Melasma is a common condition where portions of your skin darken. This skin darkening occurs when your melanocytes (your pigment-producing cells) make too much melanin and cause dark patches to form. While this condition does not pose a health risk, it can cause stress and frustration among those who suffer from it.
While many things can cause melasma, the two most common culprits are excessive sun exposure and hormonal medications (1). While wearing sunscreen or switching your birth control are viable options for preventing melasma in the future, they may not reduce the appearance of darkened spots that have already formed on the skin.