THE GUTHRIE GUIDE • Expert Answers from dr. ashley guthrie
Can You Cure Hyperpigmentation or Melasma? dr. guthrie explains
DR. GUTHRIE EXPLAINS
A condition you manage, not one you cure
In this video, Dr. Ashley Guthrie shares a straightforward take on hyperpigmentation and melasma: there is no treatment that is one and done. She explains why these behave more like chronic conditions than one-time problems, what daily prevention actually involves, and what a realistic goal looks like. View the full video transcript below.
key takeaways:
- There is no treatment for hyperpigmentation or melasma that is one and done.
- Both behave more like chronic conditions that need ongoing management.
- The approach that works is daily prevention paired with intermittent stronger treatments.
- Dr. Guthrie compares it to dental care: daily brushing and flossing, plus a cleaning every six months.
- Some pigment will most likely remain. The goal is managing it so your skin looks the best it can.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
In Dr. Ashley Guthrie's Words
On the hot take:
"You can't cure hyperpigmentation or melasma forever. There is no treatment for hyperpigmentation or melasma that is one and done."
On why they behave like chronic conditions:
"These are more like chronic conditions, in my mind. They require daily prevention and treatment as well as intermittent stronger treatments."
On the dental care comparison:
"It's kind of like dental care. You do your daily brushing and flossing and every 6 months you go in for a cleaning at the dentist."
On what daily prevention looks like:
"You need daily antioxidants and sunscreen, preferably tinted sunscreen if you have melasma. Sun protection with hats, glasses, clothing, and intermittent more substantial treatments like lasers or peels."
On setting realistic expectations:
"Even with these you will still most likely have some pigment on your face. This is normal; it's a part of life but the goal is to manage it so it looks the best it can."
HYPERPIGMENTATION & MELASMA
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hyperpigmentation or melasma be cured?
Dr. Ashley Guthrie explains that neither can be cured permanently. There is no treatment for hyperpigmentation or melasma that is one and done.
Why is melasma so hard to get rid of?
Dr. Ashley Guthrie describes melasma and hyperpigmentation as more like chronic conditions, which means they need ongoing daily prevention rather than a single corrective treatment.
What does daily prevention for hyperpigmentation involve?
Daily antioxidants and sunscreen, with tinted sunscreen preferred for melasma, alongside sun protection from hats, glasses and clothing.
What stronger treatments help with pigment?
Dr. Ashley Guthrie points to intermittent, more substantial treatments such as lasers or chemical peels, used alongside a daily prevention routine rather than instead of one.
Why does tinted sunscreen matter for melasma?
Dr. Ashley Guthrie specifically recommends tinted sunscreen for patients with melasma as part of daily sun protection.
Will my pigment ever go away completely?
Most likely not entirely. Dr. Ashley Guthrie notes that some pigment is normal and a part of life, and that the realistic goal is managing it so the skin looks the best it can.
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Dr. Ashley Guthrie is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon at Guthrie Facial Plastic Surgery in Brentwood, Tennessee, serving patients throughout the greater Nashville area.
