Acne Treatments Guide - Articles

Normal cutaneous pigmentation is due to the biosynthesis of the pigment melanin produced by cells called melanocytes and the donation of melanin in melanosomes (organelles within the cells) to surrounding keratinocytes, which are those cells in the upper surface layer of the skin. The rate of melanin synthesis is determined by intracellular enzymes, the best characterized of which are tyrosinase, and the two tyrosinase-related proteins (TRP)-1 and TRP-2 or DOPAchrome tautomerase.

Normal pigmentation of the skin develops in response to exposure to UV radiation or sunlight. When irregular and abnormal patches appear on the skin, they are called melasma. And while melasma literally means dark skin (in Greek), and it is best known as the "mask of pregnancy" for it is more frequent among pregnant women, you don‚'t have to be pregnant (or even a woman!) to develop melasma. And if you think you‚'re silently suffering alone, think again. It is estimateed that six million women throughout the U.S. are affected by this distressing, albeit cosmetic concern.

The dark patches occur because the same melanocyte cells that provide pigmentation to protect us from sunlight multiply in number and foster higher amounts of melanin, making the skin to turn tan or brown in irregular patterns.

Melasma is most often characterized by sections of uneven dark skin on the face. These off colored spots tend to appear on the lips, forehead, or cheeks. Some causes of melasma could include genetics, oral contraceptives, hormonal changes, and excessive sun exposure but dermatologists can't completely pinpoint the reason why they show up. And although it is a very standard cosmetic skin affliction, and there is no unanimously accepted reason why they show up, it is considered very tricky to treat.

Melasma Treatment The most common therapies for melasma include chemical peels, laser surgery, and bleaching skin agents. Bleaching agents and sunscreens can be capable but they are not a guarantee to erase the spots.

These melasma treatments can lessen the spots but curing is something drastically different. Sometimes if melasma sufferers are lucky, the patches fade with time but if not, advanced treatments need to be carried out in order to return the skin to normal.

Sun exposure is the biggest culprit of melasma so sometimes it is just as easy as covering up in the midday sun.

Dark Spots. The melanin in the skin ingests the sun's UV rays in order to shield the skin from excessive radiation exposure. Covering yourself with effective SPF factors found in sunscreens can help prevent the rays from infiltrating the skin. All effective melasma treatments use sunscreens since even after the spots are erased, sufferers need to apply protection in order to prevent re-occurrence.

Skin Bleaching agents should only be applied under strict medical supervision. Skin lightening can take a few months to show signs of distinct difference. In order to get the desired results, one needs to be diligent in the application of the bleaching agent.

Bleaching agents work best on people with lighter skin tone. Doctor's need to give the approval for any skin bleaching treatment since it can impair the melanin production and could foster a cancerous reaction.

Melasma Laser Removal. Hardcore cases of melasma can demand chemical peels or even plastic surgery methods. Chemical peels can be alluring since they get rid of the upper layer of the skin and trigger the replacement of the burned cells with new cells. Healing time can be considerably less than the 6 months to a year needed for topical methods. But chemical peels can scald the skin which actually markedly augments redness and infections and can yield an undesired thicker skin texture.

Laser resurfacing can remove the patches but this is a serious medical treatment. Increased inflammations and scabbing are possible side effects of this method.

These are reasonable options, but why not opt for a treatment that won't burn your skin or impair melanin production?

Fortunately there is now a breakthrough topical treatment option that can hasten the quick reduction of melasma.

The new skin care option combines three novel ingredients that act synergistically to resolve melasma faster than bleaching agents. They are (a) Helix Aspersa Mƒ1/4ller Glycoconjugates which dissolve the upper layer of dead cells with each application, activate and orchestrate the regenerative processes of the skin and have antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, (b) Rumex occidentalis a plant extract which is capable of inhibiting the production of melanin by blocking the enzyme tyrosinase and (c) a human growth factor peptide, derived from the melanocyte-stimulating-hormone which blocks melanin synthesis.

The synergy of their combined effects makes it a unique treatment for treating melasma and much faster than what can be achieved with the use of topical bleaching agents alone. Other melasma chemical products are antique treatments for the dark spots associated with melasma and a wide variety of other hyperpigmentation skin ailments and the more common brown sun spots and age spots.

The first ingredient we mentioned is a unique complex compound that deeply bathes the skin and activates skin renewal. It is flowing with (a) biological enhancers of inter and intra cellular communication, (b) enzymes that 'digest' damaged skin cells and trigger their regeneration with the amino acids they free, and (c) antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and moderate inflammation. The ingredient already yields a complete and balanced acne scar removal skin care solution.

The same lotion made with this biological compound with the addition of a natural melanin inhibitor and a biomimetic peptide that blocks melanin biosynthesis helps to lessen melasma and other dark skin pigmentation disorders.

While this method of melasma removal may take longer than chemical peels or laser surgery, it yields no precarious side effects. It is not a skin bleaching product that can stimulate a cancerous reaction. The glycoconjugates function naturally with the cells in your body in order to repair the skin and restore its natural defense mechanisms.

Damaged cells are wiped away with diligent application of this natural skin care ingredient twice a day. Melasma spots are diminished and ultimately removed by the natural occurring enzymes found in the glycoconjugates, while the other two active ingredients block melanin biosynthesis and inhibit melanin production. The compounded effect of the trio hastens melasma treatment.