Brief Answer:
Advice for oil burn/ scald and melasma

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic

I have gone through your query and I have also reviewed the Images.

You have mentioned 2 concerns over here: oil burn/ scald and facial pigmentation/ melasma.

Your first concern is oil burn/ scald.
She has developed post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark/ blackish) as well as hypo pigmentation (pinkish) at the site of burn. This is common after a scald.
I suggest that she applies a moderately potent topical steroid e.g fluticasone propionate 0.05% cream Or mometasone furoate 0.1% cream, twice daily for a few days.
This would gradually lighten hyperpigmentation as well as restore lost pigmentation.
Lactocalamine won't be of much help apart from soothing it.
It is important to protect these burn marks from sun exposure, as much as possible.
Therefore, she must also use a sunscreen on her face, throughout the day. A sunscreen would help her and prevent her burn marks from further sun induced darkening.


Regarding the issue of facial pigmentation, this condition is known as Melasma.

Melasma usually presents as hyperpigmentation over the cheek bones/malar area and nose commonly; forehead, upper lips, chin may also be involved.
Pigmentation in melasma may vary in intensity from light brown to dark brown or even bluish, depending on whether the pigment is confined just to the upper layer of skin/epidermis (light brown) or it involves both the upper as well as deeper layers (dark brown or bluish).

It is idiopathic in most of the cases.
However, there are a few well known causes of melasma such as oral contraceptive pills, pregnancy and NSAIDs

Sunscreen is also an essential part in the management of melasma.
I would suggest her to use a broad spectrum sunscreen, throughout the day.
Reapply every 2-3 hours.
It should have both UV A as well as UV B coverage.
A broad spectrum sunscreen that has a minimum spf of 30, would be suitable.
You may find one such sunscreen OTC from a drug store e.g L'oreal, Neutrogena, Garnier are all good brands of sunscreens that are available OTC Or you may also get a sunscreen prescribed from a dermatologist.

At night she may use a skin lightening cream, containing one or more of the following active ingredients e.g Azaleic acid, Hydroquinone tretinoin, Kojic acid, Arbutin, Glycolic acid, licorice extract, Niacinamide, Vit C etc over the whole of cheek/ melasma affected area.
The mechanism of action of these active ingredients is to either exfoliate existing melanin Or prevent synthesis of new melanin Or both.

Along with the creams, she may also opt for a few sessions of chemical peeling from your dermatologist.

Melasma takes time to respond and she has to be patient with treatment and follow up regularly with a dermatologist.
Dermatologist might change or modify treatment according to the response.

My advice to her right now would be to use a sunscreen regularly throughout the day and first treat for burn marks and then later for melasma.

Regards

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