Recovery
Results
Treatment Time
Aftercare
Treatment science score 
The science of retinoic acid peels for melasma
- Retinoic acid peels can be useful for treating pigment, including melasma
- Clearance rates of up to 50% can be achieved with chemical peels
- They are best used as maintenance peel for melasma
- Retinoic acid peels can also improve wrinkles, sun damage & photoaging
- Retinoic acid peels work by chemical exfoliation of pigment plus reducing pigment output
- Expect peeling for several days following this peel
Retinoic acid peels are classed as superficial peels. They are best used to improve skin quality, including reduction of pigment as well as fine lines, surface irregularities & sun damage. A typical peeling program consists of 5 peels, conducted over 10-12 weeks.
What are retinoic acid peels?
Retinoic acid peels are superficial chemical peels that are useful to treat all forms of pigmentation, including melasma, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, & sun damage.
This peel is like retinol, only 1000X more powerful.
When do we use retinoic acid peels for melasma?
Retinoic acid peels, also known as vitamin A peels or retinoid peels are most useful for melasma maintenance, namely to prevent the recurrence of melasma pigment. We often incorporate this peel after a series of pico laser treatments.
How does this peel work?
Retinoic acid peels work in 3 ways-
- Chemical exfoliation of melasma pigmentation
- Repair of sun damage skin seen in melasma patients
- Reduction of pigment production
What is the recovery process?
This peel has a recovery time of 2- 5 days, depending on the concentration of the peel. Post peeling starts at 48 hours & lasts up to 5 days. During this time makeup can be used, however it does not sit well due to flaky skin. Redness resolves within a week post peel.
Peel type |
Recovery |
Number required |
Efficacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retinoic acid | 2-5 days | 5 | ** |
| Cosmelan | 7 days | 1 | *** |
| AHA peels | Nil | 5 | ** |
Is it the best peel for melasma?
Cosmelan & Dermamelan peels are the most effective peels for melasma with efficacy rates of up to 60%.
Less effective peels for melasma include TCA peels, AHA peels & retinoic acid peels. These groups of peels can improve melasma by about 50%. The optimal peel type depends on the depth of pigment, your skin type & allocated recovery time.
What results can I expect from a retinoic acid chemical peel?
This peel can reduce most types of pigment, however it does take 4-8 weeks before results are seen. You can expect-
- Reduction of pigment (by up to 50% or more)
- More even skin tone, lighter skin tone
- Reduction in fine wrinkles, reduction of photo damage
A series of 5 sessions are recommended for best outcomes.
How many sessions will I require to clear my melasma?
5 sessions, spaced 2 weeks apart. Retinoic acid peels work by gentle exfoliation of the skin’s surface, in turn clearing superficial pigmentation. Retinoids also inhibit the enzyme that produces melanin.
Results can be seen at the 4 week mark, maximal results are seen in 2-3 months.
What are the other skin benefits of retinoic acid peels?
Retinoids are powerful molecules in dermatology. Apart from pigment reduction, this peel can also give the following results-
- Reduction of sun spots & sun damage including pre-cancerous solar keratosis
- Reduction of fine lines & wrinkles
- Reduction of enlarged pores, acne & blemishes
- Increase in collagen levels
- Decrease in photoaging
What is the treatment like?
This peel is performed in the office. After preparing your skin your clinician will apply the peel. The solution is left on for a period of 1 to 6 hours, depending on the level of pigmentation. It is then washed off at the convenience of your own home.
What is the fastest & safest solution for melasma?
Picosecond lasers employ ultrashort pulses of light to safely shatter unwanted pigment without heating the skin. They provide the fastest & most effective way of improving skin quality, including clearing of melasma pigment.
As compared to chemical peels, Picosecond lasers have no downtime & are 20-25% more effective as compared to Cosmelan or Dermamelan peels & far more effective than retinoic acid peels.
Treatment Type |
Works |
Number of Sessions |
Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retinoic acid peels | Works in 40% of melasma cases | 4-5 sessions | 2-4 day recovery |
| Cosmelan Peels | Works in 55% of cases | 1 peel session | 7 day recovery |
| Dermamelan Peels | Works in 60% of melasma cases | 1 peel session | 8+ day recovery |
Our Gallery of Results
Retinoids are useful in some, but not all cases of melasma & pigmentation
.
