Brandith Irwin, MD, Shares Melasma Secrets in a Recent Blog Entry on Cosmetic Dermatology Website, SkinTour.com

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) May 10, 2013

Every week, cosmetic dermatologist Brandith Irwin, MD, answers questions about skin care conditions, treatments and products from readers of her website, SkinTour.com. One of the questions Dr. Irwin answered this week provides information on melasma, a common issue in women.

Melasma is the brown splotchiness on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip, or jaw line that is triggered by hormones and light. While hormones stimulate the growth of cells that make brown pigment, natural light stimulates the production of even more brown pigment or melanin. According to Dr. Irwin, "You really have two problems, too many cells making brown pigment and light constantly stimulating those cells resulting in too much dark pigment."

Melasma usually shows up as brown spots or splotches on the forehead, cheeks, jaw line or upper lip. Especially common in women that are undergoing hormonal changes such as pregnancy, menopause, or even taking birth control, melasma can be difficult to treat once it gets started. If you think you may have signs of melasma, Dr. Irwin suggests your first step is finding a qualified dermatologist.

The most important tip from Dr. Irwin for women at home is, "Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! You will not have success treating melasma if you dont block light. Every time ultraviolet light hits these brown spots it makes them worse, that's why your sunscreen must block UVA as well as UVB." In addition to using certain types of UVA and UVB blocking sunscreens, she suggests that you double-up on the areas that have the most blotches with a mineral pigment sunscreen makeup like Colorescience, and finally, wear a hat.

Bleaching creams, microdermabrasion, and light peels can also help reduce discoloration. "If you are considering a laser treatment for melasma, it is imperative you see a dermatologist who is an expert with laser treatments because many lasers will actually make melasma worse," explains Dr. Irwin.

Unlike most prominent dermatologists, Brandith Irwin, MD has no financial ties to any skin care manufacturer or laser company. She does not sit on any boards, act as a spokesperson, accept any fees, or endorse any line of cosmetics. She is a board-certified dermatologist who practices in Seattle, WA, at the practice she founded, Madison Skin & Laser Center. Additionally, she has published multiple anti-aging books, the most recent titled, The Surgery-Free Makeover: All You Need To Know For Great Skin And A Younger Face.

SkinTour.com has quickly become a highly sought out source for cosmetic dermatology and skincare product information for women on the Internet. Serving as an unbiased skincare and beauty resource, dermatologist Dr. Irwin not only provides women with expert articles on cosmetic treatments and skincare product information, she also answers questions from users to help them get the most out of their skincare treatments. For more information please visit http://www.SkinTour.com.

New Relumins Skin Whitening Line Offers New and Safer Solutions to Battle Melasma

Asbury Park, NJ (PRWEB) May 31, 2013

There is new hope for the millions of women who are affected by melasma. Melasma is a common skin pigmentation condition, sometimes referred to as the Mask of Pregnancy. It affects 45-50 million women worldwide at a very emotional stage of their life. Pregnant women experience increased estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) levels during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy which can trigger melasma outbreaks. Melasma is a very common patchy brown, tan, or blue-gray facial skin discoloration. It typically appears on the upper cheeks, upper lip, forehead, and chin of women between 20-50 years of age.

Now, Relumins Labs, a New Jersey based skin care company specializing in natural solutions for difficult skin problems has launched a new line of topical and oral products designed to safely lighten melasma and improve the appearance of even severely hyperpigmented areas. The products feature pharmaceutical grade natural ingredients for general skin rejuvenation and brightening such as Glutathione, Kojic acid, Arbutin and Licorice which have been found to be powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents used to battle hyperpigmentation.

The management of melasma is challenging and sometimes requires a long-term treatment plan. Melasma used to be treated with harsh chemical peels, dangerous Hydroquinone and invasive various lasers or intense pulse light sources. Products or treatments like these can irritate or damage the skin and may cause an increase in melanin production and accelerate melasma symptoms. Recently the search for safer alternatives has given rise to the development of many newer agents, several of them from natural sources. People who are affected by melasma no longer have to seek dangerous treatments which sometimes can amplify the discoloration.

Before, I found the Relumins website, I was spending thousands of dollars consulting with various dermatologists, and trying painful chemical peels. It was emotionally draining! After I found Relumins, I immediately found successful natural solutions for my condition. I know my melasma will never go away completely, but now I feel confident knowing it is under control, says Monqiue, who has been fighting melasma since her teens.

When treating Melasma, discontinuation of oral pills especially contraceptives and avoidance of scented cosmetics is highly advised. It is important for anyone to take preventive measures, including avoiding sun exposure and application of extra sunblock to avoid stimulating pigment production which can lead to a melsama breakout.

For millions of women, these natural alternatives allow them to live their lives without a mask. Although there is no cure, having at home alternatives gives women a sense of normal compared to the helplessness previous treatments have offered.

Relumins products can be found at various fine retail outlets, including Amazon, Ebay, and Flawless Beauty and Skin by Sweet Suzzy.

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