shefinds > Solution: Melasma Is Not Attractive, Not Fun, But Also Not Impossible To Get Rid Of

Solution: Melasma Is Not Attractive, Not Fun, But Also Not Impossible To Get Rid Of

Last fall I spent a month in rural Africa. Loaded up with antibiotics (for malaria prevention), I was told to stay out of the sun. Right.

By the time I came home, the combination of antibiotics and direct sunlight made my faint freckles morph into gnarly brown blotches, also known as melasma. Common among pregnant women, it can also come from birth control pills or the combination of some topical antioxidants or antibiotics and sunlight. But whether it's the flip side of your pregnant glow or it's the result of too many days at the beach, it's definitely not hot.

Below are some safe, effective products that will treat your skin and get you back on track.

Best Skin Care Regimen: I love Murad's Essential-C Regimen ($163). It started toning down the blotches quickly, and it includes sunscreen.

Best Spot Treatment: DermaDoctor Immaculate Correction Hydroquinone-Free Skin Brightener ($62) has alpha-hydroxy acids, so it does double duty on fine lines and wrinkles.

Best Mask: If you don't want to change your skin care routine or add another step, Mario Badescu's Whitening Mask ($24) can be used 2-3 times a week. Instead of alpha-hydroxy acids, it uses natural ingredients like kojic acid, licorice, and mulberry so it's safe to use on skin with acne.

Best Sunscreen: I know you're sick of the SPF lecture—I am, too—but if you're prone to this kind of skin condition, sunscreen is really really a must, and the stuff in your foundation or tinted moisturizer probably isn't cutting it. ZO Skin Health Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 ($85) feels more 'primer' than 'sunscreen', so I don't mind wearing it.