Recovery
Results
Treatment Time
Aftercare
The Science of Skin Lightening
- A customized pigment correcting skin care line is prescribed to accelerate skin lightening
- Integral to this program are short pulsed lasers known as pico
- Pico laser treatments are well tolerated with minimal to no pain
- Antioxidant supplements can help with skin lightening
- Results are seen as early as 4 weeks, however best results take several months
The first step in skin lightening is the correct use of sunscreen. This entails understanding frequency, amount & basic formulations. From there, lasers can reduce pigment production by placing pigment cells in a sleep state.
What results can I expect from a skin lightening program?
Skin lightening can be achieved in just about any area. In most cases you can expect to get one to two shades lighter with our customized skin lightening program.
What areas do we lighten?
We lighten the entire body, bar the genital areas. Using pigment correctors, supplements & the very latest laser technology, body & face skin lightening is possible.
Most patients prefer to start on the face. If successful, moving to other areas of the body is then indicated.
What are the steps required to lighten skin?
Our clinic performs skin lightening via a medical approach. Here are steps-
- Exclude internal or endocrine causes of skin darkening.
- Ensure adequate sun protection.
- Prescription of skin care products directed at skin lightening.
- Formulation of a laser program to reduce pigment production.
- Addition of antioxidant supplements.
How long does it take to lighten skin?
It depends on the surface area. As a guide, facial areas typically take 8 weeks to see the best results, whilst body & limbs may take up to 16 weeks or longer.
How successful is this treatment?
Our skin lightening program is successful in over 70% of cases. You can expect to get one to two shades lighter.
What is involved with laser treatment, & does it hurt?
Lasers are integral to our skin lightening program. Each laser session takes 10-30 minutes to perform. We use short pulse lasers that are not painful & do not have any recovery time.
Each patient will prioritize an area to be treated & hence we treat segments within a laser session. Examples include; face & neck, or face & arms. Over time we will work to lighten other areas.
What creams do we prescribe?
We prescribe a mix of skincare products aimed at suppressing & removing pigmentation in the upper & lower area of skin. Your prescription will be unique to your skin tone. Ingredients we use include ascorbic acid, citric, lactic, azelaic, salicylic & glycolic acids in addition to licorice & bearberry extracts.
Can I do it with creams only?
In some countries like India, skin lightening creams are available. They contain high levels of hydroquinone and or kojic acid. At The Melasma Clinic we do not advocate whole body HQ or kojic acid application.
What chemical peels can help?
Your (sensible) options are-
- Cosmelan peel (focal areas, such as the face, neck, chest)
- Vi Precision Plus (face/neck))
- Melanopro Peel (face/neck)
- AHA peels for the face, neck or decolletage
- Lactic acid serum or creams for the body & limbs
Your treating clinician will advise you of the best treatment option for your type of pigmentation. There are pros & cons of peels.
Treatment |
Downtime |
Costs |
Efficacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peels | Variable, up to 10 days | Variable | Moderate, more risks. |
| Lasers | Nil | Generally less per session | Moderate |
What is the recovery time?
The special laser settings we employ do not have any recovery time, hence you can go about your activities straight after the laser procedure.
Chemical peels have a recovery time of 2-10 days, depending on the peel.
How many laser sessions are required?
5-10 sessions depending on the surface area. As a guide, each session takes 30 minutes to perform. You prioritize the treatment areas, depending on your concerns.
Sessions are spaced 2-4 weeks apart.
What is the cost for skin lightening?
10 session package face & neck $4,990
Individual sessions $790- $1090
10 session package face, neck & arms/torso $8,790
Individual sessions $1190
Here is the fine print.
- Not all cases will respond to lasers. Why? Because we are dealing with genetics.
- Lasers can give variable remission, sometimes months, sometimes years.
- Some cases require 20 or more sessions to lighten.
- If you go out in the sun (even with sunscreen), your skin will darken.
- Lightening is 1, maximum of 2 shades lighter.
- Cost varies depending on who performs the laser.
Our Gallery of Results
What are the potential side effects of lasers?
