No sunscreen will provide 100% protection.Wonder why the area around your mouth is dark and patchy? Let’s take a look at the causes of the hyperpigmentation and how you can get to eradicating them.

Sunscreens are not an alternative to clothing and shade, rather they offer additional protection.

Your doctor can refer you for free through the NHS. If your GP is concerned about your skin you are advised to see a Consultant Dermatologist – an expert in diagnosing skin cancer.

The British Association of Dermatologists recommends that you tell your doctor about any changes to a mole or patch of skin.

Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight.

Apply plenty of sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapply every two hours and straight after swimming and towel-drying.

When choosing a sunscreen look for a high protection SPF (current recommendations are SPR 50 or 50+) to protect against UVB, and the UVA circle logo and/or 4 or 5 UVA stars to protect against UVA.

Step out of the sun before your skin has a chance to redden or burn.

Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm when it’s sunny.

Choose sun protective clothing (with permanently sun-protective fabric, widely available for adults and children) if you have fair skin or many moles.

Protect your skin with adequate clothing, wear a hat that protects your face, neck and ears, and a pair of UV protective sunglasses.

If melasma improves, this effect can be maintained by protecting your skin from the sun. The most important thing you can do if you have melasma is to protect your skin from sunlight exposure and avoid the using sunbeds. You should only seek these procedures from reputable and qualified providers – your NHS doctor should be able to advise on this. This procedure should only be performed by a highly experienced laser operator.Ĭhemical peels, microneedling and laser are usually not available as NHS procedures. The success of laser therapy is variable, and there may be risks associated with this treatment, similar to those above.

Some types of laser also remove the outer layer of skin, whereas others target the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes). This may result in pain, swelling, infections and scarring (including keloids). Microneedling is a process where the skin is repeatedly punctured with tiny needles to help creams penetrate deeper into the skin.

Chemical peels should be undertaken by an experienced practitioner as they could make the pigmentation worse, lighten the skin too much or cause scarring. Chemical peels can improve melasma by removing the outermost cells of the skin that contain the pigment.

Dark patch above upper lip