27/07/2026
🟤 Pigmentation is not a diagnosis. It’s a symptom.
🔍 One of the biggest misconceptions I see is thinking every brown patch on the face is melasma.
📚 The reality is that facial pigmentation has many different causes. It could be melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, freckles, lentigines (sunspots), lichen planus pigmentosus, Riehl’s melanosis, facial acanthosis nigricans, nevus of Ota, and more.
⚠️ Although these conditions may look similar, they develop for different reasons and require different treatment approaches.
❌ Treating every brown patch as melasma can delay the correct diagnosis and lead to disappointing results.
✨If you have persistent facial pigmentation, the first step isn’t choosing a cream or a laser—it’s getting the right diagnosis.
🔬 Dermatologists may use clinical examination, dermoscopy, FotoFinder imaging, and, when appropriate, laboratory tests or a skin biopsy to identify the exact cause.
💡 The right treatment starts with the right diagnosis.
💾 Save this post for future reference.
📤 Share it with someone who thinks every brown patch is melasma.
💬 Which pigmentation condition would you like me to cover next? Let me know in the comments!
👩🏻⚕️Dr. Naiyna Nangia |Specialist Dermatologist
📍Dubai