Melasma is a common skin condition caused by brown to grey-brown patches on the face. Typically this discolouration is quite even spread within one area. Most people get it on their cheeks, chin, nose bridge, forehead, and above the upper lip.

Referred to as sun damage, photo damage, DNA damage or solar damage, this skin condition is developed when ultraviolet (UV) light hits skin unprotected by sunscreen, causing DNA changes at a cellular level.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or hyper-melanosis, results from overproduction of melanin or abnormal melanin deposition in the epidermis or dermis following inflammation. Inflammatory mediators trigger melanocyte hypertrophy and activity, which increases melanin production in the epidermis.