At a glance
- Term
- Melasma
- Area
- Skin
- Measurable from a selfie
- Yes: symmetrical brown patches on the cheeks and upper lip
- Evidence
- Established
- Related
- Hyperpigmentation, Tranexamic acid, SPF
What the brown patch pattern means
Melasma describes a pattern of pigmentation, rather than every brown mark on your face. Its typical pattern includes symmetrical patches across the cheeks, forehead or upper lip.
Hyperpigmentation is the broader term for darker pigmentation. Calling a patch hyperpigmentation doesn't establish that it's melasma. The location and pattern help describe what you see, but they don't replace a diagnosis.
What a selfie can measure
Measurable from a selfie: yes. A photo can record symmetrical brown patches on the cheeks and upper lip. That records their visible appearance, rather than proving why they're there.
The free face scan reports acne, pores, redness, oiliness, dark circles and structure signals from one photo. It states the limits of that single image.
Don't read those outputs as a melasma diagnosis. Measuring visible skin signals and identifying a medical condition are different tasks.
What the evidence status tells you
Evidence: established. Melasma is a recognised skin condition. The American Academy of Dermatology's Melasma: Overview describes facial patches and explains that melasma can return after treatment.
That evidence status doesn't make a photo score a fixed fact about your face. A result describes the image being assessed; it doesn't establish the cause of your patches.
Why sunscreen remains part of treatment
Sunscreen is the treatment that matters most because light helps drive melasma. Keep using sun protection when patches fade. Improvement doesn't mean the tendency to develop them has gone away.
The related SPF entry explains the sunscreen term. If you're considering tranexamic acid, discuss treatment choices with a dermatologist rather than choosing from a scan.
See a dermatologist if you aren't sure what the patches are or want help treating them. A photo can't settle that question.
Questions people ask
- Does melasma mean any brown patch on the face?
- No. Melasma describes a particular pattern of symmetrical brown patches, often on the cheeks, forehead or upper lip.
- Can melasma come back after it fades?
- Yes. Melasma can return when you stop protecting your skin from light, so sunscreen remains part of ongoing care.
- Does a face scan confirm melasma?
- No. A selfie can record visible brown patches, but a scan result doesn't establish their cause. A dermatologist can assess whether they're melasma.
Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.
Related pages
The closest pages in this section, picked by topic rather than by date.
- Understanding hyperpigmentation meaningUnderstand hyperpigmentation meaning, what darker patches show in a selfie, how sun protection helps, and why fading takes time.
- spf meaning: What the sunscreen number tells youUnderstand the spf meaning, what SPF 30's UVB protection tells you, why broad spectrum matters, and why a selfie can't measure sunscreen cov
- Skin collagen meaning: what it does and what helpsUnderstand collagen meaning, its role in skin firmness, why a selfie can't measure it, and how sunscreen and retinoids compare with drinks.
- Comedone meaning: Blackheads, whiteheads and photosComedone meaning explained: how blocked pores form blackheads and whiteheads, what a selfie can measure, and where acne treatments fit.
- Dark circles meaning: what under-eye darkness tells youDark circles meaning: understand pigment, visible blood vessels and hollow shadows, what a selfie can measure, and why lighting changes the
- Skin elastin meaning: why skin springs backUnderstand elastin meaning, how it helps skin snap back, why a selfie can't measure it, and why sunscreen matters more than promises of repa