Melanin gives skin its natural colour. Extra melanin can appear after inflammation, including acne, eczema, picking, a burn or another injury. Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is often flat and brown, although its depth and duration vary. Melasma more often creates broad, fairly symmetrical patches on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip or nose, and sunlight can make it more noticeable. Age spots are associated with accumulated sun exposure. South European, Middle Eastern, Asian and African skin tones can be more prone to persistent marks, particularly after inflammation or frequent exposure to sunlight.
Sun protection should come before a cupboard full of treatment products. Apply a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher generously to the face, ears and neck each morning, then reapply during prolonged outdoor activity, sweating or repeated face wiping. A hat, shade and sunglasses reduce exposure as well. Visible light may aggravate melasma for some people, so a tinted sunscreen containing iron oxides could be worth discussing with a pharmacist or dermatologist. Sunscreen will not remove an existing mark, but it helps prevent fresh pigment signals from repeatedly darkening the area.
A simple routine is easier to assess than a crowded one. Use a gentle cleanser, a plain moisturiser and one suitable active ingredient. Azelaic acid may help uneven colour while also supporting acne prone skin. Topical retinoids can encourage turnover of pigmented surface cells, but they may cause dryness and irritation, especially during the first weeks. Vitamin C and kojic acid are other options, although sensitive skin may react to either. Advice labelled as the best treatment for pigmentation on face still needs to be judged against your skin type, medical history and the suspected cause.
Introduce a new product on a small area first and consider using it on alternate nights rather than every evening. Keep a note of the date you start, the quantity used and any stinging, redness or scaling. That record is more useful than changing products every few days because a mark looks unchanged in the mirror. Do not apply retinoids or exfoliating acids to cracked, sunburnt or already inflamed skin. If burning persists rather than settling quickly, stop the product, use a bland moisturiser and simplify the routine until the barrier feels comfortable.
Scrubs, rough cleansing brushes, repeated peels and mixtures of strong acids can injure the outer barrier. Barrier damage may cause inflammation, water loss and further darkening, particularly in reactive or richly pigmented skin. Professional care can be appropriate if careful home treatment has not helped. A dermatologist may discuss prescription retinoids, hydroquinone where suitable, or other options for stubborn marks and melasma. Chemical peels, microneedling and selected lasers may help some patients, but treatment settings and aftercare matter because additional injury can worsen pigmentation.
Before a procedure, ask who will perform it, which skin types they regularly treat and what happens if pigmentation flares afterwards. Seek medical assessment for a single dark spot that is enlarging or irregular, or one that bleeds, itches or hurts, rather than treating it as a cosmetic mark. For practical skin-brightening guidance, use reliable advice alongside a qualified clinician, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding or while taking medicines that increase sensitivity. Photographing the face monthly in the same room and lighting can show gradual change more reliably than daily mirror checks, while controlling new acne remains central to preventing fresh marks.
