Recovery
Results
Treatment Time
Aftercare
Treatment science score 
The science of salicylic acid peels for melasma
- Peels can also potentiate the delivery of products into the skin
- This peel is best for acne prone skin
- Salicylic acid peels can exfoliate pigment & marginally improve melasma
- Salicylic acid peels have minimal downtime compared to Cosmelan peels
- Cosmelan peels are the most effective peels for melasma, albeit a protracted recovery
- Salicylic acid belongs to the beta hydroxy acid family
- This peel speeds up the turnover of skin cells to reduce melasma pigment
- Faster turnover means healthy skin with less pigment
Salicylic acid peels are classed as superficial peels. They are best used to improve skin quality & treat acne. They can be marginally effective in reducing pigmentation & melasma. A typical peeling program consists of 5 peels, conducted over 10-12 weeks.
What are salicylic acid peels?
Salicylic acid peels are exfoliating peels designed to treat pigment. Unlike TCA or Cosmelan peels, salicylic acid has little downtime. A series of 5 sessions are recommended for best results.
Peels are typically spaced 2-3 weeks apart.
What can this peel do for my skin?
- Reduce melasma pigment
- Lightens post inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Reduce age spots
- Treats acne prone skin
How does this peel work?
Salicylic acid peels work in treatment of melasma via two pathways-
- Chemical exfoliation of melasma pigmentation. This aids in turnover of skin cells.
- As a primer for delivery of skin care products such as arbutin, azelaic acid, retinol, ascorbic & tranexamic acids.
What is the recovery process?
Salicylic peel has a recovery time of 1-2 days, depending on the concentration of the peel. Post peeling starts at 24 hours & lasts up to 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salicylic acid | 1-2 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%, however they are associated with a long recovery time of up to 9 days or more- especially for Dermamelan. Another clinic favourite is the Vi Precision Peel.
Less effective peels for melasma include glycolic, lactic, salicylic & retinoic acid peels. These groups of peels can improve melasma by 20- 50%. The optimal peel type depends on the depth of pigment, your skin type & allocated recovery time.
What results can I expect from a salicylic 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
- 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.
When do we use glycolic peels for melasma?
As with other peeling agents, glycolic (& lactic) acid peels are best used during the maintenance phase of melasma treatment, namely after a series of Picosure Pro laser sessions. A salicylic acid peel is the preferred peel if you have melasma & acne prone skin, whilst a glycolic peel is used if you have more photo damage. Salicylic acid peels have a longer recovery compared to glycolic or lactic acid peels.
Peeling agents work by accelerating cellular turnover, in turn improving the luminosity & clarity of skin. They are useful to potentiate the delivery of skin care products such as retinoids, vitamins & pigment correctors.
How many sessions will I require to clear my melasma?
5 sessions, spaced 2 weeks apart. Salicylic acid peels work by gentle exfoliation of the skin’s surface, in turn clearing superficial pigmentation.
Results can be seen at the 4 week mark, maximal results are seen in 12 weeks. It works in approximately 20-50% of melasma cases & is best used as a maintenance peel.
What is the treatment like?
Salicylic acid peels are in office peels & typically take less than 10 minutes to perform. The steps involved are –
- Degreasing of the skin to remove excess oil.
- Application of the peeling agent.
- Activation of the peel with pseudo-frosting.
- Cooling of the skin.
- Post peel application of sunscreen.
On a pain scale of 1- 10, this peels rates as a 2/10 (very well tolerated).
How does Cosmelan peel compare with salicylic acid peels for melasma?
Cosmelan & Dermamelan peels are much more effective than BHA peels (salicylic acid) for melasma as they address the primary cause of melasma. The downside of Cosmelan / Dermamelan is the extended recovery time of these agents.
The Vi Precision peel is one of our favourite as it has less downtime compared to Cosmelan & is more cost effective.
Treatment Type |
Works |
Recovery |
Number of Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salicylic acid peels | Works in 30-40% of cases | Minimal recovery | 5 sessions required |
| Cosmelan Peels | Works in 55% of cases | 7 day recovery | 1 peel session |
| Dermamelan Peels | Works in 60% of melasma cases | 8+ day recovery | 1 peel session |
Our Gallery of Results
Hori, faded (not completely) in only 2 sessions with Picosure Pro
.
