What should you know about melasma skin treatment?

Melasma can sit at different depths in the skin and may be influenced by hormones, sunlight, visible light, heat, or irritation. A clinician considers your skin tone, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, medicines, previous reactions, and the pattern of pigmentation before recommending a plan. Treatment is usually about control rather than a single quick fix, because the colour may return when triggers are repeated.

Start with gentle cleansing, regular moisturising, and broad-spectrum sun protection. Add prescribed or clinician-selected pigment treatments only as directed; using several irritating products together can make patches darker. Depending on your assessment, options may include skin brightening treatment, a chemical peel, microneedling, or laser toning. Ask about preparation, expected peeling or redness, aftercare, and how long to pause active products. Never use an unlabelled lightening cream.

Contact the treating clinician if burning, swelling, blistering, marked redness, or worsening discoloration follows a product or procedure. Arrange a diagnostic review for a new patch that is bleeding, crusting, painful, rapidly changing, or unlike the other areas. Cosmetic treatment should wait until an unusual lesion has been examined.

What is the safest starting treatment for my skin? Could pregnancy, breastfeeding, or my medicines change the options? What reaction is expected after a procedure, and when should I contact you?