Exactly What A Top Derm Does To Keep Her Hyperpigmentation Under Control

Step 1. Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation that lives on and beneath the skin’s surface. It’s caused by hormones, and it often appears first during pregnancy, but mine has lasted eight years post-pregnancy. After my morning workout, I use cleansing wipes to remove oil and then apply an antioxidant serum; it neutralizes free radicals before they can trigger the pigment cells in my skin.
Buy it: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths, $9, amazon.com; Neocutis Reactive Anti-Oxidant Serum, $90, amazon.com

Step 2. Even though hormones, and not the sun, brought on my melasma, UV exposure can still darken them at the surface—the same way the sun darkens freckles in the summer—so I’m careful to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning. I prefer physical formulas with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide because they create a strong block on my skin. This one has a bit of a tint so it won’t leave behind any chalky white film.
Buy it: Elta MD UV Daily Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40, $18, amazon.com