{"id":179,"date":"2026-10-05T12:56:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T04:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/?p=179"},"modified":"2026-10-05T12:56:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T04:56:19","slug":"dark-spots-facial-hyperpigmentation-melasma-whats-causing-yours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/dark-spots-facial-hyperpigmentation-melasma-whats-causing-yours\/","title":{"rendered":"Dark Spots, Facial Hyperpigmentation & Melasma: What\u2019s Causing Yours?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\"Melasma
Not all pigmentation is the same.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Many patients come in feeling unsure and frustrated because what looks like \u201cjust dark spots\u201d isn\u2019t fading despite using over-the-counter medication or skincare.You may have tried treatments before, or been given different explanations, only to find the results inconsistent or short-lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


As Dr. Zalikha Ruslan<\/a>, Medical Director of The M\u2219A\u2219C\u2219Clinic Publika and LCP-Certified by the Ministry of Health Malaysia<\/em>, often sees, pigmentation can look similar on the surface while behaving very differently underneath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What type of pigmentation is it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is it melasma, freckles, sun damage or something else?
Why can the same treatment produce very different results?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is hyperpigmentation?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Hyperpigmentation<\/a> is a broad term for areas of skin that appear darker than the surrounding skin. It can develop through different processes, including hormonal influences, age, cumulative sun exposure, inflammation and genetic tendency<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melasma<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Usually appears as symmetrical brown or grey-brown patches, commonly on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. Hormonal influences and exposure to UV and visible light can contribute, and melasma is well known for its tendency to recur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sun or age spots<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Also called solar lentigines, these are usually individual, well-defined brown spots associated with cumulative sun exposure over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Dark marks that develop after inflammation, such as acne, skin irritation or certain procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freckles and genetic pigmentation<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Some pigmentation is strongly influenced by genetics and may become more noticeable with sun exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, \u201cpigmentation\u201d is a description, not a diagnosis.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Diagnosis Matters<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\n

Two brown areas may look similar but behave very differently.
An experienced medical physician expert considers the pattern, history, skin type, triggers and previous treatments before recommending an appropriate treatment approach.
There is another important reason not to assume every brown spot is simply pigmentation: some pigmented lesions, including lentigo maligna, can resemble a freckle or solar lentigo. Clinical assessment and, when appropriate, dermoscopy can help distinguish suspicious lesions from benign pigmentation.
But diagnosis is only the beginning.<\/em>
Choosing the right treatment, and the right protocol, matters just as much.<\/em>
The technology, treatment settings, intervals between sessions, combination of treatments and maintenance plan all need to make sense for the individual skin.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Every
Dr.Zalikha Ruslan, MAC Clinic Publika Medical director, during a patient consultation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
At The M\u2219A\u2219C\u2219Clinic<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

We take a doctor-led approach:
Understand \u2192 Assess \u2192 Plan \u2192 Treat \u2192 Review<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Depending on the individual assessment, different approaches may be considered, including laser and energy-based treatments, injectables, topical or oral skincare, chemical peels and other procedures.
The appropriate approach may be one treatment or a combination.<\/strong>
Because a good skin journey is not a recipe you can find online.
It starts with understanding your skin, then choosing what is right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The M\u2219A\u2219C\u2219Clinic
Ethical Aesthetic Since 1996<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WhatsApp\/ message<\/em>: +60 182292122 <\/a>( The M\u2219A\u2219C\u2219Clinic Publika)
Email<\/em>: mac.clinic.my@gmail.com<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Original Article: The M\u2219A\u2219C\u2219Clinic blog<\/a>
Author: Dr. Zalikha Ruslan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published Date:5.10.2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many patients come in feeling unsure and frustrated because what looks like \u201cjust dark spots\u201d isn\u2019t fading despite using over-the-counter medication or skincare.You may have tried treatments before, or been given different explanations, only to find the results inconsistent or short-lived. As Dr. Zalikha Ruslan, Medical Director of The M\u2219A\u2219C\u2219Clinic Publika and LCP-Certified by the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":186,"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179\/revisions\/186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mac-clinic.my\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}