The Three Kinds
Sun spots (flat brown spots on sun-exposed areas). Post-inflammatory marks (after acne, eczema or injury, darker in deeper skin tones). Melasma (symmetrical patches on cheeks, forehead and upper lip, driven by hormones and sun, common in pregnancy and on birth control).
What Works
Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, every day; without it nothing else holds. Tretinoin to speed turnover. Hydroquinone in short cycles for stubborn spots. Azelaic acid for a gentle year-round option. Tranexamic acid, oral or topical, for melasma. Vitamin C in the morning.
Timeline
Post-acne marks: two to four months. Sun spots: three to six. Melasma: six months and it recurs with sun, so maintenance is part of the plan.
Cost
Melasma care, including the compounded combination cream, is $59 a month. Tretinoin alone is $39. Every prescription at Zen IV Spa is written by a licensed provider under our medical director after a free video consultation. Medication ships to your door anywhere in New York or New Jersey, and a nurse can come to your home for labs or a first dose.
Common Questions
Does melasma go away after pregnancy?+
Often fades, often does not fully. Treatment helps.
Can I use hydroquinone long term?+
In cycles of a few months with breaks, by a provider's plan.
Do lasers help?+
For sun spots, yes. For melasma, cautiously; it can backfire.
All treatments are medical services. Every guest is screened, and every treatment is provided only under the clearance, prescription or standing protocol of a licensed medical provider. Nothing on this page is a diagnosis or a promise of results. For an emergency, call 911.