👉Concept: though they are commonly prescribed in many combinations (eg. Triluma, Kligman’s, modified Kligman’s, stand alone ranging from retinol to retinoic acid), the rate limiting factor is skin irritation. Potentially this means less of what really matters- use of other more useful pigment correctors
.
☄️👌🏻Selective & gradual introduction of retinoids: Your clinician will discuss the timing of retinoids, in addition to the class & concentration, based upon your skin’s irritant threshold & background photodamage, taking into account co-prescription of other ‘skincare actives’
.
🎬Action: Brisbane patients, book a consultation with Alison @cutis_dermatology Sydney, few spots available next month, link in the bio.🙏🏼
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma #dermatologistsydney #retinol #retinoids #retinolskincare #skincare #skincaretips #pigmentationtips #drdavinlim #davinlim #triluma
Retinoids are useful in some, but not all cases of melasma & pigmentation
.
👉Concept: though they are commonly prescribed in many combinations (eg. Triluma, Kligman’s, modified Kligman’s, stand alone ranging from retinol to retinoic acid), the rate limiting factor is skin irritation. Potentially this means less of what really matters- use of other more useful pigment correctors
.
☄️👌🏻Selective & gradual introduction of retinoids: Your clinician will discuss the timing of retinoids, in addition to the class & concentration, based upon your skin’s irritant threshold & background photodamage, taking into account co-prescription of other ‘skincare actives’
.
🎬Action: Brisbane patients, book a consultation with Alison @cutis_dermatology Sydney, few spots available next month, link in the bio.🙏🏼
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma #dermatologistsydney #retinol #retinoids #retinolskincare #skincare #skincaretips #pigmentationtips #drdavinlim #davinlim #triluma
Your clinician will guide you through your specific protocol & pigment corrector. This only applies to potentially irritating agents, it is not a blanket guide for all topicals/pigment correctors
.
Still sensitive, even if short contact?
.
1️⃣Use half the amount (dilute in moisturizer)
.
2️⃣ moisturiser before & after
.
3️⃣Titrate use, ie. skip a day….or three
.
4️⃣Test spot for allergy (very rare, skin irritation more common). Use a tiny amount, apply to the inner arm, photograph 📸the reaction taking note of the time it takes to develop irritation. Show this to your treating clinician to interpret & they will guide you. Irritation is different from allergic reactions💯
.
👉🙏🏼Addition of topicals will be guided by your treating clinician, based upon your skin sensitivity, current topical use & treatment (peels vs lasers). Timing is important
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma #dermatologistsydney
Your clinician will guide you through your specific protocol & pigment corrector. This only applies to potentially irritating agents, it is not a blanket guide for all topicals/pigment correctors
.
Still sensitive, even if short contact?
.
1️⃣Use half the amount (dilute in moisturizer)
.
2️⃣ moisturiser before & after
.
3️⃣Titrate use, ie. skip a day….or three
.
4️⃣Test spot for allergy (very rare, skin irritation more common). Use a tiny amount, apply to the inner arm, photograph 📸the reaction taking note of the time it takes to develop irritation. Show this to your treating clinician to interpret & they will guide you. Irritation is different from allergic reactions💯
.
👉🙏🏼Addition of topicals will be guided by your treating clinician, based upon your skin sensitivity, current topical use & treatment (peels vs lasers). Timing is important
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma #dermatologistsydney
Dr Vee Mang is an Australian trained physician with extensive experience in skin, having worked in the field of dermatology. She’s a cosmetic physician who works with Dr Van Park & Dr Davin Lim in Woollahra, Sydney
.
👉Her interests: Pigmentation, neurotoxin, acne management, anti-aging
.
📖Bookings: Open for consultation, send your expression of interest at our website, melasmaclinic.com.au Yes, an expression of interest is required for the Sydney clinic.
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma
Dr Vee Mang is an Australian trained physician with extensive experience in skin, having worked in the field of dermatology. She’s a cosmetic physician who works with Dr Van Park & Dr Davin Lim in Woollahra, Sydney
.
