Can sun-damaged skin cause melasma?

Melasma causes flat tan, brown, or grey-brown patches, usually across the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip. Ultraviolet exposure can stimulate pigment-producing cells and make existing patches darker; repeated exposure may also make improvement harder. Melasma is not the same as ordinary sun spots, and facial pigmentation can have other causes, including medication effects or an inflammatory rash. A clinician can assess the pattern and your history.

Use daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, reapply when outdoors, and add a hat, sunglasses, and shade. Choose gentle, fragrance-free skincare because irritation can worsen uneven pigmentation. A dermatologist may suggest prescription creams, procedures, or a combination after considering pregnancy, breastfeeding, skin sensitivity, and previous treatments. Improvement is often gradual, and maintenance helps limit recurrence.

Arrange a review if pigmentation is new, spreading, itchy, scaly, painful, or confined to one unusual spot. Seek care sooner for a lesion that bleeds, crusts, develops a firm lump, or changes in texture, since those features are not typical of uncomplicated melasma.

Does the pattern fit melasma? Could a medicine, hormone change, or another skin condition be contributing? Which treatment is suitable for my skin tone, and how can I prevent irritation?