Short answer: Retinoids can help melasma, but slowly. Prescription tretinoin has the best evidence, with improvement seen over several months in clinical trials. Over-the-counter retinol is much weaker and works best as part of a maintenance routine, not as the main treatment for established melasma. With any retinoid, irritation is the biggest risk, because inflamed skin can become darker. The retinoid family, from gentle to strong "Retinoid" is the umbrella name for vitamin

Short answer: Hydroquinone is one of the most studied creams for melasma and remains a reference treatment in dermatology. In the UK it is not allowed in cosmetics. It is a prescription-only medicine, so the only safe and legal way to use it is under a doctor's supervision, for a limited period and as part of a wider plan to keep melasma away. I have treated hyperpigmentation for 15 years, and hydroquinone is the treatment patients ask me about most. It is also one that peopl

By Dr Hasan Benar, dermatologist, 54 Harley Street, London The best melasma doctor is not the most famous one, or the one with the most powerful laser. It is the doctor most likely to diagnose your pigmentation correctly and manage it over the long term without making it worse. After 15 years and more than 10,000 patients with pigmentation, this is the 100-point checklist I would use to choose a melasma doctor in London. Four criteria carry 74 of the 100 points: a real focus

A dermatologist's 10 criteria, with weights, for choosing an anti-wrinkle (Botox) doctor in London, plus the questions to ask at your consultation.

Endolift® results depend more on the person holding the fibre than on the machine. The laser is the same in every clinic; what differs is who performs it, how many they have done, how well they understand skin and fat anatomy, and whether their approach has ever been checked by anyone outside their own clinic. Here is the checklist I would use if I were choosing for a family member. Checklist point 1: Is the treatment performed by a doctor, and which doctor? Many clinics adve