Melasma shows up as symmetrical brown or greyish patches, usually on the cheeks, forehead, nose bridge and upper lip. It’s triggered by sun, heat and hormones (pregnancy, birth control) — all common in Bangladesh. It’s manageable, not “curable” overnight, and the #1 rule surprises people.
Rule #1: sun protection is the treatment
No serum works if you skip sunscreen. Melasma is driven by UV and visible light and heat — so in BD you need broad-spectrum SPF 30–50, reapplied, plus shade and hats. This single step does more than any “whitening cream.”
Ingredients that genuinely help
- Azelaic acid — fades pigment, safe even in pregnancy. (guide)
- Niacinamide — reduces pigment transfer. (guide)
- Vitamin C — antioxidant + brightening by day. (guide)
- Tranexamic acid, alpha-arbutin — targeted pigment helpers.
- A gentle routine — over-exfoliating and harsh “fairness” creams make melasma *worse*. (See why cheap fairness creams damage skin.)
What to avoid
- Mercury/steroid “whitening” creams — they lighten briefly, then rebound darker and damage skin permanently.
- Aggressive scrubs and high-strength acids without guidance.
- Skipping sunscreen on cloudy days (UV still passes).
A simple BD melasma routine
AM: gentle cleanser → vitamin C or niacinamide → moisturizer → sunscreen (reapply midday).
PM: gentle cleanser → azelaic acid (or alpha-arbutin/tranexamic) → ceramide moisturizer. If pregnant, see the pregnancy-safe guide. For persistent melasma, see a dermatologist.
Buy authentic, effective products
Pigment actives only work if they’re real and properly stored. At TheSkinProof, every product is invoice-verified, batch-checked and climate-stored, with a 2× money-back guarantee. Browse verified brightening products.
Before you buy: check authenticity, not price
Don’t chase the cheapest product — look for the authentic one. A cheap fake can damage your skin, and using nothing at all does less harm than using a counterfeit. But a high price doesn’t guarantee authenticity either — people overpay for fakes too. So judge by authenticity, not price.
TheSkinProof offers free authenticity verification. Message our Facebook page with the product and we’ll analyze it and tell you whether it’s real or fake — so it’s important to verify before you buy anything. Or simply buy from TheSkinProof, where every product is already invoice-verified with a 2× money-back guarantee.