Medically reviewed by Deborah Lenchus, MSN, APRN · Last reviewed July 2026
If you’ve been fighting melasma with drugstore creams and getting nowhere, you’re in good company. Melasma is one of the most stubborn pigment problems I treat — but with the right medical approach, it really can get dramatically better.
So what is melasma?
Melasma shows up as brown or grayish-brown patches, usually on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, and bridge of the nose. It’s driven by a mix of sun, heat, and hormones, which is exactly why it’s so common here in sunny Florida and why it often flares with pregnancy or hormonal shifts.
Why it’s so hard to treat
Melasma sits deeper and behaves differently than an ordinary sun spot. Here’s the part people don’t expect: aggressive treatments, including some lasers and IPL, can actually make melasma worse by triggering even more pigment. That’s why a careful, customized plan from someone who really understands it matters so much.
What actually works
I build a layered plan that might include Cosmelan and Dermamelan pigment programs, gentle chemical peels, prescription-strength topicals, and carefully chosen devices — always with strict sun protection and good medical-grade skincare. Consistency and daily SPF aren’t optional; they’re the whole game with melasma.
What to avoid
Skip the harsh scrubs, the unsupervised strong lasers, and any picking — all of that can make pigment worse. Melasma is a marathon, not a sprint, and the goal is steady improvement without a rebound.
Let’s build your plan
Because melasma is so individual, the safest results come from a provider who lives and breathes it. I design and perform every pigment treatment personally at LuXe in Davie. Get in touch and we’ll start yours. — Deborah Lenchus, MSN, APRN