Coping and Support

Melasma does not impact a person’s overall physical health. However, people with the condition may feel embarrased, depressed or anxious due to their skin’s appearance. These feelings may lead to social isolation and loneliness and can be addressed by speaking with a psychologist.

Another form of support is the social networking site skinergy.ca. This site, managed by the Canadian Skin Patient Alliance, unites Canadians with melasma and other skin conditions to share advice, ideas, information and support.

To manage the physical symptoms of melasma, some people choose to cover the darkened patches with cosmetics. To prevent further damage, people with the condition must use sunscreen, even on cloudy or hazy days. A sunscreen that has a rating of 30 SPF or higher and that protects against both UVA and UVB rays is recommended. Some people with melasma use tanning beds in an effort to “even out” the appearance of their skin; however, this does not work, and tanning beds must be avoided as they can make the condition worse and have other dangerous side effects.