Triple combination cream and hydroquinone alone remain the most effective self-administered topical interventions for melasma, a new analysis confirms.

The use of broad-spectrum sunscreen was also of great importance in managing the condition, according to German clinicians, while some over-the-counter cosmetic and herbal products also showed promise.

Although melasma is primarily a cosmetic condition, researchers from the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin teaching hospital said it still warrants attention given its impact on patients’ emotional wellbeing, self-esteem and overall quality of life.

In the first systematic review of its kind, the team analysed 36 randomised controlled trials to compare the efficacy and safety of 47 different interventions for patients diagnosed with the condition.