I am a 26 year old female. Recently my doctor told me I have melasma and referred me to a plastic surgeon. What should I do?

P..S on both of them. Melasma is a common skin disorder usually seen during or after pregnancy. It is often referred to as a “mask of pregnancy.” The facial skin develops patches of darkness which are chiefly on the forehead, nose and cheeks. The majority of women with this disorder do not even know if they have it. In more than 99% of cases, melasma disappears on its own. The disorder is benign and has no complications. However, many plastic surgeons and skin doctors have started offering treatments for melasma.

Some doctors offer combination creams with bleaching agents combined with tretinoin and others add a topical steroid. Some even recommend use of laser. So far no one has ever shown that any of these treatments are effective. Moreover prolonged use of steroids and tretinoin is also associated with skin dryness, redness and peeling. For a skin disorder which tends to resolve by itself, why anyone would want to seek treatment is a mystery. Perhaps these individuals need their head examined or better still, some Prozac may help