👉Her interests: Pigmentation, neurotoxin, acne management, anti-aging
.
📖Bookings: Open for consultation, send your expression of interest at our website, melasmaclinic.com.au Yes, an expression of interest is required for the Sydney clinic.
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma
Dr Van Park is the co-founder of The Melasma Clinic. She’s a key opinion leader in the field of aesthetic injectables with her innovative & novel injection techniques with neuromodulators & soft tissue injectables
.
👉Rumor has it that Davin Lim fixed her melasma & hence why she founded this clinic.
.
📖Bookings: She’s closed her books, but occasional consults may arise
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #drvanpark #dvp #clinicdvp #cosmeticphysician
Dr Van Park is the co-founder of The Melasma Clinic. She’s a key opinion leader in the field of aesthetic injectables with her innovative & novel injection techniques with neuromodulators & soft tissue injectables
.
👉Rumor has it that Davin Lim fixed her melasma & hence why she founded this clinic.
.
📖Bookings: She’s closed her books, but occasional consults may arise
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #drvanpark #dvp #clinicdvp #cosmeticphysician
Davin Lim is a technician & co-founder. He comes up with the diagnosis, management plan & settings, nothing more. He fixed Van’s melasma & the rest is history☄️
.
👉In store: working on AI for ‘virtual Davin’, namely programmed AI bot for Q and A, coupled with AI video & virtual voice. Bot Q & A will be released in the next few weeks, virtual video & voice within 6 months (hopefully)
.
📖Bookings: handful of appointments available in Sydney every month, expression of interest via melasmaclinic.com.au
.
🏡The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#davinlim #drdavinlim #themelasmaclinic #dermatologistsydney #dermatologyclinicsydney
Davin Lim is a technician & co-founder. He comes up with the diagnosis, management plan & settings, nothing more. He fixed Van’s melasma & the rest is history☄️
.
👉In store: working on AI for ‘virtual Davin’, namely programmed AI bot for Q and A, coupled with AI video & virtual voice. Bot Q & A will be released in the next few weeks, virtual video & voice within 6 months (hopefully)
.
📖Bookings: handful of appointments available in Sydney every month, expression of interest via melasmaclinic.com.au
.
🏡The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#davinlim #drdavinlim #themelasmaclinic #dermatologistsydney #dermatologyclinicsydney
Hori is a common cause of pigmentation in Asian females
.
🔫Treatments: straightforward, it is only a matter of persistence & correct end points. 4-8 sessions. We can get the job done with older tech, but hypo & hyper pigmentation rates are slightly higher compared to pico. 1064 for true dermal Hori, 755 for the recently described mixed Hori
.
👍🏻Outlook: good. They rarely recur, remission expected in most, unlike melasma. The caveat is that melasma + Hori are commonly seen together
.
🎬Action: Consult our clinicians @the_melasma_clinic in Brisbane or Sydney. For Sydney appointments please fill out an expression of interest form on our website, melasmaclinic.com.au Brisbane patients, book an appointment with Alison @cutis_dermatology 💯
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#hori #ethnicskin #pigmentationtreatment #skinlightening #drdavinlim #davinlim #dermatologistsydney #picoway #picosure
Hori is a common cause of pigmentation in Asian females
.
🔫Treatments: straightforward, it is only a matter of persistence & correct end points. 4-8 sessions. We can get the job done with older tech, but hypo & hyper pigmentation rates are slightly higher compared to pico. 1064 for true dermal Hori, 755 for the recently described mixed Hori
.
👍🏻Outlook: good. They rarely recur, remission expected in most, unlike melasma. The caveat is that melasma + Hori are commonly seen together
.
🎬Action: Consult our clinicians @the_melasma_clinic in Brisbane or Sydney. For Sydney appointments please fill out an expression of interest form on our website, melasmaclinic.com.au Brisbane patients, book an appointment with Alison @cutis_dermatology 💯
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#hori #ethnicskin #pigmentationtreatment #skinlightening #drdavinlim #davinlim #dermatologistsydney #picoway #picosure
IPL is awesome for non-melasma pigmentation but is often a cause of flare ups for melasma pigment. The reason is the excessive heat that is often associated with IPL. Exception to this rule is the use of exact filters in correct pulse widths with co-prescription of pigment inhibitors- medical therapy. It can be done, but the threshold for error is very thin💯
.
