N Skin Care Alert

Treating Melasma

Melasma has long been associated with pregnant women. But do you know that anyone -- non-infanticpating women and yes, even men -- can also develop melasma?

Melasma are dark, blotchy marks that appear on the face, especially in the forehead, cheeks, upper lips, chin, and nose. They may also occur in other skin areas often exposed to the sun, like the forearms and back. Their color, which also determines their type, varies from brown (epidermal melasma), blue-gray (dermal melasma), or brown-gray (mixed). Among these, it is commonly thought that dermal melasma is harder to treat.

A very common skin disorder, melasma often occurs among women. Those with brownish skin tones are the most susceptible ones, like Hispanics, Asians, and those who live in areas with intense sun exposure. Nevertheless, men also get affected by melasma, but they make up only a measly 10% of melasma sufferers.

The Culprits

How melasma develops and what is its precise cause is not yet fully understood. However, there are several important factors recognized to trigger the development of melasma:

Genetic predisposition. In laymen's term, this simply means that melasma "runs in the blood" or more appropriately, "in the genes". Accordingly, more than 30% of people with melasma belong to families with a history of melasma. 

Oh, and did I mention that 90% of melasma patients are women? Anyway, women often develop melasma during their reproductive years.

Hormonal influences. Melasma is very common in pregnant women. This is because during pregnancy, there is an abnormal upsurge of female hormones, to which the skin reacts "excitedly".

Women who are taking certain oral contraceptives can also develop melasma. In such cases, it is advisable to discuss with your physician the possibility of using another brand of pill or even shifting to other method of contraception.

Finally, melasma among post-menopausal women are also likely to occur, in particular, among those prescribed with progesterone-containing pill.

Sunlight exposure. UV radiation stimulates the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes to make excess melanin, the element that determines our skin's color. The darker the skin, the more melanin it has.

Furthermore, overexposure to the sun has been reported to worsen cases of melasma.

Minimize the Blotches!

Treating melasma is not easy. There are many cases of resistance and recurrence, especially if strict avoidance of sunlight is not observed.

Nevertheless, it is very possible to lighten up and minimize melasma safely and effectively! Introducing Godiva Melasma Minimizer Set.

Godiva Melasma Minimizer Set contains the following (good for two months use):

Two 100g GODIVA LicoWhite™ Transparent Soaps
65g GODIVA Fruit Acid Revitalizing Complex
60g GODIVA Green Tea Sunblock Cream
75g GODIVA LicoWhite™ Skin Brightening Cream Tube
200 ml GODIVA Licorice Skin Whitening Lotion.

How to benefit from Godiva Melasma Minimizer Set? Just follow this easy-to-do regimen:

1. Cleanse with Godiva LicoWhite™ Transparent Soap.
2. Smooth on Godiva Fruit Acid Revitalizing Complex before bedtime on areas with melasma to accelerate production of fresher, smoother skin.
3. After 5 minutes, follow with Godiva LicoWhite™ Skin Brightening Cream to even out skin discolorations.
4. Apply Godiva LicoWhite™ Skin Brightening Cream twice daily on the face and other sensitive body parts, such as the underarms. For other body parts, apply Godiva Licorice Skin Whitening Lotion.
5. Every morning, wear Godiva Green Tea Sunblock Cream as a last step, whether you are staying indoors or outdoors.

Follow this regimen religiously and your dark patches will soon fade in no time! More importantly, avoid prolonged and unnecessary sun exposure, because this will only worsen melasma.

By the way, Godiva products have been clinically proven to be mild and safe for use even by moms-in-waiting. These products go only as far as the epidermis, where the melanin is located, and they do not enter the bloodstream. Melasma in women usually fades 3 to 6 months after delivery.

G Did You Know?

Chloasma or Melasma?

Melasma is often present in pregnant women, although it usually fades after delivery. But did you know that melasma during pregnancy is called chloasma or "mask of pregnancy"? Chloasma is a synonymous term of melasma, and it is derived from the Greek word chloazein that means "to be green". On the other hand, the word melas in melasma is also a Greek word that means "black". Since the color of melasma is not green, clinicians prefer more the term melasma.

Meanwhile, the intensity of chloasma can be prevented by limiting unnecessary sun exposure. However, it is wisest to APPLY DAILY a broad-spectrum, physical sunblock cream (one with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that protects  the skin effectively by blocking both UVA and UVB rays, just like Godiva Green Tea Sunblock with SPF 25 and Zinc Oxide.

 

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