A woman applying tinted sunscreen to her hand beside a straw sun hat and umbrella by a sunny window

Jeragat (Melasma): Causes, Treatment & How to Fade It Safely

Jeragat is the Malay name for melasma: flat brown or grey-brown patches that appear on both sides of the face, usually the cheeks, forehead, nose and upper lip. It is triggered mainly by sunlight (both UV and visible light) and hormones, such as pregnancy or the contraceptive pill, and it is especially common in women with Asian and other darker skin tones. Melasma is harmless but stubborn: it can fade a lot with treatment, yet tends to come back. The most effective approach is daily sun protection plus treatment guided by a doctor or dermatologist, such as prescription creams, and for stubborn cases, oral tranexamic acid, peels or carefully chosen lasers. This guide explains the causes, how to tell jeragat from other dark spots, which treatments the research supports, and what to avoid.

What is jeragat (melasma)?

Melasma is a common, long-lasting pigmentation condition in which the skin makes too much melanin in certain areas. It is not infectious, not cancerous and not painful, but it can affect confidence. Depending on the population studied, it affects somewhere between about 9% and 40% of people, and it is far more common in women.

Typical features of jeragat:

  • Symmetrical patches on both sides of the face, rather than single spots.
  • Common areas: the cheeks and cheekbones, forehead, bridge of the nose, upper lip and chin. It can also appear on the forearms or neck.
  • Colour: light to dark brown, sometimes grey-brown or bluish-grey when the pigment sits deeper in the skin.
  • It darkens with sun and heat and often looks worse after holidays or outdoor activities.

What causes jeragat?

Melasma does not have a single cause. Research shows it involves the pigment cells, the skin's blood vessels and sun-damaged deeper layers of the skin. The main triggers are:

  • Sunlight. UV rays are the biggest trigger, and visible light, the light we can see, can also darken melasma, especially in medium to dark skin. This is why Malaysia's year-round sun makes jeragat hard to control.
  • Hormones. Pregnancy, the contraceptive pill and some hormone treatments commonly trigger or worsen it.
  • Genes and skin type. It runs in families and is more common in Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African skin.
  • Heat. Hot kitchens, saunas and hot weather may make it worse for some people.
  • Irritating skincare. Harsh products that inflame the skin can make pigmentation worse.

Jeragat vs other dark spots

Not every dark mark is melasma, and the treatment differs:

Type What it looks like Typical cause
Jeragat (melasma) Larger, blotchy patches on both sides of the face Sun, visible light, hormones, genes
Freckles (bintik-bintik) Many small, light-brown dots, often from childhood Genes, darken in the sun
Sun spots (solar lentigines) Individual, well-defined brown spots, more common with age Years of sun exposure
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation Dark marks exactly where pimples, rashes or injuries were Acne, eczema, scratching, harsh treatments

Our guide to acne scars vs dark spots explains post-acne marks in more detail. See a doctor if a spot is new and changing in size, shape or colour, has an irregular border or several colours, bleeds, itches or does not heal, as these need checking to rule out skin cancer.

How is jeragat treated?

There is no single treatment that works for everyone, and a systematic review found that combination treatments give the best results. Because melasma tends to come back, treatment usually has two phases: fading the patches, then keeping them faded. A doctor or dermatologist may suggest:

  1. Strict daily sun protection. Every plan starts here; without it, other treatments do not last.
  2. Prescription creams. Hydroquinone, often in a "triple combination" cream with a retinoid and a mild steroid, is the long-standing first-line treatment. It must be used under medical supervision and for limited periods.
  3. Other topical ingredients, such as azelaic acid, niacinamide, tranexamic acid, vitamin C and arbutin, can help, especially for maintenance or for people who cannot use hydroquinone. Our guide to niacinamide and alpha arbutin covers two common ones.
  4. Oral tranexamic acid. A review found it effective for melasma in Asian skin, even at low doses such as 500 mg a day over 8 to 12 weeks. It is a prescription medicine, and a doctor must first check for blood-clot risks; it is not suitable for everyone.
  5. Chemical peels and microneedling, done by trained professionals, can help some people.
  6. Lasers and light treatments. A meta-analysis found that several laser types reduce melasma severity, but in darker skin there is a risk of the skin becoming darker or lighter afterwards, and results can rebound. They are best done by experienced dermatologists, usually after creams have been tried.

Results take time. Expect to judge treatment over 2 to 3 months, not weeks, and plan for maintenance afterwards. Our guide to skin brightening and antioxidants in Malaysia gives a wider overview of the options.