👉End point> Stippled frosting focally over my usual end point of gray/oedema. More aggressive settings give faster clearance, albeit higher risks of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation
.
👉Ideally 2 more sessions
.
Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney,
Australia🇦🇺
.
#melasmaclinic #hori #horinaevustreatment #drdavinlim #sydneydermatologist #pigmentationclinic
Hori, faded (not completely) in only 2 sessions with Picosure Pro
.
👉End point> Stippled frosting focally over my usual end point of gray/oedema. More aggressive settings give faster clearance, albeit higher risks of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation
.
👉Ideally 2 more sessions
.
Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney,
Australia🇦🇺
.
#melasmaclinic #hori #horinaevustreatment #drdavinlim #sydneydermatologist #pigmentationclinic
Pigment is a glow distractor
.
👉Understanding the level of pigment > first step in optimizing your outcome
.
👉Match a wavelength to the level > predictable outcome
.
👉Match an ‘ingredient’ to pigment output > better outcome
.
👉Match an injectable to the level > the icing on the cake
.
👉Reducing UV & visible light > an essential step
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney, 🇦🇺
Australia
.
#melasmaclinic #melasma #drdavinlim #sydneydermatologist #pigmentation
Pigment is a glow distractor
.
👉Understanding the level of pigment > first step in optimizing your outcome
.
👉Match a wavelength to the level > predictable outcome
.
👉Match an ‘ingredient’ to pigment output > better outcome
.
👉Match an injectable to the level > the icing on the cake
.
👉Reducing UV & visible light > an essential step
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney, 🇦🇺
Australia
.
#melasmaclinic #melasma #drdavinlim #sydneydermatologist #pigmentation
For melasma, it does not mean the deeper you go, the better the results💯
.
👉Superficial peels: slow & steady with glycolic over lactic acid
.
👉TCA: outdated, though 8-10% single to double coating can reduce pigment in some cases
.
👉Phenol: for recalcitrant cases, with the risk of PIH & long lasting hypo
.
👉Novel Peels: probably gives the best results, with a hit rate of around 60+%, best used with medical therapy
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney,
Australia🇦🇺
.
#tcapeel #cosmelanpeel #viprecisionpeel #chemicalpeel #melasmatreatment #melasmaclinic #drdavinlim #phenolpeel #pigmentation
For melasma, it does not mean the deeper you go, the better the results💯
.
👉Superficial peels: slow & steady with glycolic over lactic acid
.
👉TCA: outdated, though 8-10% single to double coating can reduce pigment in some cases
.
👉Phenol: for recalcitrant cases, with the risk of PIH & long lasting hypo
.
👉Novel Peels: probably gives the best results, with a hit rate of around 60+%, best used with medical therapy
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney,
Australia🇦🇺
.
#tcapeel #cosmelanpeel #viprecisionpeel #chemicalpeel #melasmatreatment #melasmaclinic #drdavinlim #phenolpeel #pigmentation
As with everything medical, advice is based upon probability not possibility, taking into account outliers
.
🧴Creams: can flare melasma. More potent creams containing a mix of estrogen, especially estradiol over estriol (acknowledging that estriol is the predominant form in pregnancy) has a higher chance of flares. The greatest risk is in sun exposed areas
.
💊HRT tablets / systemic/ patches: Has a higher risk compared to creams. Dose related threshold that depends on individuals. Estradiol has a higher risk compared to estriol
.
👉Vaginal Estrogen Creams: risk is very low as systemic absorption is limited
.
🤷🏻♂️Non-hormonal estrogen receptor modulators (Emepelle): risk unquantified
.
👉💯Tips: avoid creams on sun exposed areas, including face /chest / arms
.
👉Are you on HRT, & has your melasma flared up because of it?
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney, 🇦🇺
Australia
.
