If you have noticed a brown discoloration on your upper cheeks or upper lip then you may be suffering from a skin condition known as melasma. Exposure to sunlight may be one cause of this condition and hormonal changes may also play a role. The condition is known to affect more women than men. Melasma more commonly affects people who have darker skin pigmentation, and especially those who are living in sunny climates. Melasma is neither contagious nor cancerous. The real cause of this condition is not known but it is attributed to hormonal changes such as those due to pregnancy or birth control pills. Overexposure to sunlight is also thought to be a trigger for melasma. Currently there is no cure for melasma but treatment options are available to improve the skin appearance.

Some treatments for melasma include:

• Lightening and whitening creams
• Chemical peels
• Laser treatments
• All people with melasma MUST wear sunscreen every day