Featured Dermatologists
Todd Minars, M.D.
Learn about Pigment Problems from
Nelson Lee Novick, M.D.
Learn more about Brown Spots from
Gerald Goldberg, M.D.
"Brown spots" is an intentionally vague term. But most people do not know the medical term for the type of brown spots that they have. Some people are familiar with the term melasma, which is also called "the mask of pregnancy" (though you do not have to be pregnant to have it). Another very common form of "brown spots" is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Acne patients with darker skin are familiar with this form of "brown spots." In these patients the inflammation from their acne leaves them with brown pigmentation on their face that can last from months to years. Any type of inflammation can leave this form of pigmentation: burns, irritation from shaving, plucking, or ingrown hairs. Both of these conditions: melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation are notoriously difficult to treat. In fact, they are even notoriously resistant to laser therapy, so we turn to bleaching creams.
Learn more about Brown Spots from Todd Minars, M.D. of Hollywood, Florida.
Melasma (sometimes also called chloasma) is a distressing disorder of abnormal, spotty overpigmentation. In 60 percent of cases it affects the faces of women who are either on birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy or are pregnant. For the latter reason, it is commonly referred to as the "mask of pregnancy." However, in the remainder of instances its cause is unknown and it spontaneously appears in men and women with no glandular problems and on no hormonal medications.
Sun exposure has been strongly implicated as an aggravating factor. And since it is seen more frequently seen in darkly pigmented Caucasions (eg. Hispanics and those of Mediterranean origin) and in certain Oriental populations, an inherited tendency is also believed to play a role.
Learn more about Melasma from Nelson Lee Novick, M.D. of New York City.
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