#melasma #HRT #hormonereplacement #themelasmaclinic #melasmaclinic #drdavinlim #sydneydermatologist #menopauseclinic #menopause #menopausemelasma
As with everything medical, advice is based upon probability not possibility, taking into account outliers
.
🧴Creams: can flare melasma. More potent creams containing a mix of estrogen, especially estradiol over estriol (acknowledging that estriol is the predominant form in pregnancy) has a higher chance of flares. The greatest risk is in sun exposed areas
.
💊HRT tablets / systemic/ patches: Has a higher risk compared to creams. Dose related threshold that depends on individuals. Estradiol has a higher risk compared to estriol
.
👉Vaginal Estrogen Creams: risk is very low as systemic absorption is limited
.
🤷🏻♂️Non-hormonal estrogen receptor modulators (Emepelle): risk unquantified
.
👉💯Tips: avoid creams on sun exposed areas, including face /chest / arms
.
👉Are you on HRT, & has your melasma flared up because of it?
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney, 🇦🇺
Australia
.
#melasma #HRT #hormonereplacement #themelasmaclinic #melasmaclinic #drdavinlim #sydneydermatologist #menopauseclinic #menopause #menopausemelasma
In the past 10 years there has been a tremendous increase in knowledge regarding the cause/s of melasma, enabling better treatments with longer remission times & higher clearances
.
👉Peels: are a novel way to reduce pigment. They can be effective in 50-60% of cases. We perform Cosmelan, Dermamelan, Vi Precision, AHAs & Jessner. In some cases they provide a slightly faster clearance rate compared to lasers, however their ‘hit’ rate is not as good, providing devices are dialed in correctly. As per diagram, there are many other pathways to consider when treating melasma pigment 💯
.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼Sunscreen: correct application overlooked by the majority of patients. This is step on in the algorithm, get this correct before embarking on peels, skin care & lasers
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney, 🇦🇺
Australia
.
#melasma #cosmelan #chemicalpeelmelasma #themelasmaclinic #melasmaclinic #drdavinlim #sydneydermatologist
In the past 10 years there has been a tremendous increase in knowledge regarding the cause/s of melasma, enabling better treatments with longer remission times & higher clearances
.
👉Peels: are a novel way to reduce pigment. They can be effective in 50-60% of cases. We perform Cosmelan, Dermamelan, Vi Precision, AHAs & Jessner. In some cases they provide a slightly faster clearance rate compared to lasers, however their ‘hit’ rate is not as good, providing devices are dialed in correctly. As per diagram, there are many other pathways to consider when treating melasma pigment 💯
.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼Sunscreen: correct application overlooked by the majority of patients. This is step on in the algorithm, get this correct before embarking on peels, skin care & lasers
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney, 🇦🇺
Australia
.
#melasma #cosmelan #chemicalpeelmelasma #themelasmaclinic #melasmaclinic #drdavinlim #sydneydermatologist
Effectively building & keeping collagen in the upper layers of skin can potentially prevent & treat some forms of pigmentation, especially the ones related to aging. This includes late onset melasma & ‘dermal’ dropout, more common in darker skin types
.
👉How to? Topical retinoids can potentially provide very low levels of collagen, more efficient modalities include lasers, RF microneedling (correct depth & settings) as well as HIFU & biostimulatory injectables. The ideal biostimulus depends on the clinical presentation & age of the patient🙌🏼
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney,
Australia🇦🇺
.
#melasma #melasmaclinic #biostimulator #skin #melasmatreatment #sunscreens #bioremodelling #drdavinlim #dermatologistsydney
Effectively building & keeping collagen in the upper layers of skin can potentially prevent & treat some forms of pigmentation, especially the ones related to aging. This includes late onset melasma & ‘dermal’ dropout, more common in darker skin types
.
👉How to? Topical retinoids can potentially provide very low levels of collagen, more efficient modalities include lasers, RF microneedling (correct depth & settings) as well as HIFU & biostimulatory injectables. The ideal biostimulus depends on the clinical presentation & age of the patient🙌🏼
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney,
Australia🇦🇺
.
