Thus, there’s no medical reason to treat it unless it bothers you.
If you do choose to treat your melasma, it can be a slow and difficult process.
Avoiding triggers is usually the best way to deal with the condition.
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
Avoiding Triggers
The best way to control melasma is to avoid the things that trigger it.
This may mean wearing sunblock and/or discontinuing the use of certain medications or skincare products.
Sun exposure is a chief trigger factor for melasma development.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Just a small amount of sun exposure can darken your melasma.
For those days when you are spending a lot of time outside, reapply sunscreen frequently.
Also, consider wearing a hat or spending as much time as possible in the shade.
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Even after treatment works and melasma has faded, you’ll need to continue strict sun protection.
It is possible for your melasma to completely return after just a few hours in the sun.
An added benefit is that you’ll also be protecting your skin fromphotoagingandskin cancer.
Some people may also develop melasma after they start or stop hormone replacement therapy.
Products That Irritate Skin
Skincare products that irritate your skin may make your melasma worse.
Avoid scented soaps and other products with fragrances.
Retinoids and other skincare products that cause increased sun sensitivity may also worsen your melasma.
Other Factors
Risk Factors
Certain people may be more prone to developing melasma.
Melasma takes a long time to fade; you won’t see improvement for several months.
Some helpful ingredients to look for:
Do Home Remedies Help?
In general, home remedies aren’t incredibly effective at improving melasma.
Other home remedies may actually make melasma worse.
Don’t apply things likelemon juice,apple cider vinegar, raw onion, or garlic to your skin.
Lemon also is aphotosensitizer, so it makes your skin much more susceptible to sun damage.
In this case, prescription medication is going to give you better results than OTC options.
Hydroquinone
This was the mainstay of melasma treatment for decades.
Hydroquinone is a topical medication that works by breaking down melanin in the skin.
This is a controversial ingredient though, as some question its safety citing potential carcinogenic effects.
Other studies have found no link between hydroquinone and cancer in human beings.
The United States Food and Drug Administration briefly considered banning the ingredient in 2006.
They also have mild skin lightening effects.
Tretinoin
Tretinoinis better known by brand names like Retin-A and Renova.
However, tretinoin is effective when used long-term as a maintenance cream.
It gives you the benefits of the aforementioned medications in one cream.
This treatment does work faster than using any one treatment alone, and it can improve even severe melasma.
Azelaic Acid
Azelaic acid is another skin lightening agent.
Like tretinoin, azelaic acid speeds up cell turnover and smooths the skin.
It evens out your skin tone, is fairly gentle, and can be used long term.
It is often used as an alternative to hydroquinone.
Tranexamic Acid
This drug is not used as often to treat melasma but is becoming more common.
Tranexamic acid is an oral medication that inhibits melanin production.
It’s not an approved melasma treatment and is used off-label.
Procedures
There are also in-office procedures that your dermatologist can do to treat melasma.
Even if it doesn’t disappear, it generally fades considerably.
Many of the medications used to treat melasma are not safe to use during pregnancy.
Until then, keep using sunscreen throughout your pregnancy and beyond to limit melasma development.
Do Melasma Treatments Really Work?
Treatment for melasma can be challenging.
Fading of hyperpigmentation takes a long time and may not be complete.
With consistent, long-term use of treatment, it is possible to achieve considerable improvement of melasma.
It is also possible for the condition to resolve on its own or to be unusually responsive to treatment.
Sometimes, however, melasma is a permanent condition.
Summary
Melasma is a condition that causes dark patches to appear on the skin.
There may also be a genetic component.
Melasma is difficult to treat and may take a long time to clear up.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no one best way to cure melasma.
Most dermatologists treat melasma with a multi-pronged approach of sun protection andtopical treatments.
In some cases, just avoiding the sun may be enough for hyperpigmentation to resolve.
You will need to continue to use sunscreen to prevent melasma from returning.
Melasma hyperpigmentation from pregnancy usually resolves on its own within a year or so after giving birth.
Other causes of melasma take between three months and a year of professional treatment to resolve.
If the hyperpigmentation has been around for a long time, it may take even longer to clear up.
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