Not all pigmentation is the same, and treating it well starts with knowing which type you have. Two of the most common I see are sun spots and melasma, and while they can look similar, they behave very differently. Here is how to tell them apart.
Sun spots
Sun spots, sometimes called age spots, are the small, well defined brown marks that come from years of sun exposure. They tend to sit where the sun hits most, the cheeks, forehead and backs of the hands, and they usually appear as separate spots rather than large patches. They are the more straightforward of the two to improve.
Melasma
Melasma is different. It shows up as larger, blurrier patches, often symmetrical across the cheeks, forehead or upper lip, and it is driven by hormones as well as sun. That is why it so often appears in pregnancy, with the pill, or around the menopause. It is more stubborn, more prone to coming back, and it needs a gentle, patient approach rather than anything aggressive.
How to treat both
The good news is the core approach helps either way. Brightening actives that calm excess pigment, like the tranexamic acid in my Hyaluronic TRX and my Mela Drops, gently fade the marks over time. And with both, but especially melasma, daily SPF is non negotiable, because sun undoes all your progress. Meso Shield 50 every day, rain or shine.
One honest caution
Melasma is easy to make worse with harsh treatments, so if you suspect that is what you have, it is really worth getting it looked at rather than guessing. Book a consultation and I can tell you which type you are dealing with and build the right, gentle plan. Everything I trust is in my Pigmentation and Uneven Tone edit.
Donna x