A wide-brimmed hat helps to protect your skin from the sun and can help fade melasma. 

The following can prevent melasma from getting worse.

• Wear sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat every day. Because sunlight triggers melasma, dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen daily, year-round. This is important because some of the sun’s UV rays can touch the skin — even through clouds and windows.
  
  Be sure to use sunscreen that offers these 3 things:

1. Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays).
2. A sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more.
3. Zinc oxide or titanium oxide to physically block the sun’s rays.

You should apply  sunscreen every day. Be sure to apply it 20 minutes before you go outside. 

• Use your medicine exactly as directed by your dermatologist. This is very important.

• Cover up the patches. You may want to cover up your dark patches with makeup. Choose products that have white and yellow undertones.

 Learn more about melasma:

• Melasma
• Melasma: Signs and symptoms
• Melasma: Who gets and causes
• Melasma: Diagnosis, treatment, and outcome