20/04/2026
❓Melasma- what is it? ⬇️
Melasma is one of the most common pigment concerns I see in clinic.
A lot of people think it’s just sun damage, but melasma is more complex than that. sunlight plays a role, but melasma is also influenced by heat, hormones and inflammation in the skin.
That’s why it behaves differently from sun spots.
Sun spots are usually more predictable and tend to sit closer to the surface of the skin.
Melasma pigment can sit deeper and the pigment cells are often more reactive, which is why it can come and go or worsen over time.So treating melasma isn’t about one cream or one laser, we approach it in stages.
First is strict sun protection, ideally with a zinc-based sunscreen to protect from UV and visible light.
Second is reducing inflammation in the skin, because inflammation can stimulate pigment cells.
Third is using ingredients called tyrosinase inhibitors.
Tyrosinase is the enzyme that helps produce melanin, the pigment in our skin, and these ingredients help slow that process down.
Then once the skin is more stable, we can introduce treatments like MOXI, which helps the skin renew itself and gradually improve existing pigment.
Melasma treatment is really a combination approach and more about long term management than a quick fix.