#melasma #melasmaclinic #biostimulator #skin #melasmatreatment #sunscreens #bioremodelling #drdavinlim #dermatologistsydney
90% of CALM or cafe au lait macules can respond to pico or QSL.
.
👉This patient: treated with 532 Hollywood Spectra nano laser, sessions spaced 8-10 weeks apart. Anecdotally facial lesions respond better than extra-facial lesions
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
The Melasma Clinic
Sydney, Australia🇦🇺
.
#spectralaser #lutronic #calmbirthmark #birthmarktreatment #cafeaulaitbirthmark
#birthmarkremoval #drdavinlim #davinlim #sydneydermatologist
90% of CALM or cafe au lait macules can respond to pico or QSL.
.
👉This patient: treated with 532 Hollywood Spectra nano laser, sessions spaced 8-10 weeks apart. Anecdotally facial lesions respond better than extra-facial lesions
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
The Melasma Clinic
Sydney, Australia🇦🇺
.
#spectralaser #lutronic #calmbirthmark #birthmarktreatment #cafeaulaitbirthmark
#birthmarkremoval #drdavinlim #davinlim #sydneydermatologist
🍊Vitamin C is useful, only if your skin can tolerate it. Why? High bioavailable vitamin C has an acidic formulation with a low pH, much lower than the already acidic environment of skin. This can lead to irritation, which means more potent pigment correctors can’t be applied
.
👉Formulations: L -ascorbic acid, preferably in the morning under make up & a thick layer of tinted sunscreen
.
👉Tips: concentrate on getting your sunscreen application correct before product selection, 90% of melasma sufferers haven’t got this step correct
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
The Melasma Clinic
Sydney, Australia🇦🇺
.
#melasma #vitaminc #ascorbicacid #vitamincskincare #themelasmaclinic #sydneydermatologist #drdavinlim #themelasmaclinic
🍊Vitamin C is useful, only if your skin can tolerate it. Why? High bioavailable vitamin C has an acidic formulation with a low pH, much lower than the already acidic environment of skin. This can lead to irritation, which means more potent pigment correctors can’t be applied
.
👉Formulations: L -ascorbic acid, preferably in the morning under make up & a thick layer of tinted sunscreen
.
👉Tips: concentrate on getting your sunscreen application correct before product selection, 90% of melasma sufferers haven’t got this step correct
.
😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
The Melasma Clinic
Sydney, Australia🇦🇺
.
#melasma #vitaminc #ascorbicacid #vitamincskincare #themelasmaclinic #sydneydermatologist #drdavinlim #themelasmaclinic
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 glycolic acid peels.
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 is the cost of salicylic acid peeling for melasma?
What aftercare is required post peels?
What skin care ingredients do we combine with salicylic acid?
Can all skin types & ethnicities be treated with salicylic acid peels?
What is the difference between salicylic acid washes & peels?
What are the side effects of salicylic acid peels?
Who performs the procedure?
How does salicylic compare with glycolic acid peels for melasma?
Is it safe to perform DIY salicylic acid peels at home?
A SummaryDavin’s tip on salicylic acid peeling for melasma pigment
Dr Davin Lim | Dermatologist
Prior to pico lasers, chemical peels form the mainstay of melasma management. Since 2010, peels have been outdated, bar novel Cosmelan & Dermamelan peels. Lasers, in particular picosecond lasers, provide far better & safer results with less rebound & no recovery time.
Salicylic acid peels are still en vogue, however their primary indication is for treating acne prone skin. In the context of melasma pigmentation, they have no advantages over glycolic or lactic acid peels, as AHA peels are equally as efficacious without the downtime of higher concentration salicylic acid peels.
Though not conveyed in research papers, salicylic acid peels have a higher rate of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation as opposed to other peels, especially in darker skin types.
Salicylic acid is often an added ingredient found in pigmentation correctors. Derived naturally from willow bark, it functions as an exfoliant with anti-inflammatory properties. The concentration varies from 0.2 to 2.0% (as opposed to chemical peels with 20-30%). Most often salicylic acid is combined with ingredients such as arbutin, citric acid, ascorbic acid, licorice root extracts & bearberry extracts.
