Winter Skin Conditions of Psoriasis and Ichthyosis

Do's and don’t do for melasma

How can your diet help fade melasma?

Since melasma is caused by deep inflammation, there’s certain things you can do with your diet to actually bring down or even eliminate inflammation in your body. Inflammation isn’t difficult to get rid of, you just need to know how (and commit to doing it consistently). Not only will making diet improvements help get rid of the melasma, but overall, your skin will be much healthier, heal a lot quicker, have less redness and texture, and improve the signs of aging.

Eat real food

 Melasma is an inflammatory issue deep inside your skin. What causes inflammation is anything that irritates or stresses your body, or throws it off balance. Junk food, processed food, factory-made food, artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers, food coloring, and chemical additives are not supposed to be in our natural diet. We are made to eat real, natural, nutritious, fresh food. But, somewhere along the way we started eating processed foods, and over time that started breaking down and overburdening your body, causing irritation and inflammation. So if you want to heal your body to get rid of that inflammation, start eating foods that contain the nutrients your body needs, so it can start working properly again.

        This is so simple (and such an obvious solution), but so many people are hooked and addicted to processed foods and ingredients. It’s easy to be in denial of what it’s doing to your health, and how it could be affecting your skin. Eating real food means eating foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, meats, fish, eggs, herbs, spices, etc. Your food needs to be fresh, you need to be preparing it yourself, using quality ingredients. Avoiding inflammatory foods means avoiding junk food, fast food, pre-made food, processed foods, beverages, and ingredients. Anything that comes out of a bag, can, container, jar, box, or bottle is probably processed. If the food you are eating was made in a factory, has all sorts of chemicals added to it to enhance the flavor or preserve it, you shouldn’t be eating it.

1.     Wear sunscreen daily: One of the most common treatments for melasma is sun protection. Since sunlight triggers melasma, it is important to wear sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days and after swimming or sweating. Choose a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection, a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more, and zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide to physically limit the effects of the sun’s rays on your skin. Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside and reapply at least every two hours.

2. Wear a wide-brimmed hat when you’re outside: As a recent study in the journal Nature illustrates, sunscreen alone may not give you the sun protection you need. Whenever possible, seek shade and wear protective clothing in addition to applying sunscreen.

3.     Choose gentle skin care products: Choose skin care products that don’t sting or burn, as products that irritate the skin may worsen melasma. 

4.     Avoid waxing: Waxing may cause skin inflammation which can worsen melasma, so it’s important to avoid waxing areas of the body affected by the condition. Ask a dermatologist about other types of hair removal that may be right for you.

   Consult your doctor or dermatologist about your melasma. Your doctor may order a blood test to check for nutritional deficiencies and poor liver function that may be causing this condition. Melasma may also be a side effect of a medication you are taking. Ask your doctor to confirm this.

Eat foods that contain vitamin C and E. These antioxidant nutrients help repair sun damage to the skin that can cause melasma. These vitamins are found in foods such as citrus fruits, kiwis, nuts, almonds, brightly colored vegetables and in fish. Add more raw fruits and vegetables to get sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals in your diet. Avoid processed and packaged foods that contain preservatives and artificial chemicals. Allergic reactions and food sensitivities may also cause skin inflammation that can lead to pigmented patches. See your doctor for a diagnosis of your melasma before self-treating.

Food and Nutrition

Foods to be taken

·         Fruits like oranges, apples and grape fruit and vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and brussel sprouts should be taken. Fiber included foods should also be taken to prevent the formation of excess estrogen.

·         A folate or folic acid deficiency may lead to melasma. Foods that are high in folic acid include citrus fruits, nuts, green leafy vegetables and whole grains.

·         Eat foods that contain vitamin C and E. These antioxidant nutrients help repair sun damage to the skin that can cause melasma. These vitamins are found in foods such as citrus fruits, kiwis, nuts, almonds, brightly colored vegetables and in fish.

·         Drinking a glass of orange juice in the morning could be a great defense against the spread of this skin condition.

Foods to be avoided

·         Tamarind, Spicy, salty foods and drinks, brinjal, alcohol and caffeinated drinks

·         Foods high in sugar, gluten, and yeast