Pigment & Tone
Melasma
Symmetrical, hormonally driven pigment patches — a chronic condition that is managed, not cured.
01
What it is
Melasma appears as symmetrical brown or grey-brown patches, typically across the cheeks, forehead, upper lip and jaw. It is chronic and relapsing.
Melasma behaves differently to sun damage: it is heat- and hormone-sensitive, and can rebound aggressively if treated too intensely.
02
Why it happens
- Hormonal triggers — pregnancy, the oral contraceptive pill, hormone therapy.
- UV and visible light exposure, including screen and indoor light.
- Heat, from hot showers, cooking, saunas and even aggressive laser treatment.
- A genetic predisposition in the melanocyte response.
03
The layer involved
Structure
Epidermal, dermal or mixed — plus an underlying vascular component
Most melasma is mixed-depth, and a dilated vascular network under the patch often drives recurrence. This is why aggressive resurfacing frequently makes melasma worse.
04 · What may help
Treatments we may consider
Indicative only. Which of these belong in your plan — and in what order — is decided at your skin analysis, never from a page.
Where Every Journey Begins
World Class Skin Analysis
Advanced imaging that reveals what your skin can't show you — and the plan that follows.
Professional Dermal Peels
Facial Peels
Medical-grade acids and enzymes that reveal a fresh layer of luminous skin beneath.
Deep Pigment & Tone Correction
Q-Switched Laser
Nano-second light pulses shatter stubborn pigment — even deep dermal pigment IPL can't reach.
Photobiomodulation
LED Light Therapy
Wavelength-specific light that energises skin cells, calms inflammation and builds collagen.
05 · When we may need a medical assessment
Some things belong with a doctor first.
- Melasma triggered or worsened by hormonal medication — a prescriber review may change the outcome.
- Melasma that has rebounded after laser treatment elsewhere.
- Melasma during pregnancy or breastfeeding, where treatment options are deliberately limited.
This page is general education, not medical advice. If anything here sounds like your skin, we will tell you honestly at consultation whether we can help or whether you should see your GP or dermatologist first.
Related
Colour, spots and unevenness.
Pigmentation
Patches or spots of excess melanin — the umbrella term for uneven skin colour.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Brown marks left behind after acne, injury, waxing, burns or aggressive treatment.
Sun Damage
Cumulative UV injury — sunspots, leathery texture, broken capillaries and premature ageing.