Melasma can be treated by topical drugs, patients need to follow medical advice to use drugs and should not use drugs by themselves. The following topical drugs are commonly used to treat melasma: 1. hydroquinone and its glycoside derivatives: hydroquinone cream is the first-line treatment drug for melasma, the higher the concentration the stronger the depigmentation effect, but the greater the skin irritation. The side effects of hydroquinone depigmentation agents include allergic contact dermatitis, post-inflammatory pigmentation spots and rare brown maculopathy. Arbutin and deoxyarbutin are glucose derivatives of hydroquinone, which are less irritating compared with hydroquinone when used topically; 2. azelaic acid cream: azelaic acid cream has the effect of skin brightening and whitening, and a few patients may experience itching, burning sensation and pins and needles after using it; 3. retinoic acid: it can enhance the depigmentation effect of hydroquinone cream, and can improve the efficacy when used in combination with hydroquinone cream and steroid hormone topically; 4. fruit acid: fruit acid is an auxiliary method for treating chloasma It is an auxiliary method for melasma treatment and has certain stimulation to the skin. Patients with melasma need to follow medical advice and avoid using drugs on their own. In addition to using drugs, it is also necessary to combine with oral medication to treat melasma.