Types of dark spots
Beginner · SESH Academy
Learn the mechanism and apply it to a practical routine.
Melanocytes produce pigment and transfer it to surrounding cells. The diagram explains a mechanism; colour alone does not diagnose a dark spot.
Open full-size image ↗Core idea
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation often follows a prior lesion. Melasma commonly produces broader, relatively symmetrical patches on cheeks, forehead or upper lip and may involve UV and hormonal factors. Freckles are small spots that may darken with sun exposure. These patterns are clues, not remote diagnoses.
Look beneath the label
Solar lentigines often reflect cumulative sun exposure and appear on exposed areas, unlike post-acne marks. Color, borders, distribution and history help guide evaluation, but several disorders can look similar.
Apply what you learned
For melasma, consistent broad-spectrum protection matters; tinted formulas with iron oxides can be useful against visible-light-related worsening. Do not start aggressive brighteners without understanding the pattern. New or changing concerning lesions deserve clinical assessment.
Melasma relapse and uneven results: assess triggers — a published visual reference for the topic, not SESH product-test data.
Open full-size image ↗History can be as useful as appearance
Ask whether a mark followed a pimple, worsened with sun, appeared symmetrically on the cheeks or has existed since childhood. The history guides possibilities but does not establish a diagnosis. A discrete sun spot, broad melasma patch and inflammatory mark can all look brown yet have different causes.
Melasma needs particular attention to protection
In melasma, UV and visible light can contribute to worsening, so some plans use tinted broad-spectrum sunscreens containing iron oxides. Treatment may require professional oversight and medicines or ingredients that should not be used unsupervised. The goal is managing abnormal darkening, not bleaching normal skin color.
Explore the full curriculum in SESH Skincare Academy.
