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Routine for Pigmentation-Prone Skin

Sunscreen is the base of this routine: daily, generous and reapplied. Marks take 3 to 6 months to fade, with no guarantees; matching patches on both cheeks (possibly melasma) need a clinician's assessment.

Written by the Oliareen editorial teamDermatologist review: pendingLast updated: 6 November 2026How we write

Why sunscreen comes first

Sun and visible light darken marks again. Without daily protection, no serum's results last. For post-acne marks, sunscreen is the best-supported prevention. Umbrellas, hats and shade help too.

What to expect, and what not to

  • Flat post-acne marks: fade slowly over months.
  • Evening out marks with ingredients takes at least 12 weeks, realistically 16 to 24.
  • Melasma can return, especially with sun and heat; that is not failure.
  • Changing your natural skin tone is not the goal of this routine.

Why not harsh exfoliation

On brown skin, irritation and inflammation can create new marks by themselves. Strong home peels, scrubs and many actives at once can backfire.

When a clinician should assess it

You cannot tell melasma from a face pattern alone: acne marks, sun spots and melasma are different and handled differently. Prescription treatment works best for melasma. Melasma is common in pregnancy; hydroquinone and retinoids are out then, so talk to your doctor.

Be careful with fast fairness creams

Mercury has been found in some fairness creams sold in Bangladesh (ESDO, 2025), and some hide steroids that can thin facial skin and leave it red and acne-prone. If you have used such a cream, take its name to a dermatologist.

Simple routine

Morning

  1. 1
    Gentle cleanser

    Irritation and inflammation can create new marks on brown skin.

  2. 2
    Optional: vitamin C or niacinamide

    May help even out marks under sunscreen; add once the base routine is settled.

  3. 3
    Moisturizer

    Keeps skin calm.

  4. 4
    Broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 50, PA++++; tinted is even better

    Iron oxides add some visible-light protection; reapply every 2 hours outdoors.

Evening

  1. 1
    Cleanser

    Remove sunscreen thoroughly.

  2. 2
    Optional: azelaic acid

    Helps both marks and acne, and is generally considered acceptable in pregnancy.

  3. 3
    Moisturizer

    Softens irritation from actives.

General education, not a diagnosis or treatment plan.

Questions people ask

Is every brown patch melasma?

No. Post-acne marks, sun spots, freckles and melasma differ. Matching patches on both sides may be melasma, but a doctor should confirm.

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Sources

  1. Indian melasma consensus 2017 (Pigmentary Disorders Society)
  2. NHS — Melasma
  3. PRISM-ISF Indian sunscreen consensus 2025
  4. Mar et al. Sunscreen and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, Australas J Dermatol 2025
  5. ESDO Bangladesh — mercury tests of fairness creams (2025)
  6. Oliareen research base — pigmentation timelines (azelaic acid trials, tyrosinase inhibitors)