Visible light, particularly blue light, drives pigmentation in darker skin types, and conventional UV-only sunscreens do little against it. Tinted sunscreens containing iron oxides block visible light and are the better choice for melasma.
Advise reapplication through the day, a broad-brimmed hat, and avoidance of midday sun. Without this, laser and peels tend to be followed by relapse.
- Recommend a tinted sunscreen with iron oxides for every patient with melasma.
- Advise reapplication every two to three hours outdoors.
- Add a hat and shade, since sunscreen alone is rarely enough.
- Reinforce photoprotection before and after any procedure for melasma.
Why it matters
Inadequate photoprotection is a common reason melasma returns after treatment.
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