Medical care is only one part of treating melasma. What happens between appointments matters too.
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Melasma can be deeply frustrating, particularly when it improves and then returns.
You may feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice, unsure which products or procedures are appropriate, or tired of trying to work out what your skin actually needs.
Qr8 provides medical assessment and ongoing clinical support to take some of that guesswork out of managing melasma.
Melasma can look similar to other forms of pigmentation, and the factors contributing to it can differ between people.
Your doctor will assess your skin, medical history, medications, previous treatments and other relevant factors before discussing your options with you.
Your dermatology nurse team then supports you between appointments with skincare guidance, education and help putting your management plan into practice.
How Qr8 Approaches Melasma
Your care begins with a private video consultation with a registered doctor, who reviews your skin, medical history, current skincare, previous treatments and individual circumstances.
Your doctor will discuss the management options that may be appropriate for you.
Your nursing and dermal team then supports the practical day-to-day side of your care, including skincare, sun protection, tolerability and any questions between medical reviews.
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Melasma is a common pigmentation condition that causes patches of brown or grey-brown discolouration, most often on the face.
It commonly appears across the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, nose and chin and is often symmetrical.
Melasma tends to be chronic, often recurring after improvement. This means managing it often requires a longer-term approach that considers both the pigmentation itself and the factors that may be contributing to it.
Melasma normally needs more than one approach.
Photoprotection (sun protection) is fundamental. This includes protection from UV AND visible light. Skincare also matters, because irritation and inflammation make pigmentation harder to fade and manage.
Medical treatment may be appropriate for some people. In-clinic treatments such as chemical peels and some laser or energy-based procedures may also have a role in selected cases, although they aren’t suitable for everyone, some can worsen melasma, and they aren’t starting treatments.
Because melasma returns, treatment changes over time. What is appropriate initially may be different from what is needed for longer-term maintenance.
At Qr8, your doctor assesses your individual circumstances and discusses appropriate options, while your nursing team helps you manage the skincare, sun protection and day-to-day practical use of your treatment plan.
Melasma does not have one single cause. It develops through a complex interaction between genetic susceptibility, light exposure, hormones and changes within the skin itself.
Sunlight is one of the most important triggers. Ultraviolet radiation (UVA + UVB) stimulates pigment production and can contribute to the changes seen in melasma-affected skin. Visible light can also worsen pigmentation, particularly in darker skin tones.
Hormones can also play a role. Melasma commonly appears or changes during pregnancy and has been associated with hormonal contraception. Hormonal influences are well established, although they do not affect everyone with melasma in the same way.
Genetics matter too. Melasma often occurs in people with a family history of the condition, suggesting an inherited susceptibility that interacts with environmental and hormonal triggers.
Importantly, melasma is more than excess pigment sitting on the surface of the skin. Research has identified changes involving the epidermis, basement membrane and dermis, including photoageing-related changes, altered blood vessels, inflammatory cells and signalling between different skin cells.
This complexity helps explain why melasma can be persistent, why it often returns after improving, and why simply treating it as ordinary hyperpigmentation may not be enough.
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Complete a detailed health questionnaire and send us photographs of your skin or hair.
This gives your clinical team important information before you meet.
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See an Australian registered doctor by private video consultation.
They’ll review your history and photographs, assess your concerns and talk with you about what may be appropriate.
Consults available 7 days a week, 7am-9pm.
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If treatment is clinically appropriate, your doctor will discuss suitable options with you.
Your nurse will provide a detailed Skin Plan with the supporting skincare and daily routine if you decide to proceed.
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This is where your nurses come in.
They help you with your skincare or haircare routine, answer questions and keep up with how things are going.
Email us. Call us. Book a video call.
You don’t have to save every question for your next doctor’s appointment.
Melasma commonly appears or worsens during pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean nothing can be done until afterwards.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and plans to conceive change which treatment options are appropriate, but there are still treatment options.
Your skincare and sun protection can also still be optimised during this time, with other options reconsidered when your circumstances change.
For melasma, UV protection is only part of the picture.
Visible light can also stimulate pigmentation, particularly in darker skin types.
This is why tinted sunscreens containing iron oxides can be particularly useful for melasma. A suitable pigmented skin tint worn over sunscreen may also provide additional visible-light protection. Our nurses will recommend the most suitable sunscreen and/or skin tint for you.
Many people with melasma are told to avoid heat completely.
The evidence is much less straightforward. Sun exposure and radiation are established contributors to melasma, but everyday heat exposure is not the same thing as UV or visible light exposure.
Rather than treating every hot shower, workout or warm day as dangerous, we focus on the exposures that are actually relevant to your skin.
Trying to treat melasma more aggressively isn’t always better.
