Melasma Causes and Treatments: What You Need to Know

Many of you may have wondered why melasma, which catches your eye every time you look in the mirror, appears and why it doesn't go away. Today, we'll walk through the reasons melasma forms, the types of treatments often considered for improvement, and how to stably care for your skin after treatment.

Why does melasma occur? — Causes and mechanism

Melasma is a pigmentation change that occurs when melanocytes beneath the epidermis are stimulated and produce excess melanin pigment. The biggest cause is UV exposure, but in reality, it often appears due to a combination of multiple factors.

Common contributing factors include cumulative UV exposure, hormonal changes from pregnancy, childbirth, or oral contraceptives, frequent friction or irritation (such as rubbing the skin or excessive exfoliation habits), stress and lack of sleep, and genetic tendencies. In particular, when the skin barrier is weakened, pigmentation responses can become more sensitive even to minor irritation, so managing everyday skin condition is considered fundamental to melasma care.

What treatments are considered for improving melasma?

Hospitals often recommend laser toning treatments, which selectively deliver thermal energy to pigmented areas, or skin booster procedures that help even out skin tone and texture, as ways to care for melasma. Rather than assuming any single treatment completely removes pigmentation, it's best to approach these as methods that can support tone and texture care when combined with consistent management.

What matters more than the procedure itself is the aftercare. The treated area becomes temporarily sensitive to stimulation, so how well you soothe the skin during this period can affect your skin's condition afterward.

How recovery progresses by stage after treatment

In the first 1-3 days after treatment, redness, slight warmth, and tingling are common. The skin's surface becomes somewhat sensitive, so even washing your face or light friction may feel more stinging than usual. During this period, it's important to focus on soothing and barrier care.

From day 4 onward, as redness gradually subsides, many people experience a tight, dry feeling and fine flaking. At this point, the focus shifts from soothing to deep hydration and texture care.

Around one week later, most visible irritation subsides, but full recovery of the skin barrier can vary by individual. It's best not to rush and to continue a consistent moisturizing routine.

Step-by-step home care to follow

Stage 1 (immediately after treatment to day 3): Minimizing irritation is the priority. Instead of rubbing, gently pat the product on in a thick layer to let it absorb, and keep face washing brief with lukewarm water. During this time, lightly layering a cream focused on soothing and barrier care can help.

Stage 2 (from day 4 onward): Once tightness and dryness begin to appear, it's time to shift the routine toward deep hydration. After smoothing the skin with toner, make sure to fully absorb a moisturizing cream so hydration reaches deep into the skin.

Sun protection is also essential. Since melasma is a pigmentation change that reacts sensitively to stimulation, consistently applying sunscreen—not just after treatment but as a daily habit—is fundamental to long-term tone care.

Why choosing the right cream for each stage matters

Right after treatment and during recovery, the skin needs different types of care. Early on, soothing and barrier protection come first; later, deep hydration and texture care are needed. Rather than relying on a single product throughout the entire period, applying stage-appropriate care step by step is considered a more stable approach for the skin.

ZXQMAGAZINETERM0001ZXQ Cream is designed as a 2-STEP system to match this flow. For the first 1-3 days after treatment, the 'Ultra Cera-Rich Cream,' focused on soothing and barrier care, is used, followed by the 'Hydro Re-Boosting Cream,' focused on deep hydration and texture care, for the period after day 4 when tightness and dryness appear. Each product is designed with different ingredient compositions and textures suited to the skin's condition at each stage.

Home care determines your recovery after treatment

Skin needs different care depending on the stage after a procedure. Abiju Cream's Ultra Cera-Rich Cream (STEP1) is designed for soothing and barrier care for 1 to 3 days right after the procedure, while the Hydro Re-Boosting Cream (STEP2) is tailored for deep hydration and texture care from day 4 onward. Learn more → Abiju Cream