Cosmelan^®

FUN IN THE SUN. PATCHES ON THE FACE

Here in San Diego, we enjoy more than 300 sunny days a year, an average temperature of above 70 degrees and over 70 miles of beaches in which to have fun in the sun. It's perfect...perfect for the development of melasma.

Also known as the Mask of Pregnancy and chloasma, melasma is a common skin condition in which dark blotches appear on the face, especially on the cheeks, nose, forehead and upper lip. If you suffer from this hyperpigmentation of the skin, you've maybe noticed that the patches fade slightly during the winter months and darken when exposed to the sun's summer rays. You've also probably wondered as to exactly what causes the irregularly shaped spots. While the precise causes of chloasma are unknown, it is linked to sun exposure, hormones, genetics and to irritants found in everything from facial cleansers to creams and cosmetics. And although men can be affected, 90% of the time it's women who suffer from this skin disorder.

If you're lucky, the patches may disappear naturally. Unfortunately, they may also persist for a lifetime. Today, you no longer have to learn to live with the patches, because men and women are discovering the closest thing to a melasma cure - Cosmelan® Depigmentation Treatment. Schedule your confidential consultation with Dr. Schafer by calling his San Diego office toll free at (888) 306-3647 or schedule an appointment online.

COSMELAN® ISN'T LIKE OTHER DEPIGMENTATION TREATMENTS

Melanin is a naturally occurring, dark brown colored pigment found in the skin. Its purpose is to guard against ultraviolet light by absorbing it. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that initiates the production of melanin. Cosmelan® blocks tyrosinase, which in turn inhibits the process that leads to the hyperpigmentation of the skin. It improves upon other melasma treatments in many ways:

safe and highly effective against all types of brown spots
fast acting, easy depigmentation
compatible with each of the six skin types
minimal peeling
smooths and rejuvenates the skin
allows exposure to the sun
treatment can be initiated at anytime and utilized year round
additional benefits in the treatment of acne
does not contain Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)

In the past, melasma treatments included bleaching creams, microdermabrasion, laser, cryotherapy or TCA peels. Most of these methods to alleviate the Mask of Pregnancy provided unpredictable and inconsistent results. Even worse, they sometimes resulted in epidermal necrosis (destruction of skin cells), post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (as damaging to the skin and as difficult to remove as a tattoo) or scarring. Often times, these methods - specifically, a TCA peel - required some type of anesthesia, and involved downtime of at least a week. Cosmelan® not only eliminates melasma, but smooths the skin. And, with no adverse side effects and no downtime, you can continue to enjoy the Coronado lifestyle you've become accustomed to.

WHAT TO EXPECT

You can expect 95% of blotches to disappear 99% of the time. And, you can expect to see a noticeable improvement within the first week of melasma treatment.

The Cosmelan® Depigmentation Treatment is a two part procedure:

In Office: Dr. Schafer determines your particular skin type, your skin is cleansed and the Cosmelan® 1 mask is applied. Depending upon your skin type, the mask needs to be left on for 4 to 8 hours.
At Home: Using water and a neutral cleanser, you remove the mask. Immediately afterwards, you apply the mesoestetic® Hydra-vital factor K cream; this will reduce side-effects. Combining depigmentation agents such as Kojic Acid, Phytic Acid and Vitamin C, you then apply the Cosmelan® 2 cream twice a day during the first two weeks and once a day thereafter.

RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS

While Cosmelan® is proven to eliminate melasma, it doesn't take the place of you taking care of your skin, especially here in Southern California. If you don't already do so, you should wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 40, as well as discontinue the use of products with the potential to irritate the skin. Dr. Schafer can discuss these products with you, as well as whether you have recently undergone any glycolic acid treatments (such treatments must be discontinued at least a week prior to starting the depigmentation regimen).

Initially, you might experience some redness, and the skin might be sensitive, resulting in itchiness. Flaking, a minor burning sensation, as well as tightening of the skin is normal - reapplying the mesoestetic® Hydra-vital factor K cream will minimize these side effects. Do not discontinue Cosmelan® for any reason without discussing it first with Dr. Schafer. Additionally, it is imperative that you not combine other depigmentation treatments as the combination can result in undesirable effects.

THE SUN, THE SAND, THE SURF. ENJOY ALL SAN DIEGO HAS TO OFFER WITH COSMELAN® - THE CURE FOR MELASMA

Cosmelan®