Irritation and inflammation can themselves contribute to pigmentation, particularly in skin that is prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
That makes tolerability a vital part of a melasma plan, not simply how many active ingredients you can use. This is also why skincare, application techniques, and ongoing support are an important part of managing melasma.
Laser and energy-based treatments can have a role in selected patients, but melasma is not simply pigment that can be ‘lasered off.’
Some procedures can cause inflammation, rebound pigmentation or worsening melasma, particularly when the treatment or patient selection isn’t appropriate.
If you’re considering an in-clinic procedure, it should form part of a broader melasma strategy rather than being treated as a guaranteed fix. Our nurses provide independent advice about in-clinic procedures as a standard part of your care.
Melasma often improves substantially with treatment, but it also has a tendency to return.
That means maintenance matters. Once pigmentation improves, the goal shifts from intensive treatment towards controlling the factors that encourage it to return and using an appropriate longer-term strategy.
Explore unretouched before-and-after images from patients who have received care through Qr8 MediSkin.
Individual outcomes vary and depend on many factors. Your doctor will guide you through options based on your skin’s condition & sensitivity, medical and skin history, and goals.
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Dr Michele Squire is a PhD scientist, former healthcare executive and Registered Nurse.
She founded Qr8 in 2019 because caring for skin and hair takes more than an appointment.
It takes medical expertise, good skincare and people paying attention to what happens over time.
Qr8 was built to bring those things together.
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Dr Anastasia understands that everyone’s experience in their own body is unique. Wherever a patient is on their journey towards getting to know and take care of their hair and skin health, she meets them with empathy and support. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active, including going to the gym, hiking, travelling, and spending time in nature.
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Dr Bec loves making a real difference in her patients’ lives. An LGBTQ+ ally with experience in trans-affirming care, she enjoys creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time in nature with her partner and dogs.
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Dr Sheila is compassionate and collaborative, and passionate about empowering patients to understand and feel in control of their health. With a focus on education, collaboration, and open communication, she creates a supportive environment where patients can make informed decisions at every stage of their health journey.
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Dr Mali graduated with a Doctor of Medicine in 2014 from the Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, prior to becoming a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) with a special interest in dermatology, skin cancer medicine, and aesthetic medicine. She strongly believes that every patient deserves to feel heard and understood. Dr Mali’s approach focuses on listening carefully, understanding each person’s goals, and developing an individualised treatment plan that combines the best available evidence, combined with compassionate care.
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Dr Sarah has a warm and empathetic approach to her practice and listens deeply to ensure that she can work with patients to get to the root of the problem and arrive at an effective solution together. She finds being trusted with her patient’s stories and seeing how simple changes can make a world of difference to be the most rewarding part of her practice.
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Dr Yeshika focuses on what the patient is trying to achieve and adapts their treatment according to their individual lifestyles. She loves to see long-term and returning patients who are happy with their results, and she finds this to be the most rewarding part of her practice.
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Dr Jeremy is holistic, thorough, and willing to take the necessary time and care to ensure his patients are empowered to take charge of their health. He specifically enjoys seeing patients enjoy positive results and become empowered to make better decisions for their skin and wellbeing.
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With over 11 years of dermatology experience, Kristen is a cornerstone of the Qr8 MediSkin Skincare Support Team. Whether you’re navigating new treatments or fine-tuning your daily routine, she’s here to offer expert guidance, tailored recommendations, and genuine care. Think of her as your personal skincare guardian angel – she’s always ready to help you feel confident in your skin!
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I have been a pharmacist for 14 years, owned and worked in a variety of Pharmacies including NCC for the last 10 years. When not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife, 4 kids & dog and also swim, bike and running. I find compounding pharmacy a rewarding profession because of NCC’s ability to customise medicine for any type of patient. I often find ourselves solving challenges which standard medicine couldn’t and the gratitude from Patients is very humbling.
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Qr8 MediSkin has provided online medical care for skin and hair concerns across Australia since 2019.
Doctors and nurses working together to understand what’s happening and care for you over time.
Phone: +61 (0)7 3325-9700
Address: Yuggera Country 39 Collingwood St, Albion, QLD, 4010
Your doctors and nurses work together, each bringing their clinical expertise to your care.
Your nurse stays with you between appointments, answering questions and helping you with the day-to-day of your care.
Your team knows your history and keeps up with how things are going, so you don't have to start again each time you need us.
Since 2019, Qr8 MediSkin has provided online medical care for skin and hair concerns across Australia.
Doctors and nurses working together to care for you, both during and between appointments.
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Phone: +61 (0)7 3325-9700
Address: Yuggera Country 39 Collingwood St,
Albion, QLD, 4010
