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The Best Melasma Treatments for Hyperpigmentation

By Brittany Leitner

Published on Aug 8, 2023

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Studio portrait of a model with clear skin rocking a shimmery pink eyeshadow and nude pink lips makeup look Desktop

If you’ve ever noticed a darker patch of skin that seemingly appears out of nowhere, it’s likely to be melasma. Melasma is basically the fancy way of saying your skin produced an increased amount of melanin, causing some parts of the skin to appear darker than the rest of your skin. It can be caused by a number of different things, including hormone changes (many pregnant women develop melasma), UV damage, inflammation, or even acne, so it might be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause right away if you develop it.

Unfortunately, this is a skin disorder that mostly affects women. In fact, 90 percent of melasma cases are women, while just 10 percent occur in men. But the good news is, there are a number of over the counter products and treatments that can effectively help treat hyperpigmentation in the skin. Look for ingredients like azelaic acid, tretinoin, vitamin C, and alpha hydroxy acids to help promote cell turnover and treat any discoloration at the skin’s surface. Here are a few products that contain those ingredients to help reduce the appearance of melasma.

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1. Best Melasma Treatment for Dry Skin:

THE ORDINARY Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA

Any product that touts treating hyperpigmentation will help reduce the appearance of melasma. We love THE ORDINARY’s Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA because of the key ingredient (in the name!) alpha-arbutin. Alpha-arbutin is said to actually work faster than vitamin C to brighten skin tone and reduce dark spots in the process. Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate is a form of hyaluronic acid that has a lower molecular weight, therefore hydrates the skin’s surface better and faster.

2. Best Melasma Treatment for Acne Prone Skin:

GOOD MOLECULES Discoloration Correcting Serum

Niacinamide is another great ingredient to look for to help hyperpigmentation and this serum contains 4% of it. It also contains 3% tranexamic acid, which quickly penetrates the skin’s barrier to help prevent and correct discoloration.

3. Best Fast-Acting Melasma Treatment:

PAULA’S CHOICE 10% Azaleic Acid Booster

To me, you can’t really think about fading dark spots and discoloration without thinking of PAULA’S CHOICE. The brand is backed by over 20 years of research and routinely gets a five-star review from anyone who tries it. It makes sense why, because it contains 10% azelaic acid to quickly fade brown spots and acne scars while licorice root works as a natural skin brightener. To prevent any further issues, it contains salicylic acid to help unclog pores, prevent future breakouts, and clear out blackheads.

4. Best Anti-Aging and Melasma Treatment Cream:

SKIN MEDICA Retinol Complex 0.5

Retinol, squalane, and niacinamide make up the ingredients list in this retinol complex that will help brighten skin over time while rapid cell turnover will help with aging. It’s the perfect multi-action formula to use nightly if you’re also concerned with aging skin.

5. Best Melasma Treatment for Easily Irritated Skin:

FIRST AID BEAUTY Fab Skin Lab Resurfacing Liquid 10% AHA

Adding an AHA treatment to your routine will speed up cell turnover to brighten the skin’s appearance. This one contains a blend of four AHAs, including glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and malic acid to help resurface the skin and improve texture at the same time. If you deal with easily irritated skin, the combo of aloe, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid will help soothe and reduce redness at the same time.

6. Best Treatment for Melasma All Over:

SKINCEUTICALS Discoloration Defense

This formula is specifically developed for excess melanin production and uses ingredients like 3% tranexamic acid that helps stop the recurrence of skin discoloration, including clustered, brown patches. Since it also contains 1% kojic acid and 5% niacinamide, it’ll help improve the overall brightness of the skin.

7. Best Skin-Firming Melasma Formula:

TYPOLOGY Serum for Hyperpigmentation and Loss of Firmness with 5% Tranexamic Acid + Tetrapeptide

Thanks to 5% of tranexamic acid, this formula helps to limit the production of melanin because it actually blocks the interaction between skin cells and melanocytes (the skin cell that produces melanin). At the same time, since it contains an amino acid peptide blend (which the brand dubbed Tetrapeptide-2), estasin and collagen will be reinvigorated on the skin’s surface. We love this formula for anyone who is dealing with melasma in more mature skin.

8. Best Melasma Spot Treatment:

VERSED Out of Sight Dark Spot Gel

We love this gel as a spot treatment if you’re dealing with just one stubborn spot with melasma. As soon as you apply it, it stays put, thanks to the formula that is slow-drying and stays concentrated until it completely absorbs into the skin. It contains niacinamide, licorice root, and tranexamic acid (which is better for melasma than hydroquinone) since it can be used effectively on darker skin tones as well.

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