Melasma (Chhaiyan)
Do brown-grey patches on your cheeks get darker every summer? Melasma (chhaiyan) is a common pigment condition, especially in women with brown skin, set off by sun, heat and hormones. It can’t be cured for good, but with the right peel, laser or Infini RF and daily sunscreen, it can be made much lighter and kept down.
Also known as chhaiyan, chloasma or the mask of pregnancy.
Is this you?
- Patches on both cheeks, often shaped like a map
- They get darker after summer, sun or heat
- They started or worsened in pregnancy or on the pill
- Creams helped for a while, then the patches came back
See a doctor first if a patch is on one side only, is raised, itches or bleeds, or changes quickly.
What causes melasma?
- Sun and visible light UV and even daylight and indoor light darken the patches, so wear a tinted SPF 30+ every day.
- Hormones Pregnancy, the contraceptive pill and hormone treatment often set it off.
- Heat Hot kitchens, steam and hot weather can darken it, even out of the sun.
- Family history and skin type It often runs in families and is more common in brown skin.
- Irritating skin care Harsh scrubs, unlabelled whitening creams and products that sting make it worse.
How we treat melasma, step by step
- MildStep 1 · MildGlycolic Chemical PeelLight peels shed pigment near the surface; patches start to lighten after two or three peels.
- 4–8 peels, 2–3 weeks apart
- Little: brief redness
ModerateStep 2 · ModeratePicosecond LaserGentle settings break up pigment with very short pulses and little heat, which matters for brown skin.- 3–5 sessions, about 4 weeks apart
- Redness for a few hours to 2 days
StubbornStep 3 · StubbornInfini RF MicroneedlingWorks deeper, where melasma is driven, and smooths rough, dull texture at the same time.- 3–4 sessions, about a month apart
- Redness for hours to a few days
Free consultation
Not sure which one suits you?
A doctor checks your skin and goals, then tells you honestly what will work, and what won’t. No obligation.
Meet our 50 doctorsWe usually reply within 15 minutes.
What results to expect
Melasma fades gradually. With peels, patches usually start to lighten after two or three sessions. In a 2026 study of 50 people treated with radiofrequency microneedling, patches were about a third lighter on average after a median of three monthly sessions, and 84% had brighter skin.
The honest limit: melasma often comes back, especially after sun or hormonal changes. Daily sunscreen and an occasional top-up session keep it down, so we plan the upkeep from the start, not only the first course.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology: Melasma, diagnosis and treatment
- Kim HB et al. Radiofrequency microneedling for melasma: a retrospective study (Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 2026)
- Trivedi MK et al. A review of laser and light therapy in melasma (International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, 2017)
- Mahajan R et al. Glycolic acid peels in melasma in ethnic skin: a randomized controlled study (Indian Journal of Dermatology, 2015)
Caring for your skin at home
- Sunscreen every day, indoors too: SPF 30 or higher, ideally a tinted one, because visible light also darkens melasma. Reapply when you are outside.
- Use the cream your doctor prescribes, exactly as directed. Some lightening creams are only safe for a limited time.
- Skip unlabelled “whitening” creams. Some contain steroids that thin the skin and make patches worse later.
- Keep heat down: a wide-brimmed hat outdoors, and no steam rooms or saunas during treatment.
Questions people ask
Straight answers from our doctors to what people ask most about melasma.
Choosing a treatment 3
01What is the best treatment for melasma?
There isn’t one best treatment for everyone.
It depends on how deep the pigment sits and your skin type, which the doctor checks first. Most people do best with a combination: sunscreen and a cream every day, plus peels, a gentle picosecond laser or Infini RF.
02Which cream is best for melasma?
The right cream depends on your skin, so a doctor prescribes it after checking.
Prescription lightening creams work best with daily sunscreen, and some are only safe for a limited time, which is why using them without a doctor, or using unlabelled whitening creams, can do harm.
03Melasma or freckles: what is the difference?
Melasma is larger, blotchy brown-grey patches, usually on both cheeks; freckles are small, separate brown dots from the sun.
Freckles clear quickly with laser, while melasma needs gentler settings and upkeep. See freckles and pigmentation.
Cost & results 5
04Can melasma be cured permanently?
No treatment removes melasma for good.
Treatment can make the patches much lighter, and daily sunscreen plus an occasional top-up keeps them down. Sun and hormonal changes can bring them back.
05How many sessions will I need?
Glycolic peels are usually 4–8 sessions, 2–3 weeks apart.
Picosecond laser is usually 3–5 sessions about 4 weeks apart, and Infini RF 3–4 sessions about a month apart.
06Can melasma go away on its own?
Sometimes, if its trigger stops.
Melasma from pregnancy or the pill often fades within months after the birth or after stopping the pill; melasma from sun and heat usually stays unless it is treated and protected with daily sunscreen.
07Does melasma come back after laser?
It can, which is why laser is never the whole plan.
Sun, heat and hormones can bring patches back, so daily sunscreen, the right cream and an occasional top-up session keep the result.
08How much does melasma treatment cost?
It depends on the treatment and the number of sessions you need, so the doctor gives you an exact price at your free consultation.
For a first opinion, send a photo of your skin on WhatsApp.
Safety & recovery 2
09Is laser safe for melasma on brown skin?
It can be, with the right device and gentle settings.
Too much heat can make brown skin darker, which is why a doctor chooses the treatment and settings, often starting with a test area.
10Can I treat melasma during pregnancy?
Talk to your doctor first.
Melasma that starts in pregnancy often fades after the birth, and most treatments wait until then. Sunscreen is safe and helps in the meantime.
اردو میں خلاصہ
چھائیاں (میلازما) چہرے پر بھورے یا سرمئی دھبے ہوتے ہیں، جو عام طور پر دونوں گالوں، ماتھے یا اوپر والے ہونٹ پر نظر آتے ہیں۔ دھوپ، گرمی اور ہارمونز، جیسے حمل یا مانع حمل گولیاں، انہیں گہرا کر دیتے ہیں۔
کیا چھائیاں ختم ہو سکتی ہیں؟ یہ ہمیشہ کے لیے ختم نہیں ہوتیں، لیکن صحیح علاج سے کافی ہلکی ہو جاتی ہیں اور قابو میں رہتی ہیں۔
علاج: ہمارے ڈاکٹر پہلے آپ کی جلد کا معائنہ کرتے ہیں، پھر کیمیکل پیل، پیکو سیکنڈ لیزر یا انفینی آر ایف تجویز کرتے ہیں، ساتھ روزانہ سن اسکرین اور مناسب کریم۔
گھر پر: روزانہ سن اسکرین لگائیں، دھوپ اور گرمی سے بچیں، اور بغیر لیبل والی رنگ گورا کرنے والی کریموں سے پرہیز کریں۔
مفت مشورے کے لیے ہمیں واٹس ایپ کریں۔
