What should you know about melasma in English?

The patches are generally flat and may appear in a balanced pattern on areas exposed to light. Ultraviolet and visible light can encourage pigment-making cells to produce more melanin. Hormonal changes, heat, and irritation may also influence the condition. Melasma is not an infection and does not spread by contact.

Because several conditions can cause dark or uneven skin, a diagnosis should be based on the pattern and a skin examination rather than colour alone. A clinician may ask about sun habits, hormones, medicines, and skincare reactions.

Protect exposed skin with broad-spectrum sunscreen, shade, hats, and clothing. Reapply sunscreen as directed when outdoors. Choose a gentle cleanser and moisturiser, and stop products that sting, burn, or cause persistent redness. Scrubbing or rapidly changing products can increase irritation and make pigmentation harder to settle.

If pigment remains troubling, a dermatologist can tailor topical treatment and discuss procedures such as chemical peel, microneedling, skin brightening treatment, or laser toning. The safest choice depends on the diagnosis, skin tone, pigment depth, and risk of irritation; improvement may require a consistent plan rather than one session.

Book an assessment for new or persistent patches, especially when the diagnosis is uncertain or the area is changing. Seek prompt review if a mark bleeds, crusts, hurts, changes rapidly, or becomes raised. These signs have several possible explanations, so they call for examination rather than self-treatment.

Ask what features support melasma, what alternatives should be ruled out, and whether a medicine or skincare product may be contributing. Discuss daily light protection, realistic treatment goals, expected irritation, and what to do if pigmentation darkens after a peel, needling treatment, or laser.