Melasma Treatments
Melasma, those dark, patchy spots on the skin, is one of the most common and one of the difficult conditions to treat.
Anyone with melasma knows how difficult it can be to treat.
Why is melasma so difficult to treat?
Melasma is caused by hormones, primarily estrogen levels, combined with UV light.
Melasma is perpetuated by both the body’s natural estrogen level, which waxes during pregnancy and wanes with menopause, and external sources like birth control and hormone therapy.
Melasma can stain the topmost layer of skin, deeper skin layers, or both.
Brightening creams can clear pigment on the topmost layer, but deeper skin layers are resistant to treatment.
Treatment options are limited. Energy-based treatments that work for sun spots and age spots can make melasma worse.
The heat from these devices can cause the skin to pigment more after the procedure.
That’s why heat-free methods are preferred for treating melasma.
What treatments can help minimize melasma?
Microneedling and microchanneling treatments are effective for treating melasma; however, they are not the only treatment.
All treatment effectiveness comes from immediate post-treatment topicals.
The treatment micro-injuries created allow medical-grade brightening treatment solutions to penetrate deeper into the skin.
This allows bioactives to be delivered to the deeper layers of pigment that don’t respond well to surface creams, lotions, and serums.
A 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reviewed 459 melasma patients from seven different countries.
Researchers found that “topical therapy with microneedling improved melasma severity with a large effect beyond eight weeks [and] best results seen at 12 weeks.”
Dr. Dover, a co-author of the paper, commented that the fine print attached to this procedure should read: “Microneedling does help melasma when used with topical therapy-but on its own, it’s not effective.”
Which Post-Treatment Topical Works Best?
AnteAGE MD Brightening Solution is our best in class choice.
AnteAGE MD Brightening Solution is a medical grade professional in-clinic use topical.
It contains concentrated all of the pro-healing, anti-inflammatory growth factors in AnteAGE MD Growth Factor Solution, and it’s boosted with tranexamic acid and other bioactives to calm pigment producing melanocytes.
Tranexamic acid is a powerful tyrosinase inhibitor (skin-brightening agent) that is generally safe for all skin types.
It can help reduce pigment production and excess blood vessels.
Growth factors and cytokines help accelerate the healing process and promote the synthesis of fresh, unblemished tissue.
Rejuvience Med Spa is a certified AnteAGE MD Provider.
Which Melasma Treatment is Best?
We treat melasma with either Exceed Medical Microneedling or Procell Microchanneling. Both are award-winning FDA cleared devices, virtually the same price, but have slightly different strengths by virtue of the different micro injury patterns they create.
Our melasma treatment, regardless of the treatment device, includes in-office application of AnteAGE MD Brightening Solution.
A complimentary consultation is required for melasma treatments. There’s no cost, and there’s no obligation. During your appointment we’ll discuss your concerns and treatment options.
We understand we are not the right fit for everyone, and we do refer out when we think a different specialist will be of more help.
Frequently Asked Questions: Melasma Treatments
1. Why is melasma so difficult to treat compared to other skin conditions?
Melasma is particularly challenging to treat because it has multiple causes, primarily hormonal factors (especially estrogen) combined with UV light exposure. Unlike other hyperpigmentation issues, melasma can affect both the topmost layer of skin and deeper skin layers. While brightening creams may help with surface pigmentation, the deeper layers are often resistant to treatment. Additionally, traditional energy-based treatments that work well for sun spots and age spots can actually make melasma worse because the heat can trigger increased pigmentation.
2. What treatment options does Rejuvience Med Spa offer for melasma?
We offer two primary treatment options for melasma: Exceed Medical Microneedling and Procell Microchanneling. Both are FDA-cleared devices that create micro-injuries in the skin, allowing medical-grade brightening solutions to penetrate deeper into the skin layers where pigmentation occurs. Each treatment has slightly different strengths based on their micro-injury patterns. All our melasma treatments include in-office application of AnteAGE MD Brightening Solution for optimal results.
3. How do microneedling and microchanneling treatments help with melasma?
These treatments work by creating controlled micro-injuries that allow medical-grade brightening solutions to penetrate deeper into the skin. This is crucial because melasma often affects deeper skin layers that don’t respond well to surface creams, lotions, or serums. According to a 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, “topical therapy with microneedling improved melasma severity with a large effect beyond eight weeks [and] best results seen at 12 weeks.” The effectiveness of these treatments comes primarily from the immediate post-treatment topicals that can reach those deeper layers of pigmentation.
4. What is AnteAGE MD Brightening Solution and why is it used in your melasma treatments?
AnteAGE MD Brightening Solution is a medical-grade professional in-clinic topical treatment that we consider our “best in class” choice for melasma. It contains concentrated pro-healing, anti-inflammatory growth factors and is boosted with tranexamic acid and other bioactives to calm pigment-producing melanocytes. Tranexamic acid is a powerful tyrosinase inhibitor (skin-brightening agent) that’s generally safe for all skin types and helps reduce pigment production and excess blood vessels. The growth factors and cytokines in the solution help accelerate healing and promote the synthesis of fresh, unblemished tissue. Rejuvience Med Spa is a certified AnteAGE MD Provider.
5. Do I need a consultation before starting melasma treatments?
Yes, a complimentary consultation is required before beginning any melasma treatments at Rejuvience Med Spa. During this appointment, we’ll discuss your specific concerns and treatment options tailored to your condition. The consultation is free of charge and comes with no obligation. We understand that we may not be the right fit for everyone, and we’re committed to referring you to a different specialist if we believe they can better address your needs.
