Melasma is a common skin disorder characterized by the formation of brownish pigment blotches on the face. It most typically occurs in young women who tan easily or have darker skin tones. In some cases, melasma symptoms are treated with a chemical peel, a procedure that uses a chemical solution to eat away the layers of skin that contain the unwanted pigment.
Melasma
Melasma blotches typically appear on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society. In some cases, persons may also develop blotches on the sides of the neck, or develop melasma-like discoloration on the upper arms or shoulders. The condition has an underlying genetic component and is commonly triggered by factors that include pregnancy, use of hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills, exposure to sunlight and use of soaps, cosmetics or toiletries that contain scents or deodorizing agents.
Chemical Peel
Your doctor may suggest a chemical peel to eliminate or diminish melasma-related skin discoloration, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s Medline Plus. During this procedure, one or more chemical solutions are applied directly to affected skin. The American Academy of Dermatology, or AAD, lists solutions used for this purpose to include carbolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and trichloroacetic acid. As a rule, the doctor performing the procedure will match the solutions in use to your particular melasma symptoms, resulting in a peel that removes varying layers of skin.
Procedure
You will typically undergo a chemical peel in a doctor’s office. Before you receive treatment, your doctor may ask you to use creams designed to prepare your skin for the procedure. You may also need to discontinue use of certain medications that may interfere with your treatment. Immediately prior to performing a peel, your doctor will clean your skin to remove unwanted oils and provide protection for your hair and eyes. A typical procedure lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Depending on the depth of the peel, you may experience a warm or hot sensation on your affected skin, accompanied by stinging or more distinct pain.
Aftereffects
The aftereffects of a chemical peel will vary according to the amount of skin removed during the procedure, the AAD explains. If you have only superficial amounts of skin removed, you will likely experience skin redness, followed by three to five days of skin scaling. If you undergo a medium or deep peel, you may experience effects that include skin blistering and swelling. Typically, these more severe effects fade in one to two weeks. In addition to the depth of the peel, the degree of your aftereffects will be determined by the specific chemical solution used for the procedure.
Considerations
In some cases, the redness associated with a chemical peel can last for months, the AAD notes. Depending on your skin type, you may also run a risk of temporary or permanent skin discoloration. Factors that increase this risk include prior pregnancy, use of birth control pills and a family history of melasma.
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