A dollop of tretinoin cream on a glass rod beside a molecular structure illustration and a woman's face

YOU ASKED ABOUT MELASMA. HERE'S HOW WE TREAT IT.

Three prescription melasma formulas. One of them is yours.

Melasma is stubborn and it often comes back, so what matters is a formula you can keep using. Start with how your pigment shows up and what it has already resisted.

See the three formulas
Illustration of tretinoin cream absorbing through the layers of skin, beside a woman's face

Formulated by DermClick's founding dermatologists.

Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, MD
Dr. Mamina Turegano, MD
Dr. Jenny Liu, MD

Which one sounds like your melasma?

Three prescription formulas built around pigment control. Pick the pattern and the formula follows.

The Dark Spot Solution

Melasma that hasn't responded to gentler treatment

The Dark Spot Solution

Hydroquinone leads the formula, with kojic acid and tretinoin targeting pigment from other angles. Because it contains hydroquinone, it's used in planned cycles with oversight from a board-certified dermatologist on our clinical team.

In the formula:

Hydroquinone, Kojic Acid, Tretinoin, Niacinamide

$35.50/mo

Billed every 2 months. Cancel anytime. Skip or delay refills. Total per cycle: $71.00.

Billed every 2 months. Cancel anytime.

Learn more
The Brightening Solution

Melasma across larger areas of the face

The Brightening Solution

Tranexamic acid and kojic acid work on pigment production, while tretinoin supports the turnover that helps existing pigment fade. Hydroquinone-free, so it's built for ongoing use.

In the formula:

Tranexamic Acid, Kojic Acid, Tretinoin, Niacinamide

$36.00/mo

Billed every 2 months. Cancel anytime. Skip or delay refills. Total per cycle: $72.00.

Billed every 2 months. Cancel anytime.

Learn more
The Precision Dark Spot Corrector

One or a few defined, stubborn patches

The Precision Dark Spot Corrector

Prescription hydroquinone goes only on the patches you want to treat, instead of across the whole face. Used in planned cycles with oversight from a board-certified dermatologist on our clinical team.

In the formula:

Hydroquinone

$37.00/mo

Billed every 2 months. Cancel anytime. Skip or delay refills. Total per cycle: $74.00.

Billed every 2 months. Cancel anytime.

Learn more

Treating something else? Browse all treatments

Why a prescription, when you've already tried the serums

Prescription-strength actives

Hydroquinone, tranexamic acid and kojic acid are the ingredients dermatologists reach for when over-the-counter brightening has stopped making a difference.

More than one pathway

Melasma rarely responds to a single ingredient. These formulas combine actives that work on pigment from different angles, which is why the right combination depends on your pigment.

A dermatologist picks the formula, not you

A board-certified dermatologist on our clinical team reviews your case and determines the strength and formulation. That is the part no serum on a shelf can do.

Prescription-strength actives

Hydroquinone, tranexamic acid and kojic acid are the ingredients dermatologists reach for when over-the-counter brightening has stopped making a difference.

More than one pathway

Melasma rarely responds to a single ingredient. These formulas combine actives that work on pigment from different angles, which is why the right combination depends on your pigment.

A dermatologist picks the formula, not you

A board-certified dermatologist on our clinical team reviews your case and determines the strength and formulation. That is the part no serum on a shelf can do.

Built by dermatologists who got tired of the waiting room.

DermClick's three founding dermatologists each holding one of the three tretinoin formulas
A DermClick pharmacist inspecting a compounded tretinoin formula in the lab
Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky holding a DermClick tretinoin formula
DermClick's founding dermatologists reviewing a formula in the compounding lab
A DermClick pharmacist compounding a tretinoin formula in the clean room

DermClick is founded and led by three board-certified dermatologists who were tired of seeing people wait months for appointments, and spending fortunes on products that don't work.

Our treatments aren't developed by a corporation or licensed from a third party. We formulate them ourselves, drawing on 20+ collective years of experience treating thousands of people.

FOUR STEPS FROM ORDER TO YOUR DOOR

Place your order

Choose the melasma treatment that fits your goal.

3-minute online skin assessment

Tell us about your skin, goals, and medical history.

Board-certified dermatologist review

A board-certified dermatologist on our clinical team reviews your case and prescribes, if appropriate.

Prescription delivered

Compounded by a licensed pharmacy and shipped to your door.

Prescription melasma treatment could be right for you if…

  • You've used over-the-counter brightening products and the pigment keeps coming back.
  • Your melasma covers larger areas, or the patches are stubborn enough that spot treating isn't enough.
  • You're willing to make daily sun protection part of the treatment, not an afterthought.

But it's not for everyone…

Tretinoin and hydroquinone are generally avoided during pregnancy, and all three of these formulas contain one or both. If you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing, tell the dermatologist reviewing your case.

You should also disclose eczema, active irritation, sunburn, any previous reaction to hydroquinone, previous pigment treatments, oral isotretinoin use, and any other prescription skin medications.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need hydroquinone, or is a hydroquinone-free formula enough?

It depends on how stubborn your melasma is, what you've already tried, and how your skin tolerates treatment. Hydroquinone can be useful for more resistant pigmentation, while hydroquinone-free formulas suit ongoing treatment. The dermatologist reviewing your case decides what is appropriate.

Can melasma be cured permanently?

Melasma can improve significantly, but it often comes back. The realistic goal is strong control plus a maintenance plan, rather than expecting it never to return.

How long before I know if it's working?

Think in months, not days. If you're seeing little improvement, or side effects are making treatment hard to stick with, check back with the dermatologist reviewing your case rather than increasing strength on your own.

Do I really need a tinted sunscreen?

Not everyone does, but tinted sunscreens with iron oxides add protection against visible light, which can also contribute to melasma. Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day is part of the treatment either way.

What about pregnancy or nursing?

Tretinoin and hydroquinone are generally avoided during pregnancy, and each of these three formulas contains one or both. If you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing, tell the dermatologist reviewing your case so the clinical team can guide you to an appropriate plan.

Treat the pattern, not just the pigment.

Whether it's a few stubborn patches or widespread melasma, the right formula is the one built for how yours shows up and what it has already resisted.

See the three formulas
A woman's face beside a tretinoin molecular structure illustration and a dish of cream