The Causes
Hormones are one of the main causes of melasma, which is why it is so prevalent during pregnancy, when women experience hormonal surges. “Though it isn’t exactly clear why yet, melasma and estrogen appear to be linked,” Dr. Mitchell says. “It’s thought that estrogen acts on the cells in skin that produce more pigment and increases the amount of tyrosinase [a pigment-forming enzyme] in the body.” An increase in estrogen can also make skin cells more sensitive to the sun. “These changing hormones result in excessive melanin production and, in turn, dark patches on your skin,” she explains. Additional factors that contribute to melasma are ultraviolet and infrared radiation, heat exposure, inflammatory conditions and genetics.
How to Prevent + Treat
Again, it’s SPF: Applying sunscreen daily, even when…