Melasma and Rosacea: What to Know

Melasma causes flat brown or grey-brown patches, often on the central face. Rosacea commonly causes flushing, persistent redness, visible small vessels or acne-like bumps, and heat, alcohol, spicy food or irritating skincare may aggravate it. Redness can make pigment look more prominent, while inflammation may leave darker colour after a flare. Dark Patches On Skin and Uneven Skin Tone describe appearances, not a diagnosis; Sun-Damaged Skin can also resemble part of this picture.

Use a mild cleanser, moisturiser and broad-spectrum sunscreen, and introduce one new product at a time. Note personal triggers such as heat, hot drinks, alcohol, spicy meals, friction or fragranced products. During a rosacea flare, postpone aggressive exfoliation and discuss whether a Chemical Peel, Microneedling, Skin Brightening Treatment or Laser Toning is appropriate. Treating pigment while the skin is inflamed can increase irritation, so sequencing matters.

Photographs taken during a calm period and a flare can help your clinician separate redness from brown pigment. Mention eye grittiness, light sensitivity or eyelid symptoms, which may need specific rosacea advice.

Seek prompt medical advice for painful red eyes, blurred vision, marked facial swelling, pus or rapidly spreading warmth. Have any patch examined if it becomes raised, bleeds, crusts, forms a sore or changes quickly; those features should not be attributed to rosacea or melasma without review.

Which areas are pigment and which are rosacea redness? What triggers should I track? Should inflammation be controlled before considering a procedure, and what aftercare would reduce the chance of darker marks?