Melasma is a common skin disorder probably experiencing light brown, dark brown or blue-grey patches on your skin. They can appear as flat patches or freckle-like spots. Commonly affected areas include your face, including the cheeks, upper lip and forehead, as well as the forearms. Melasma is sometimes called the “mask of pregnancy” because it frequently affects pregnant women and in people with hormone replacement therapy (HRT during menopause) and oral contraceptive pills. It is triggered or worsened by sun exposure. Melasma is typically a pitta imbalance disorder.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Hyperpigmentation
- Patchy appearance of skin
- Skin colour ranges from light to dark brown
- Patches worsen with sun exposure
Melasma appears in six locations or a combination of locations on your skin.
- Brachial: The melasma appears on your shoulders and upper arms
- Centro facial: The melasma appears on your forehead, cheeks, nose and upper lip
- Lateral cheek pattern: The melasma appears on both cheeks
- Malar: The melasma appears on your cheeks and nose
- Mandibular: The melasma appears on the jawline
- Neck: In people aged 50 or older, melasma can appear on all sides of the neck
CAUSES
- Radiation
- Ultraviolet, Visible light, or Infrared (heat) light
- Hormones
- Anti-seizure medications
- Estrogen/Diethylstilbestrol
- Genetics
- Hypothyroidism
- LED Screens
- Pregnancy
- Makeup (cosmetics)
- Phototoxic drugs
- Skin care products
- Soaps
- Tanning beds
- Day sleep
- Blood vitiating factors such as wrong food combinations, excess spicy foods and so on.
- Factors aggravating the pitta dosha like fear, anger, grief etc. Pungent, sour and salty foods.
RISK FACTORS
- Darker-skinned individuals
- Sun exposure
- Being a woman increases the risk of getting melasma.
- Having a blood relative with melasma may also increase the chance of getting melasma.
COMPLICATIONS
- Melasma can cause darker patches to appear on the skin, which can be permanent if left untreated.
- Skin cells: Melasma can cause skin cells to become damaged, leading to a range of skin health issues.
- Chemical peels and lasers may cause the surface layers of skin to die, cause post-procedure hyperpigmentation and hypertrophic scars.
MELASMA IN AYURVEDA
In Ayurveda melasma is correlated to “Vyanga”.
General pathophysiology associated with this – Pitta and Vata when vitiated affects the second layer of skin called Lohita causing painless blackish circular discoloration called Vyanga.
Vyanga is surely not a dreadful or serious disease. It has to be looked into and treated with priority so as to mask the discoloration of the face. Due to cosmetic importance, irrespective of age and sex it is the main concern in clinical practice.
TREATMENT PRINCIPLES
Melasma Treatment in Ayurveda depends on the severity of the disease. In early-stage melasma is treated effectively using ayurvedic medicines, dietary, and lifestyle changes.
When melasma is chronic in nature one may need to undergo detoxification therapies (panchakarma treatment) to cleanse the body and bring balance to doshas. Ayurvedic detoxification helps in correcting hormonal imbalances and increases the efficacy of the medicines.
Treatment principles include –
- Vamana
- Virechana
- Snehapana
- Vasti
- Abhyanga
- Dhara
PANCHAKARMA TREATMENT MODALITIES
- Nidana parivarjana
- Siravyadha (Venesection)
- Jalauka avacharana (Leech therapy)
- Pralepa
- Abhyanga
- Nasya Karma
- Rakta shodhaka
MEDICATIONS
AYURVEDIC FORMULATIONS
- Kumaryasava
- Chandanasava
- Mahamanjisthadi kashayam
- Chandraprabha vati
- Sarivadyasava
- Mahatiktam kashayam
- Lodhrasava
- Kaishora guggulu
- Khadirarishta
Pitta pacifiers includes,
- Kamadugha rasa
- Godanti bhasma
- Pravala bhasma
- Patoladi Kashayam
External application:
- Kumkumadi oil
- Nalpamaradi oil
- Eladi tailam
- Kanaka tailam
- Lodhradi lepa
- Matulungadi lepa
LIFESTYLE AND HOME REMEDIES
Beneficial foods
- Tomatoes
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Berries
- Fatty fish
- Avocado
Things to be avoided
- Foods high in copper – nuts, whole grains, shellfish, oysters, organ meats, and potatoes.
- High glycaemic index foods – refined carbohydrates, sugar-loaded foods, sugary snacks, white bread, and refined grains.
- Dairy products
- Spicy foods
- Citrus fruits
- Exposure to sunlight
Herbs used in melasma treatment
- Ela, Sariva, Manjistha, Haridra, Chandana, Amla, and Daruharidra are some of the herbs of choice for treating melasma.
AYURVEDIC HOME REMEDIES
- Make a paste of 10 grams of turmeric powder with 50 grams of aloe vera pulp. Apply this regularly.
- Simply rub turmeric powder over the affected areas once or twice a day. If possible, add a few drops of ghee to make a paste.
- Make a mix of 10 ml of kumkumadi oil with 10 grams of turmeric powder and 50 grams of aloe vera pulp – Make a paste – Apply this over the affected area, 30 minutes before bath every day.
- The drugs-tender buds of Jati (Jasminum officinarum), Vata (Ficus bengalensis), Nimba (Neem leaves) and Haridra (Turmeric-rhizome) are taken in equal quantity and fine paste is prepared. After thorough face wash this paste is applied. On drying this is washed and wiped with a clean cotton cloth. This helps to reduce the lesions of hyperpigmentation.
AYURDHAMA TREATMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES
- Initial Consultation with Ayurveda Doctor and daily follow up consultation.
- Accommodation
- All Ayurvedic Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Supper) & herbal drink
- Advice on Diet & Lifestyle Management
- Ayurveda Therapies – Customized for each client
- Yoga (once a day – Yoga Asanas, Breathing, Meditation and Relaxation)
Pathya (Restrictions) during Treatment Package:
During these treatment Clients should strictly follow the Pathyas (restrictions) –
- Only very light and warm food is allowed, Only warm water for drinking and bathing.
- No coffee and Black tea
- No Non veg food (meat – All types, Fish and eggs)
- No Alcoholic drinks
- No exertion (mentally and physically)
- No Day sleep
RESERVATION DETAILS
- We are committed to keep up the quality of our treatment programs and we take only a limited number of patients each month.
- So, we advise you to reserve your treatment programs a minimum one month in advance.
- The 50% charges of the treatment programs should be paid in advance to reserve the treatment programs.
- The advance deposit will be deducted from the total treatment programs and the balance must be paid on the first day of the treatment program.