Hyperpigmentation is a broad term to describe general areas of skin discoloration that are

darker in tone than the surrounding skin.

 

There are several common types of hyperpigmentation, including sun spots, melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)

 

Melasma is a skin condition that is a more specific type of hyperpigmentation characterised by patches of skin that are brown or brownish-gray in color.

 

Melasma is triggered by various factors that differ from other types of hyperpigmentation i.e. sun exposure, tanning beds, hormonal changes (i.e., pregnancy and oral contraceptives), certain medications, skin tone, genetics, and thyroid disease.

 

All melasma is hyperpigmentation, but not all hyperpigmentation is melasma.

 

If the underlying cause of Melasma isn’t treated (i.e hormone balancing / stopping medication which has caused melasma) then the treatments will not work.