Show Notes
Chloasma. The mask of pregnancy. The pill mo. They're all names for melasma — one of the most common, most stubborn and most misunderstood pigmentation conditions we see.
In this episode, Dr Samantha Davidson, Dr Kate De Ambrosis and Dr Ryan De Cruz react to some genuinely alarming home remedies doing the rounds online, then break down what melasma actually is, what triggers it, and what treatments are worth your money.
We cover why it's almost exclusively women, why your laptop screen matters as much as the beach, the difference between superficial and deep melasma, the over-the-counter products with real evidence behind them, and why "just laser it off" is usually the worst advice you'll get.
Fair warning: there is no cure. There is very good control.
⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Chloasma, the pill mo — what melasma actually is 00:29 Reacting to the lemon and lime face "hack" 02:46 How melasma shows up: forehead, top lip, cheeks 03:41 The three triggers — hormones, UV and heat 04:19 Why the light from your laptop counts 04:45 Oestrogen, the pill, and why it's almost always women 06:34 Sunscreen: zinc, titanium and the iron oxide trick 06:55 Tyrosinase inhibitors, explained without the jargon 07:38 Over-the-counter: what's worth buying at the chemist 08:50 Kojic acid, licorice, retinol and the tranexamic acid boom 09:47 Oral tranexamic acid 10:07 The Kligman formula — and why these derms split it up 11:27 The hard truth: control, not cure 12:08 Superficial vs deep vs combined melasma 13:02 Chemical peels and the ten-hour mud mask 14:14 Why one week in Bali undoes six months of work 14:53 Lasers: what works, and what makes it worse 16:15 IPL, BBL and infrared saunas — the warning list 17:06 Wrap up
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⚠️ As always, everything discussed is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personal medical advice. Please see your own healthcare professional.
#melasma #pigmentation #hyperpigmentation #dermatologist #skincare
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