Signs and Symptoms
What are the symptoms of melasma vs hyperpigmentation? Both have similar symptoms. And the best way to look for signs and symptoms of melasma is physical examination. Melasma causes discolorations, usually darker than your skin color. It can be brownish or bluish patches or dots typically seen on your face.
The dark, brown, or bluish patches usually appear on:
- Forehead
- Cheeks
- Bridge of nose
- Chin
- Forearms
When discolorations appear, it is best to seek a doctor’s opinion as melasma can stay on your skin as short as weeks or months or in some cases, an extended period of time.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors, specifically dermatologists, can detect melasma through physical examination. But to see how deeply the melasma penetrated the skin, they often use a device called Woods Lamp. It emits a black light that uses long-wave ultraviolet light. This test is done to detect fungal scalp, a potential skin infection, or different forms of hyperpigmentation including epidermal or mixed melasma.
To examine the discoloration even further and rule out other skin conditions, your dermatologist may need to conduct a skin biopsy. They will remove a small bit of skin then they will test the sample for melasma.
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