Common mistakes made in treating melasma:

• Avoid severe scrubbing. You might think you are removing the top layer of pigmented cells but you may in fact be worsening hyperpigmentation through irritation and any results you think you see are temporary. Your skin is a living organ, so it will grow back. To treat melasma e ectively you need to slow the rate of melanin production by using tyrosinase inhibitors.

• Avoid irritation from fragrance, alcohol and essential oils as you are already loading the skin with actives at night, so you need to minimise the chances of your skin reacting.

• It’s preferable to use fatty moisturiser on top, particularly if you have dry skin.

• Apply your actives two hours before sleeping so they have time to dry and don’t come o on your sheets.

• You need to reapply your sunscreen every 2-3 hours and avoid direct sunlight. No tyrosinase inhibitors are stronger than the e ects of UV on melasma.

• Avoid applying any acids during the day. g