Even though I apply sunscreen diligently, my melasma keeps getting darker, so now I'm thinking about getting laser treatment haha.

I don't think it was this bad as recently as last summer, but since the beginning of this year, the dark spots on my cheekbones definitely feel like they've gotten darker.

Actually, it’s not like I didn’t manage it.

I make sure to apply sunscreen every morning, and I reapply it in the middle of the day on days when I stay outdoors for a long time. I also wear a hat often. Even though I tried to take care of it, the brown patches that have spread widely on both of my cheekbones remain the same.

At first, I thought they were blemishes, but looking closely, it feels like the color is spread over a wide area rather than being small individual dots.

When I try to cover it up with concealer, that area just makes the makeup look thick, so these days I've just given up on doing that haha. Still, it bothers me so much when I see myself without makeup that I'm actually looking into laser treatments.

But I'm scared because I heard that if you mess with melasma incorrectly, it can actually get darker.

This is actually the part I am most curious about.

For those of you who have received laser treatment for melasma, were you informed from the initial consultation that you would need multiple sessions? Or did they start with a low dose and proceed while monitoring your skin's reaction?

I would rather it fade safely, even if it takes a while, rather than getting rid of it quickly haha. Even if the freckles don't disappear completely, I think I would be satisfied if they faded to the point where I could cover them more easily with makeup than I do now.

If I get laser treatments consistently, does the color fade gradually rather than suddenly improving at some point? Since I see my face every day, I'm curious if I'll even be able to notice any changes haha. Would it be a good idea to take photos under the same lighting to compare?

I have also seen a lot of talk saying that for melasma, what happens after the treatment is finished is more important.

Do you continue to do regular maintenance even after receiving laser treatments? Or I'm wondering if it will be fine for a while as long as I just protect myself from UV rays and do home care properly.

I can't avoid outdoor activities entirely, so this is also a concern for me. I also want to know if I need to avoid sunlight much more strictly than usual during the laser treatment period.

I’d love to hear from those who have been managing their melasma for a long time haha. Rather than short-term results, I’m especially curious about how satisfied those who have been managing it for about 6 months to a year actually were~~

If you could go back to before you started the laser treatment, would you do it again? Please also give me some advice on what you really wish you had known when you first began.