighten it?
Gabriella
Professor Pucci Romano answers
Pucci Romano he is a doctor specialist in Dermatology and Venereology and teach theCatholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome. Member of national and international dermatological associations, he collaborates with national magazines and newspapers. He is president of Skinecoscientific association of ecomatology, and de The Found Bodyfor dermocosmetological care in cancer patients. She is the author of “Buddhist by chance” (Bompiani), “You don’t get old at the table” (Giunti), “A friend for your skin” (Giunti), “Beauty food: the beauty diet” (Sperling&Kupfer), “Questions of skin” (Sperling&Kupfer). He also recently published his first novel, “The Solution”. Through its social profiles it spreads knowledge on eco-dermocosmetics and beyond every day.
Melasma: what is it
Especially if the first trimester of pregnancy coincides with the summer season, the risk of the appearance of annoying spots on the face is higher: chloasma or melasma of pregnancy. Usually during childbirth or after breastfeeding, this ugly blemish resolveseven without doing anything. In the most unfortunate cases, however, these spots remain on the face and it is necessary to consult a dermatologist. Whatever anti-stain strategy you want to undertake is fundamental first and foremost identify the type of stain, identify the possible cause and find out about the proposed treatmentsboth of a cosmetic nature and related to machinery. Melasma, like chloasma, it is a spot with an irregular distribution of melanin, present in some very specific areas of the facesuch as upper lip, forehead, cheekbones. Pregnancy is the most common cause, but it can occur for other reasons as wellsome identifiable, such as hormonal disorders, taking the pill, mechanical trauma such as mustache waxing, drugs or cosmetics, and others often unknown. There is no single treatment to overcome this problem, but a set of strategies aimed at restoring order to the skin processes.
Skin: it all starts from skincare
Correct cosmetics that make use of certain active ingredients can help control hyperpigmentation how is melasma. You can use retinol and vitamin C, but not in summer and the latter only in the evening, and bakuchiol, alpha hydroxy acidssuch as glycolic, mandelic, lactic, malic, and tranexamic acid throughout the year. All these substances they work by accelerating skin turnover and “removing” melanin accumulations deposited on the surface. However, it doesn’t pay to exaggerate these functions: you run the risk of obtaining the opposite effect. It is therefore always desirable customization of these applications under dermatological control but always carried out in a sweet and never excessively aggressive manner.
Laser and deep chemical peels: yes or no?
Many find lasers to be effective at removing blemishes. Personally I am not in favor of this method for melasma. As well as not getting the desired result there may be an aggravation of pigmentation, as a post traumatic effect, or cicatricial hypopigmentation which could make you regret the previous stain. Deep chemical peels are aggressive and traumatic interventions, through the use of particular exfoliating substancessuch as TCA, phenol and resorcinol. Often not only do they not have the desired effect but, by irritating and inflaming the skin, they can sensitize it, thin it, expose it to a greater risk of stains.
Skin with blemishes: what to do
A Gentle, personalized skincare can help to combat this problem which to date still does not have a dedicated therapeutic protocol that is safe, effective and decisive. And this is a statement of intellectual honesty that every doctor in the sector would have a duty to share. It will be fundamental, especially in summer, correct photoprotection, which however must not focus only on the stain. Protecting the hyperchromic areas differently can worsen the discoloration, even aesthetically. In fact, a lighter area would be created around the stain which would further highlight the chromatic difference. I also recommend one targeted supplementation that favors supplements rich in antioxidantssuch as carotenoids, astaxanthin, resveratrol, pycnogenol and nicotinamide. And we must never forget that skin must always be respected. There is no stain that holds.