Medically reviewed by Deborah Lenchus, MSN, APRN · Last reviewed July 2026
Melasma cannot be cured — but it can absolutely be tamed, and daily skincare is the foundation everything else stands on. Whether you do a Cosmelan or Dermamelan program or manage melasma with topicals alone, what you put on your skin every day decides whether pigment stays quiet or comes roaring back.
Sun protection is non-negotiable — even indoors
UV is the biggest melasma trigger, but visible light and heat also stimulate pigment — which is why melasma can worsen even on days spent inside near windows and screens. A daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, ideally a tinted mineral formula with iron oxides for visible-light protection, is the single most important melasma product. At LuXe we recommend and carry EltaMD and Pavise Daily Age Defense for exactly this reason. Reapply when outdoors, and add a hat — sunscreen alone cannot outwork a beach day.
Pigment-regulating ingredients that help
Well-supported ingredients include tranexamic acid, azelaic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide, kojic acid and retinoids, which work at different points in the pigment pathway. Prescription options such as hydroquinone can be effective when used in supervised cycles — not indefinitely — and that supervision matters, because overuse carries its own pigment risks.
The medical-grade lines we use for melasma
Our melasma routines are usually built from SENTÉ (its dermal-repair technology is gentle on reactive, pigment-prone skin), Hydrinity for barrier repair and calming support, Plated exosome-based serums for overall skin quality, and Pavise for advanced photoprotection. The right mix depends on your skin — melasma routines fail most often when they irritate, because inflammation itself drives pigment.
What to avoid
Aggressive scrubs, high-heat treatments, fragranced irritants, and unsupervised strong acids can all inflame skin and darken melasma. This is also why lasers are approached so carefully — read Can You Get Laser Resurfacing If You Have Melasma? before considering any energy-based treatment.
Skincare alone, or skincare plus a program?
For mild melasma, a disciplined routine may be enough. For moderate to severe melasma, a professional depigmentation program like Cosmelan or Dermamelan produces the bigger reset, with daily skincare maintaining the result afterward. Compare the two in Cosmelan vs Dermamelan, or see the full landscape in Melasma Treatment Options.
Ready for a plan built around your skin? Start with our melasma treatment guide or call (754) 715-5667 to book a consultation at LuXe Concierge Aesthetics in Davie, FL.