Journal of Asia Pacific Aesthetic Sciences

Abstract: This severity of melasma, a common aesthetic issue, can range from a mild pigmentation during pregnancy that goes away on its own to a persistent, problematic, disfiguring condition. Melasma has a complex pathogenesis which is still unexplained. However, exposure to UV radiation and genetic or hormonal factors are important contributors. Since ultraviolet exposure has a well-known ability to stimulate proliferation of melanocytes, their migration and melanogenesis, its exposure is a major triggering and exacerbating factor in the development of melasma. In melasma cases reported with usage of estrogen-progesterone oral contraceptives by mechanism of induction of melasma by estrogen may be related to the presence of estrogen receptors on the melanocytes that stimulate cells to produce more melanin. Clinical features of melasma are symmetry of hyperpigmentation and distribution related to trigeminal nerves, which suggest that neural involvement may play a role in pathogenesis of pigmentation. Clinically, melasma presents as a symmetrically distributed macular pigmentation with irregular borders, which can vary in color ranging from a light to dark, brown or brown, gray. The Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) used to assess melasma patients. There are numerous melasma treatment options available today, each with a varied success rate. Today, there are plenty of melasma treatments available, each with a different success rate. This article will discuss current advancements in low fluence 1064nm Q switched Nd:YAG laser melasma treatment and its implications for new therapeutic strategies.