What is Melasma?
Melasma, also called Chloasma, occurs quite often in women who are pregnant or on the oral contraceptive, but also in perfectly healthy women who are neither pregnant nor on the pill. It may occur in men, but less often. It consists of brownish /grey patches almost always on sun-exposed areas, especially the forehead, cheeks, upper lip and/or chin. There is no rash or discomfort only the appearance of patches of variable severity which are always darker than the surrounding skin.
 
After decades of experience we would like share some of our skin camouflage tips for Melasma. These techniques can be adjusted to help with other examples of dark pigmentation due to birthmarks, injuries and skin conditions such as: Acne, Eczema Psoriasis, Melasma and Solar Lentigo (liver spots).
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Photo 6
Concentrated base cover cream applied over the top of the Orange Drop-in. Coverage built up in thin layers within the boundaries to match the natural skin colour.

Skin Camouflage Services understand that the complexity of scarring can for some people be of great concern. We know from our 25 years of practical assessments what can realistically be achieved with scars, pigmentation and colour difference. This has led us to form the opinion that the majority of scars benefit from skin camouflage  “as long as there’s a colour difference, but this has to include the patient’s ability to manage the application”.

Over the decades skin camouflage has become well known for its support for private patients, NHS patients, rehabilitation and for those that wish to pursue skin camouflage personal injury claims. For those of us that work in this field we know that it is a well-respected recognised profession that stands apart the make-up arena and what we also know, is that self-gratification and claims of covering scars for the benefit of the practitioner is not helpful. Suggestions that all scars can be camouflaged is questionable when the patient is unable to mirror the results themselves furthermore, we also know from the number of skin camouflage assessments that we carry out that some scars simply cannot be concealed for example due to location, the type and formation of the scar and in the absence of scar management.

The expert assessment below involved complex scarring in multiple locations. The focus of the skin camouflage appointment was for the patient to be able to choose which clothes she wanted to wear rather than having to wear a particular style of clothes that covered her scars.  In addition, it was essential that she could manage her appearance independently.

The scarring to the right shoulder displayed multiple colours with particles of black grit which had embedded as the wound healed.

Surprisingly the results achieved were relatively quick and easy using the criss-cross technique, however the challenge was for this lady who was right handed was to apply the cover creams to her right shoulder by herself.

Whilst the skin camouflage application was successful to all the sites of injury, we concluded on reflection that the help required to assist with the shoulder would likely limit the frequency of use and therefore its effectiveness would be restricted. Therefore, not all medico legal skin camouflage reports can claim that full cost recovery is fair and reasonable.

If you would like an opinion to clarify levels of skin camouflage quantum before dispatching legal instructions, please contact us at 10 Harley Street London.