The Sun
Melasma is all about the melanocytes reacting to specific things and letting out more melanin. One reason why those who live in tropical climates tend to suffer more from melasma is due to the sun’s rays. Not only do a majority of the people who live in tropical climates have darker skin tones, but the sun also shines brightly throughout most of the year. The result is an increased chance of melasma due to exposure to the sun, but also an increased chance of making melasma worse. Of course, melasma becoming worse doesn’t necessarily mean anything potentially life-threatening or even uncomfortable. By becoming worse, it means the dark patches become darker.
As such, one way to help eventually get rid of melasma is to protect your face from the sun’s rays. Various light and heat sources can also potentially make things worse, but not nearly as much as the radiation from the sun. The rays affect the melanocytes, which results in even more melanin. Getting too much sun also means the potential for skin cancer, even if melasma is considered non-cancerous.
