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
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