Melasma, also known as "liver spots" or "dark spots," is a skin condition characterized by excessive postnatal deposition of melanin. The lesions are light brown, dark brown, or black-brown patches, with clear borders and often irregular edges, resembling a map or a butterfly. They are symmetrically distributed on the face, have a smooth surface, no scales, and no subjective symptoms, but they often worsen after sun exposure. This condition is commonly seen in women and can occur from puberty to menopause. If it occurs in pregnant women, it is called melasma of pregnancy and may gradually disappear after childbirth without treatment.
The etiology and pathogenesis of this condition are complex, often associated with liver, spleen, and kidney dysfunction, uterine dysfunction, and damage to the Chong and Ren meridians, resulting in imbalance of qi and blood, with either deficiency of nourishment of the face by essence and blood (deficiency pattern) or congestion and stasis of phlegm and turbidity in the face (excess pattern). In clinical treatment, in addition to administering internal traditional Chinese medicine based on syndrome differentiation, the use of traditional Chinese medicine facial masks as adjuvant therapy has shown good efficacy.
Traditional Chinese medicine facial mask recipe: Bai Shao (white peony root), Bai Zhi (white angelica root), Bai Fu Ling (poria cocos), Bai Ju Hua (chrysanthemum flower), Bai Ji (bletilla), Bai Jiang Can (bombyx batryticatus), Bai Xian Pi (white fresh bark), Dan Shen (salvia miltiorrhiza), Mu Dan Pi (moutan bark). Grind the above ingredients to a fine powder and sift through a 100-mesh sieve. Store in a dry bottle for later use.
Usage: Take 30 grams of the above powder, add 10 grams of pearl powder, and an appropriate amount of honey and white vinegar to make a paste. Apply it to the affected area, leave it on for 20-30 minutes, and rinse off with water. Apply 1-2 times daily, for a total of 20 days as one course of treatment.
In the recipe, Bai Ju Hua clears heat and detoxifies; Bai Zhi, Bai Fu Ling, and Bai Xian Pi detoxify and dry dampness; Bai Ji, Bai Jiang Can, Bai Shao, Dan Shen, and Mu Dan Pi cool the blood, promote blood circulation, dispel stasis, and promote tissue regeneration. According to "Ben Cao Xin Bian," Bai Jiang Can "eliminates various wind disorders of the skin and can eliminate black dryness and various scars." "Zhong Hua Ben Cao" states that Bai Zhi "eliminates facial gan blemishes" (gan blemish refers to melasma). "Hai Yao Ben Cao" states that pearl powder "eliminates facial gan," "detoxifies, and promotes skin regeneration." Modern pharmacological studies have shown that both Bai Shao and Bai Fu Ling have anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, and immune-enhancing effects, and Dan Shen promotes tissue repair and regeneration. When stasis is removed, new growth occurs, when toxins and heat are resolved, and when the body's resistance is enhanced, the patches fade away.
Most of the ingredients in the recipe are white herbs, which can achieve the effect of "nourishing white with white." Even if there are no patches on the face, women who love beauty can use this recipe for daily maintenance, once a week, to achieve the effects of whitening, nourishing, and preventing melasma. At the same time, it is important to avoid sun exposure or UV radiation and maintain a calm mind and regular bowel movements.
