How I transformed my melasma patient's skin in 4 months!

My #melasma treatment pearls:

🔸 MOST IMPORTANT: Sun protection education. You cannot assume that your patient knows every sun protective practice. Review the importance of WHAT sunscreen to use, HOW often to apply, and other ways to sun protect aside from SPF — wide brim hats, limiting outdoor time during peak sun, and explaining that even a single episode of unprotected sun exposure can reset all melasma progress.

🔸 Review a patient’s medications to ensure they’re not taking something that could worsen their melasma such as a sun-sensitizing medication or certain types of birth control.

🔸 If using hydroquinone (HQ) consider a higher concentration such as 8% or 12%. So often I see melasma that is under-treated. Hit melasma hard and fast and then taper down once you’ve achieved control. HQ can often be compounded with other helpful ingredients like tretinoin, vitamin C, kojic acid, niacinamide, etc.

🔸 Consider oral tranexamic acid. This is probably my all-time favorite melasma fighter because over 85% of patients will see improvement on this medication. Only prescribe if you also feel comfortable performing an appropriate medical screening to ensure that your patient can be on this medication safely.

What melasma questions do you have?

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician. Some of the links in this description may be affiliate links (marked with *). Affiliate links help support my YouTube channel so I can continue to create fun, informational skincare videos for you. Also, some products may have been received as PR. Thanks for watching!