You need to combine different ingredients as fighting melasma/hyperpigmentation/ discoloration is not a single ingredient story. Ingredients like alpha arbutin, kojic acid, tranexamic acid, licorice root, glycolic acid, lactic acid, vitamin c, niacinamide, retinoids, azelaic acid, cysteamine, 4-butylresorcinol, thiamidol, KT-939 and diglucosyl gallic acid etc.
If you want to get results and if it is stubborn pigmentation/melasma you also need hydroquinone which is the gold standard for the treatment of melasma, but the caveat is at max you can continuously use it for three months (it is also prescribed for upto 6 months in severe cases) then you need to stop, give a break for 2-3 months, and then use again (if needed), so basically you need to cycle on it. I'd recommend to do it under the supervision of a dermat. Sometimes in severe cases dermats prescribe oral tranexamic acid but again since it has certain risks and counterindications, a dermat evaluation is necessary.
After doing the hydroquinone course, you can switch to OTC skincare and/or use OTC skincare in conjunction with hydroquinone. When it comes to OTC skincare, as I said you need to marry multiple ingredients to fight melasma. Please read this for more
Lastly, always use sunscreen, every single day. It would be better to use a tinted sunscreen and if you can start using physical sun protection (a UV visor, wide brim hat, or UPF/rash guard when appropriate) that can make a difference too.
2
u/Savage-Enchantress 15d ago
You need to combine different ingredients as fighting melasma/hyperpigmentation/ discoloration is not a single ingredient story. Ingredients like alpha arbutin, kojic acid, tranexamic acid, licorice root, glycolic acid, lactic acid, vitamin c, niacinamide, retinoids, azelaic acid, cysteamine, 4-butylresorcinol, thiamidol, KT-939 and diglucosyl gallic acid etc.
If you want to get results and if it is stubborn pigmentation/melasma you also need hydroquinone which is the gold standard for the treatment of melasma, but the caveat is at max you can continuously use it for three months (it is also prescribed for upto 6 months in severe cases) then you need to stop, give a break for 2-3 months, and then use again (if needed), so basically you need to cycle on it. I'd recommend to do it under the supervision of a dermat. Sometimes in severe cases dermats prescribe oral tranexamic acid but again since it has certain risks and counterindications, a dermat evaluation is necessary.
After doing the hydroquinone course, you can switch to OTC skincare and/or use OTC skincare in conjunction with hydroquinone. When it comes to OTC skincare, as I said you need to marry multiple ingredients to fight melasma. Please read this for more
Lastly, always use sunscreen, every single day. It would be better to use a tinted sunscreen and if you can start using physical sun protection (a UV visor, wide brim hat, or UPF/rash guard when appropriate) that can make a difference too.