Uneven Skin Color. Dark Patches.
If you have dark, unevenly toned patches over your face, or throughout certain areas of the body that are more prone to sun exposure, you likely have a condition called melasma.
Though melasma is not a harmful condition, it can cause distress and inhibit your social and professional life. SMooth Solutions Medspa offers a combination of therapies to provide melasma treatment in Naperville, which can help reduce/erase these pigmented patches.
ABOUT MELASMA
Melasma is characterized by uneven and irregular brown or blue-gray patches or spots on the cheeks, forehead, nose, upper lip and chin that are symmetrical and have a shadow-like appearance.
Melasma is a skin condition caused by hormonal changes, the use of certain medications or sun exposure. It is more common among individuals with darker skin because they have more melanocytes, which are cells that produce melanin — the substance that gives our skin its color. Melasma occurs when something causes these melanocytes to go into overdrive and produce excess pigmentation, resulting in dark and discolored patches in affected areas.
This is a non-curable condition, but melasma treatments in Naperville can effectively reduce uneven coloring, lighten, and sometimes erase dark spots and patches.
Treatment Options
HALO LASER SKIN RESURFACING
HALO Laser Skin Resurfacing
HALO is a revolutionary hybrid fractional laser that combines ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to effectively eradicate multiple skin concerns, including melasma. It can effectively target and break up excess pigmentation in the epidermal and dermal layers. HALO can be used on its own or combined with other treatments for more dramatic results.
Chemical Peels
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels exfoliate the top layer of damaged skin cells to reveal a clearer and healthier complexion. Chemical peels are considered safe and effective for melasma, helping to reduce the appearance of unwanted dark spots or patches on the face. At SMooth Solutions, we use Cosmelan® by Mesoestetic, a medical-grade chemical peel specifically formulated for melasma and designed to prevent and remove even the most severe pigmentation issues.
Medical-Grade Skincare
Medical-Grade Skincare
Smooth Solutions provides medical-grade skincare products at our clinic for proper skin maintenance after your rejuvenating treatments at our facility. These products are packed with powerful active ingredients like retinols, peptides and antioxidants that can lighten dark spots and deliver long-term protective and restorative benefits to your skin.
HOLLYWOOD SPECTRA™ LASER
HOLLYWOOD SPECTRA LASER
The Hollywood Spectra Laser by Lutronic is the first and leading FDA-cleared device for treating melasma. This advanced laser uses ultra-short pulses of energy to target hyperactive melanocytes and break up excess pigmentation. It also helps by “turning off” overactive cells and exfoliating the skin to provide both immediate and long-lasting results. Melasma is considered difficult to treat, but the Hollywood Spectra Laser can help you achieve a brighter, clearer complexion with little to no downtime, making it a favorite among our patients.
RF MICRONEEDLING
RF MICRONEEDLING
RF Microneedling treatments in Naperville are a great solution for melasma. This procedure helps address the vascular component of melasma to help break up unwanted pigmentation. Studies have also shown that RF microneedling treats melasma by improving the skin’s extracellular matrix, a supportive layer of essential proteins like collagen and elastin. After treatment, increased skin permeability provides enhanced absorption of topicals, helping you maintain your results with our medical-grade skin care products.
Frequently Asked Questions.
How many melasma treatments in Naperville will I need?
The number of treatments you’ll need to reduce the appearance of dark spots will vary depending on the depth of the discoloration. Dermal melasma requires a more aggressive and long-term approach. Generally, one to two laser treatments will erase the pigmentation, but proper skin and sun care will be key factors in determining how long results may last.
What triggers melasma?
Melasma occurs when there is excess melanin in the skin, creating patches of discoloration in affected areas. Experts aren’t exactly sure what causes melasma but have identified certain risk factors that can trigger the condition. For example, individuals with darker skin are more likely to be affected by melasma because they naturally have more melanin. Melasma is also more common in pregnant women due to hormonal changes and is often called “the mask of pregnancy.” Other risk factors include sun exposure and certain medications.
Is there a cure for melasma?
Unfortunately, no. In most cases, melasma is considered a chronic condition. However, some people have melasma for a short time, such as during pregnancy. If melasma is caused by underlying factors like pregnancy, birth control or the use of certain medications, it will typically fade once the trigger is gone. For people who experience melasma due to genetics with no apparent cause, there is no cure and the condition is addressed symptomatically.
Can I prevent melasma from returning?
If you are prone to melasma, there are steps you can take to stop it from worsening. This includes limiting unnecessary sun exposure, wearing sunscreen, avoiding tanning beds and using high-quality skin care products. Aesthetic treatments like lasers or chemical peels can also protect against melasma to keep your symptoms at bay long-term.
What’s the difference between melasma and hyperpigmentation?
Melasma and hyperpigmentation are both conditions that cause darkening of the skin, but they have different causes and characteristics. Hyperpigmentation refers to any condition in which the skin becomes darker than usual, either in small spots or large areas. It can be the result of many factors, including sun exposure, inflammation or acne. Melasma is a specific kind of hyperpigmentation that appears as dark, symmetrical patches on the skin, commonly affecting the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Melasma is more common in women and is thought to be caused by a combination of hormonal and genetic factors.
Can you get melasma on your arms?
Melasma most commonly appears on the cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead, but it can also be found on other areas of the body, such as the arms, legs, and neck. It tends to develop and become more noticeable in areas with the most sun exposure. Melasma that occurs on the body can be treated in the same ways as darkened patches that appear on the face.
ADVANCED PROCEDURES. MEDICAL-GRADE SKINCARE.
At SMooth Solutions Medspa, we are proud to offer highly effective solutions for melasma treatment in Naperville.
We treat symptoms of melasma and offer solutions to prevent pigmentation from recurring. Combination treatments generally provide the best results, so we will help create a customized plan to address your symptoms of melasma to help you regain your self-confidence and a bright, evenly toned complexion.
Revitalize Your Skin
Schedule a complimentary consultation with us to discuss your skin concerns and the treatments we have to offer to treat your melasma symptoms.