What should you know about melasma red?

Facial redness can appear around pigment when skin is sensitive, recently exfoliated, sun-exposed, overheated, or reacting to a product. Burning, scaling, bumps, or persistent flushing may point toward irritation, rosacea, dermatitis, or another diagnosis rather than melasma alone. A clinician can examine the colour, texture, distribution, and timing. [Melasma](/conditions/melasma/) and [Uneven Skin Tone](/symptoms/uneven-skin-tone/) can coexist, but one does not prove the other.

Use a mild cleanser, bland moisturiser, and daily sunscreen; pause scrubs, fragranced products, and strong actives if they sting. Reduce heat exposure and use shade when outdoors. Do not start a peel or laser while the skin is actively inflamed without professional guidance. Once the barrier is settled, a clinician may discuss [Skin Brightening Treatment](/treatments/aesthetic-procedures/skin-brightening-treatment/), [Chemical Peel](/treatments/aesthetic-procedures/chemical-peel/), or another measured approach. [Sun-Damaged Skin](/conditions/photoaging/) can also contribute to uneven colour.

Book an assessment if redness lasts, repeatedly burns, flakes, forms bumps, or follows a new treatment. Seek prompt medical care for facial swelling with breathing difficulty, severe pain, blistering, fever, or rapidly spreading redness. Any pigmented spot that changes quickly, bleeds, crusts, or becomes irregular needs examination.

Ask whether the redness is irritation, rosacea, dermatitis, or part of another process; which products should stop; and when pigment treatment can restart. Show photographs from before the flare and ask whether your [Dark Patches On Skin](/symptoms/dark-patches-on-skin/) need a separate check.