Melasma is the most common pigmentary disorder among Filipino women, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and mistreated conditions in aesthetic medicine.
What Is Melasma?
Melasma presents as symmetrical brown or gray-brown patches on the face. In the Philippines, melasma affects an estimated 35–40% of women aged 25–50.
Why Standard Treatments Fail
**Hydroquinone alone is insufficient.** Monotherapy achieves only partial results in most Filipino patients.
**Aggressive lasers make it worse.** The wrong laser settings can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
**No sun protection = guaranteed relapse.**
What Actually Works: The Combination Approach
Dr. Maria Chen of Simply Skin has developed a protocol that achieves 85% improvement rates:
**Topical therapy:** - Hydroquinone 4% (prescription strength) - Tretinoin 0.05% - Mild topical steroid - Azelaic acid 20%
**In-clinic treatments:** - Low-fluence Q-switched laser - Chemical peels at very low concentrations - Microneedling with tranexamic acid
Timeline and Expectations
Month 1–2: Minimal visible change. Month 3–4: First noticeable lightening. Month 6: Significant improvement for most patients. Month 12: Optimal results.