Characteristics of butterfly spots Are butterfly spots melasma?

Many people have heard of butterfly spots for the first time and don’t know what they look like. What are the characteristics of butterfly spots? Is butterfly spot melasma?

Characteristics of butterfly spots

1. They occur on the cheekbones, forehead and around the mouth, and are mostly symmetrical and butterfly-shaped, so they are also called "butterfly spots".

2. The initial color is like dust, which deepens over time and becomes light gray-brown or dark brown, dull and dry.

3. The size is irregular, the spots have clear edges, smooth surface, no inflammatory reaction, and no pain or itching.

4. Women who frequently use oral contraceptives and pregnant women will develop "pregnancy spots" on their faces, which is also a type of chloasma.

5. Women with chloasma often have menstrual disorders, premenstrual breast swelling, or chronic diseases.

6. Male patients with melasma are often accompanied by gastrointestinal dysfunction, etc.

7. Sun spots caused by frequent sun exposure are also a type of butterfly spots.

Is butterfly spot melasma?

Butterfly spots, which we usually call chloasma, are a relatively common condition of spots. Butterfly spots usually grow on the cheeks on both sides so they are very obvious, and therefore bother many girls.

There is no difference between melasma and butterfly spots, the two types of spots are actually the same. The reason why melasma occurs is that the appearance of melasma is mostly related to endocrine, especially the estrogen level in women. It is also related to some details of life and special periods.

Butterfly spots are caused by obstruction of the microcirculation between tissue cells, cell dissolution and death, and increased melanin to form pigmentation. The face has a thin epidermis and abundant capillaries, which makes it easy to form pigmentation. The pigmentation area is mainly in the basal layer of the epidermis, and the melanin particles increase significantly. In more serious cases, there is also more melanin in the melanophages in the dermis. Compared with normal, the number of pigment cells, melanin formation and the activity of melanin particles have different increases.