👉This patient: treated with old fashioned dermal toning with nano-lasers, Spectra by Lutronic, in addition to medical therapy
.
📆👉Timeline: 10 weeks. Pico lasers offer faster resolution, if performed correctly.
.
Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#drdavinlim #IPL #IPLtreatment #melasma #melasmacure #melasmasurvivor #melasmaskincare #themelasmaclinic #sydneydermatologist
IPL is awesome for non-melasma pigmentation but is often a cause of flare ups for melasma pigment. The reason is the excessive heat that is often associated with IPL. Exception to this rule is the use of exact filters in correct pulse widths with co-prescription of pigment inhibitors- medical therapy. It can be done, but the threshold for error is very thin💯
.
👉This patient: treated with old fashioned dermal toning with nano-lasers, Spectra by Lutronic, in addition to medical therapy
.
📆👉Timeline: 10 weeks. Pico lasers offer faster resolution, if performed correctly.
.
Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#drdavinlim #IPL #IPLtreatment #melasma #melasmacure #melasmasurvivor #melasmaskincare #themelasmaclinic #sydneydermatologist
Dermamelan & Cosmelan peels have arrived 💯
.
👉Novel peels: are a good option for primarily epidermal melasma and superficial pigmentation, albeit a downtime of 6-12 days
.
👌🏻Employ peels based upon diagnostic features of pigment and allowed recovery of the patient
.
🏡The Melasma Clinic Sydney-Brisbane 🇦🇺
#melasma #cosmelan2 #cosmelanmask #cosmelanpeel
Dermamelan & Cosmelan peels have arrived 💯
.
👉Novel peels: are a good option for primarily epidermal melasma and superficial pigmentation, albeit a downtime of 6-12 days
.
👌🏻Employ peels based upon diagnostic features of pigment and allowed recovery of the patient
.
🏡The Melasma Clinic Sydney-Brisbane 🇦🇺
#melasma #cosmelan2 #cosmelanmask #cosmelanpeel
How does Cosmelan peel compare with retinoic acid peels for melasma?
Cosmelan & Dermamelan peels are much more effective than TCA peels for melasma as they address the primary cause of melasma.
The Melasma Clinic difference
Our specialist clinic is overseen by dermatologists who provide a comprehensive & bespoke approach to skin care. We take into account the complexity and individuality of your skin. Our pigment solutions include preventing future recurrences of melasma. Our ethos is to improve & maintain your skin’s health & vitality as an ongoing commitment to our patients.
Dr Davin Lim
650K subscribersHow to treat PIGMENTATION
If I can identify the cause of pigmentation, chances are I can treat it. This can only be achieved with careful real time examination…
More of our mostFrequently asked questions
What skin care ingredients do we combine with retinoic acid peels?
What is the cost of retinoic acid peeling for melasma?
What aftercare is required post peels?
Can all skin types & ethnicities be treated with retinoic acid peels?
What are the side effects of retinoic acid peels?
Who performs the procedure?
How does retinoic acid peeling compare with AHA peels such as glycolic acid?
How does retinoic acid peels compare with retinol?
A SummaryDavin’s tip on retinoic acid peeling for melasma pigment
Dr Davin Lim | Dermatologist
One of my favorite peeling agents for skin maintenance, this is what I term a VitaPeel or Vitamin A peel. In the context of melasma pigment, superficial peels can be useful, however it’s a tricky one to modulate primarily because of superficial peeling with high strength retinoids. The duration of peeling depends on many factors including-
- Strength of peel
- Pre-prep of skin (priming agents) as well as acetone prescrub
- How long the peel is left on for
- Individual factors such as age & skin sensitivity
This peel is best used as a maintenance peeling agent, once we have achieved good pigment clearance. Unlike AHA peels, retinoic acid peels don’t require a step up program. The downside of this peel is the prolonged downtime of up to one week.
I personally use this peeling technique for my skin; namely a high strength mix of tretinoin & trifarotene every 2 to 6 weeks. This is what we term ‘pulsed’ therapy.
