Pigmentation on Hands: Is It Melasma?

Is hand pigmentation necessarily melasma?

No. Melasma usually affects the face, and a dark patch on a hand can have a different explanation. A page title or photograph cannot distinguish melasma from other pigmentation or a skin lesion. Ask a healthcare professional to assess an unexplained, new or changing mark before trying to lighten it.

What information is useful at assessment?

Note when the patch appeared, whether it has changed, any symptoms and products used on it. Share your medicines and relevant health history. Do not stop contraception, hormone treatment or another prescribed medicine because an online article suggests a possible pigment connection.

Caring for exposed hands

Sun protection is an important part of caring for melasma-prone skin. Choose broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher and follow the product's application and reapplication directions, alongside shade and protective clothing. Visible light can also contribute to melasma; a tinted sunscreen containing iron oxides may be useful. SPF alone does not describe visible-light protection, and no sunscreen guarantees that pigmentation will not return.

Avoid self-removal

Keep cosmetic skincare gentle. A cleanser and moisturiser that you tolerate can support a comfortable routine, but hydration is not a treatment for the cause of melasma. Stop using a cosmetic product that causes burning or persistent irritation and seek advice if symptoms continue. Do not try to scrub, peel or bleach a patch away with household ingredients. Natural origin and a home patch test do not guarantee that a product is safe for your skin.

Scope of this information

This information concerns cosmetic skincare and questions to raise with a healthcare professional. It does not diagnose pigmentation, prescribe treatment or establish that Dr Sknn offers a medical melasma service. A medicine or procedure should not be selected from an online description alone.