Written & reviewed by Dr Rupinder Singh Walia — MBBS, FRACGP, Dip. Dermatology (Cardiff, UK) · AHPRA MED0001647256 · special interest in skin cancer medicine & dermoscopy
✓ Melasma is harmless pigmentation — larger symmetrical patches, often on the face.
✓ It is commonly triggered by hormones (pregnancy, the pill) and worsened by sun.
✓ It is not cancer, but any single spot that stands out or changes is worth checking.
✓ Sun protection is central to managing melasma.
The signs that mean “get it checked”
New
a new, unusual spot
Changing
size, shape or colour
Growing
getting bigger
Bleeding
or crusting, or itching
Won’t heal
a sore that keeps returning
Any one of these is worth a doctor’s eye — skin cancer is often painless early on.
Melasma is a harmless form of pigmentation — larger, often symmetrical patches, usually on the face — commonly triggered by hormones (pregnancy, the contraceptive pill) and worsened by sun. Melasma itself is not a cancer, but any single spot that stands out from the pattern or is changing should be confirmed by a doctor. Because it is a cosmetic concern for many people, here is how it differs from sun damage, and when a spot needs a doctor’s eye.
MelasmaLarger symmetrical patches of facial pigmentation (circled)
Clinical image · Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Example only — appearances vary; see a doctor for any concerning spot.
What melasma looks like
Larger patches of brown or grey-brown pigmentation.
Often symmetrical — cheeks, forehead, upper lip.
Linked to hormones and sun; common in pregnancy.
When to have pigmentation checked
Melasma itself is harmless, but any single spot that stands out from the pattern, or that is changing, is worth a check — see sun damage & pigmentation. Sun protection is central to managing melasma. If a spot stands out, check it free; to treat the pigmentation itself, start with a free skin analysis.
Not a diagnosis; cannot rule cancer in or out.
Pigmentation or a changing skin lesion?
Melasma and post-inflammatory pigmentation commonly affect an area or pattern of skin. A single pigmented spot that is new, evolving, asymmetric, irregular, multicoloured, bleeding, not healing or different from your other spots needs clinical assessment.
No — melasma is a harmless form of pigmentation, not cancer. It appears as larger, often symmetrical patches, commonly on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip, and is frequently linked to hormones and sun.
How is melasma different from sun spots?
Melasma tends to be larger, patchy and symmetrical (often across the cheeks), and is hormone- and sun-related, whereas sun spots are smaller, discrete flat brown marks. A single dark spot that stands out from the pattern is worth checking.
Can melasma be treated?
Melasma can be improved with sun protection and topical treatments, though it can be persistent. A skin professional can advise — and it is wise to have any unusual single spot checked first.
See how Skin360AI keeps photos of the same skin area connected over time, while clinical decisions stay with a doctor.
See skin photo records → A structured photo record is not a diagnosis, cannot exclude skin cancer and does not replace an in-person examination.
Medically reviewed by Dr Rupinder Singh Walia (MBBS, FRACGP, Diploma in Dermatology — Cardiff University, UK; AHPRA MED0001647256). Last reviewed July 2026. This information is general and is not a diagnosis; it cannot rule skin cancer in or out. See your GP or a skin-cancer clinic in person for anything that concerns you.
MelasmaLarger symmetrical patches of facial pigmentation (circled)