Choosing a sunscreen for jeragat

  • Broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, applied every morning, even on cloudy days and indoors near windows.
  • Choose a tinted sunscreen with iron oxides if you can. Ordinary sunscreens protect mainly against UV, while iron oxides also block visible light. An international expert consensus recommends tinted sunscreen or iron oxides for all skin types, and in a survey of nearly 1,000 dermatology practitioners, about half of those who give advice on visible light recommended these sunscreens for melasma or post-acne dark marks.
  • Use enough and reapply every two hours when outdoors, or after sweating.
  • Add physical protection: a wide-brimmed hat, umbrella or shade during the midday sun. For hijab wearers, our hijab skin routine has practical tips.

Read more in our guide on the role of sun protection in fading hyperpigmentation.

Do supplements like glutathione help?

A 2024 systematic review of glutathione for skin lightening and melasma found that, in several small randomised trials, oral glutathione at 250 to 500 mg a day reduced the melanin index compared with placebo. The effect was moderate and was not sustained after people stopped taking it, and the authors suggest it may act mainly as an antioxidant in melasma. Injectable (IV) glutathione was not recommended because of a lack of evidence and safety concerns.

In practice, an oral supplement can be a supportive add-on to a good sunscreen habit and medical treatment, not a substitute for them. Drann Glutathione provides 250 mg of reduced glutathione per capsule to support skin brightness, and Vitamin C 500 mg supports antioxidant protection and collagen. See how glutathione works on melanin for what to expect, and check our guide to whether skin whitening pills are safe before buying any product.

What to avoid

  • Unregistered "jeragat creams" that promise fast results. In Malaysia, cosmetics found to contain mercury, hydroquinone or tretinoin are regularly banned by the Ministry of Health, because these ingredients are not allowed in cosmetics and can harm the skin and kidneys. Check the product on the NPRA website first; our guide on how to spot fake skin brightening products shows how.
  • Using prescription creams without supervision. Long, unsupervised use of hydroquinone or steroid creams can cause irritation, thinning skin and, rarely, a permanent blue-black discolouration.
  • Lemon or lime juice on the skin. Citrus juice can irritate the skin and, combined with sunlight, cause burns and darker marks.
  • Scrubbing and harsh exfoliation. Irritation triggers more pigment.
  • Injectable "whitening" glutathione drips. They are not approved for skin lightening and carry safety risks.

Jeragat in pregnancy

Melasma that appears in pregnancy, often called the mask of pregnancy, is common and often fades in the months after delivery. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, focus on sunscreen and gentle skincare. Many treatments, including oral tranexamic acid, retinoids and some lightening creams, are not suitable at this time, so always check with your doctor before using anything new.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is jeragat in English?

Jeragat is the Malay word for melasma: flat, brown or grey-brown patches that appear on both sides of the face, most often on the cheeks, forehead, nose and upper lip. When it appears in pregnancy it is also called chloasma or the mask of pregnancy.

What causes jeragat?

Melasma is triggered mainly by sun exposure, including visible light as well as UV, and by hormones, such as pregnancy and hormonal contraception. It is more common in women, in people with darker skin types including many Asian skin tones, and in those with a family history of it.

Can jeragat go away permanently?

Melasma can fade a lot with treatment, and pregnancy-related melasma often improves after birth, but it tends to come back, especially with sun exposure. Most people manage it long term with daily sun protection and maintenance treatment rather than curing it once.

What is the best treatment for jeragat?

Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen is the foundation. A doctor or dermatologist may then prescribe a topical cream such as hydroquinone or a triple combination cream, and for stubborn cases consider options like oral tranexamic acid, chemical peels or carefully chosen lasers. Combination treatments give the best results, and no single treatment works for everyone.

Does glutathione help jeragat?

The evidence is modest. A 2024 systematic review found that oral glutathione at 250 to 500 mg a day reduced the melanin index compared with placebo in several small trials, but the effect was moderate and not sustained after stopping. It may help as a supportive antioxidant alongside sunscreen and medical treatment, not as a replacement. Injectable glutathione is not recommended.

Is jeragat during pregnancy normal?

Yes. Melasma is common in pregnancy because of hormonal changes, and it often fades within months after delivery. Some treatments, including oral tranexamic acid and retinoids, are not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so focus on sun protection and check with your doctor before using any lightening cream.

What sunscreen is best for jeragat?

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every day, ideally a tinted one containing iron oxides, which also blocks visible light that can worsen melasma. Reapply every two hours outdoors, and add a hat, umbrella or shade in the midday sun.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor, dermatologist or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

回到 新闻

你也许也喜欢

查看全部