• CHRONIC COMPLEXION CONDITION THAT PREDOMINANTLY AFFECTS WOMEN
• BROWN PATCHES ON THE FACE, INCLUDING THE FOREHEAD
• RECURRENCES ARE COMMON SO A MAINTENANCE PLAN IS IMPORTANT
• VISIT WWW.MELASMAFACTS.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION

• UNKNOWN OR GENETIC TENDENCY
• PREGNANCY/ HORMONAL CHANGES
• SUN
• ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES
• MEDICATIONS

1. PROTECT YOUR FACE!  AVOID SUN AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 10 AM AND 4 PM.  IF YOU MUST GET EXPOSURE, WEAR SUNBLOCK. YOUR SUNBLOCK MUST FIGHT AGAINST UVA AND UVB RAYS AND BE REAPPLIED EVERY 2 HOURS. PRODUCTS CONTAINING ZINC OXIDE ARE BEST. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, WE SELL SKINCEUTICALS PHYSICAL UV DEFENSE SPF30, WHICH IS PERFECT FOR USE ON THE SENSITIVE SKIN ASSOCIATED WITH MELASMA. ALSO, WEAR A WIDE BRIMMED SUN HAT AND BIG SUNGLASSES WHILE OUTSIDE.
2. TRI-LUMA (FLUOCINILONE 0.01%, HYDROQUINONE 4%, TRETINOIN 0.05%) CREAM: APPLY A PEA SIZED AMOUNT TO YOUR FACE NIGHTLY.  IF NO IMPROVEMENT IS SEEN AFTER 3 MONTHS OF REGULAR USE OF THIS PRESCRIPTION, PLEASE RETURN FOR A FOLLOW-UP VISIT.  IF YOU ARE MUCH BETTER, IT IS OKAY TO KEEP USING TRI-LUMA FOR ONE YEAR, AND, THEN, FOLLOW-UP IS NECESSARY.
3. COMPOUNDED 8% HYDROQUINONE CREAM IS AVAILABLE AT SPECIALITY PHARMACY, (321) 953-2004, 800 E MELBOURNE AVE. IF YOU FAIL TRI-LUMA, A HIGHER % HYDROQUINONE PRODUCT MAY BE WARRANTED. SKIN IRRITATION IS MORE COMMON.
4. AZELAIC ACID (FINACEA GEL) CAN BE ADDED TO THE REGIMEN. GLYCOLIC ACID CREAMS SUCH AS SKINCEUTICALS RENEW OVERNIGHT OR MD FORTE FACIAL CREAM I CAN BE ADDED TO THE REGIMEN. LUSTRA CREAM IS AN ALTERNATIVE LINE OF HYDROQUINONE THAT COULD BE TRIED.

*A NOTE ON HYDROQUINONE: IT IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE INGREDIENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HYPERPIGMENTATION, WITH OVER 40 YEARS OF USE.  IT HAS BEEN USED SAFELY AND HAS A GOOD RISK: BENEFIT RATIO.  THERE IS NO DOCUMENTED CASE OF ANY TYPE OF CANCER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DRUG, AND TYPICAL SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDE IRRITATION, STINGING, AND REDNESS. AFTER ONE YEAR OF CONTINUED USE, BE SURE TO FOLLOW-UP BECAUSE A BREAK IN THERAPY OR LESS FREQUENT APPLICATION MAY BE ADVISED.

1. SUPERFICIAL CHEMICAL PEELS AND MICRODERMABRASION: THIS IS VERY SAFE TO ADD TO TRY TO IMPROVE EXFOLIATION AND MELASMA CONTROL. A COMMITMENT TO A SERIES OF AT LEAST 5 TREATMENTS EVERY 2 TO 4 WEEKS IS REQUIRED FOR BEST OUTCOME.
2. MEDIUM DEPTH TCA CHEMICAL PEELS:  THIS PEEL REMOVES LAYERS OF SKIN IN A CONTROLLED MANNER. WE USE TCA PEELS FOR PATIENTS THAT FAIL TOPICAL THERAPY AND SUPERFICIAL PROCEDURES.
3. FRAXEL RESURFACING LASER: FRAXEL IS USED IN PATIENTS WHERE TRADITIONAL THERAPIES HAVE FAILED.  A SERIES OF 4-6 TREATMENTS EVERY 4 WEEKS IS REQUIRED FOR BEST OUTCOME.