Melasma - Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Objectives: Melasma is an acquired, chronic pigmentary disorder predominantly affecting women. It may significantly affect quality of life and self-esteem due to its disfiguring appearance. Multiple treatments for melasma are available, but we are yet to find the optimal result.
Introduction: The aim of this talk is to review of all available in treatments for melasma.
Materials / method: Various options like topical creams,chemical peels, oral preparations and various types of laser treatments were evaluated in the treatment of Melasma,to understand their result and long term effects.
Results: There were multiple treatment options giving satisfactory results but none gave any permanent solution.
Conclusion: Hydroquinone monotherapy and triple combination cream are the most effective and well-studied treatments for melasma, whereas chemical peels and lasers also gave good results with long term maintenance. Oral tranexamic acid may be a safe, systemic adjunctive treatment for melasma, but needs to studied more.
