Melasma Treatment in Denver
Melasma is stubborn in a way most pigmentation is not. It responds to the right treatment and comes straight back with the wrong one, which is why so many people arrive here having already tried something that did not hold.
Here is how we approach it, and how we decide which treatment suits your skin.
Why melasma needs a different approach
Melasma sits deeper than ordinary sun damage and is driven by hormones and heat as much as by UV exposure. Treat it too aggressively, or with the wrong device, and you can darken it rather than fade it.
That risk is higher on deeper skin tones, which is exactly where a lot of clinics get into trouble.
The three tools we use
We treat melasma with some combination of Pico laser, a VI medical-grade chemical peel, and a prescription lightening cream. Which combination depends on your skin type and how your pigmentation behaves.
Pico laser
Pico delivers ultra-fast pulses that shatter irregular pigment into microscopic particles, small enough for your body to absorb and clear. It also stimulates collagen, so skin texture tends to improve alongside tone.
Safe on all skin tones, which is the main reason we reach for it first
Works deeper in the skin than IPL
No downtime
Best results usually within one to four treatments
VI chemical peel, medical grade
A VI peel exfoliates damaged layers and drives cell turnover, fading melasma along with dark spots and post-acne marks.
Safe on light through to darker skin tones
Downtime is real: expect several days of visible peeling
Results from a single treatment, and often used in combination with Pico
How we choose between them
For most people, and for all skin types, Pico is the starting point. On lighter skin, pairing Pico with a VI peel and a prescription lightening cream tends to give the strongest result.
The honest answer is that melasma is managed rather than cured. The aim is to fade it substantially and then keep it faded, which means sun protection and sometimes maintenance treatments. Any clinic promising permanent one-visit removal is overselling.
Who performs your treatment
Your treatment is performed by our instructors, the same people who train other clinics' staff in these techniques. Students do not perform treatments in our clinic and do not observe them.
That matters more for melasma than for almost anything else we do, because the margin between fading it and worsening it comes down to settings and judgement.
What it costs
Pigmentation treatment pricing starts at $100 per session. Your consultation is free, and you will get a specific quote once we have looked at your skin and agreed a plan.
You can see our full range of laser treatments for related pigmentation and tone concerns.
Book a consultation
If melasma has come back after previous treatment elsewhere, that history is useful. Bring it to your consultation and we will factor it into the plan.
Book a consultation or get in touch with questions first.