Side effects are rare, however include-
- Paradoxical skin darkening; 3% of cases
- White spots; less than 0.1% cases
- Hives post laser; less than 0.1% of cases
Can creams fade pigment due to Hori?
Creams have a marginal effect on Hori naevus as the pigment lies in the deeper layers of skin. We do however recommend pigment correctors after laser as –
- Hori naevi often occur with other forms of pigmentation such as melasma.
- Laser can occasionally activate pigment cells in the upper layers of skin.
The ideal cream formulation will be determined by your dermatologist.
Why is sunscreen the most important step of the process?
Pigment production is sensitive to UVA & UVB as well as visible light, hence sunscreen forms the foundation of treatment. You can undo 6 months of work by exposing your body to 10 minutes of sunlight.
Ideally you should cover up exposed areas, sunscreens act as a second layer of protection.
What are adjunctive methods of sun protection?
Iron oxide is the key ingredient that gives you HEV or blue light protection, in addition to other visible light. It also can be formulated for a specific shade, hence color matching to your skin.
This ingredient is found in some sunscreen products including Elta Tinted sunscreens, Melan 130, Jane Iredale Glow time & other tinted formulations. The problem lies in a color match for your skin tone. A simple solution is to use a mineral makeup with iron oxide matched to your skin tone. This is over your chosen broad spectrum sunscreen.
What is a basic skincare routine for skin lightening?
A simple skincare routine is-
AM: Sunscreen & pigment corrector.
PM: Chemical exfoliant & or pigment corrector.
The exfoliant of choice depends on the type of pigment as well as your skin type & sensitivities. We use lactic, glycolic, salicylic, azelaic, mandelic, & citric acids in our bespoke custom formulations.
What is an advanced skincare routine for skin lightening?
An advanced skincare routine is combining Melanopro Peel with oral supplementation. This is best for maintenance therapy after a series of pico lasers.
Day 1: Clinical peel
Day 2-60: Melanopro Resurfacing cream.
Supplements: Glutathione & polypodium.
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 tablets or supplements can I take to lighten skin?
We prescribe skin lightening tablets over systemic IV infusions as supplements are much safer.
- Glutathione tablets.
- Polypodium extract.
- Herbal supplements with bearberry extracts.
What types of skin pigmentation is resistant to skin lightening?
The most resistant cases are-
- Perioral darkening or hyperpigmentation around the mouth.
- Pigmentation demarcation lines (facial & body).
- Pigment around the eyes, also known as constitutional pigmentation.
- Underarm or groin pigmentation associated with a condition called acanthosis nigricans.
- Dermal melasma presents on the face & is often resistant to treatment
What is Rejuran & can it lighten skin?
Rejuran is a polynucleotide that is derived from salmon DNA. This injectable is TGA approved & can potentially lighten skin, especially around the eyes. Rejuran is best combined with pico lasers.
Rejuran summary
- DNA injectable that does not contain hyaluronic acid
- 2-4 injections required over 2-6 months
- Works in conjunction with pico lasers
- Effective in dark circles in over 60% of cases
- Cost $990 per injection
- Has very little side effects
- Can be used as adjective treatment in melasma cases
Will a dermatologist be involved in my treatment?
Skin lightening is protocol driven by our therapists & clinicians, however in some cases our dermatologist may perform the treatment.
For complex endocrine disorders including thyroid disease, Addisons, glucose intolerance & acanthosis nigricans associated pigmentation, a medical dermatologist can liaise with an endocrinologist. Lasers & procedural dermatology have limited to no value in these cases.
The Melasma Clinic difference
Our specialist clinic can effectively treat pigmentation in all skin types, including skin lightening. Our unique program can lighten & brighten skin in all areas, including the face, arms & body. Each program is tailored according to your skin tone.
Dr Davin Lim
645K 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
Are skin lightening treatments permanent?
What is glutathione skin lightening?
What are some natural ingredients for skin lightening & brightening?
Why do we approach skin lightening & brightening medically?
Can I lighten skin with a DIY chemical peel?
What are some natural ways to lighten skin?
Do we lighten the genital areas?
What is acanthosis nigricans & how to treat it?
What drugs can cause skin darkening?
Are bleaching creams safe?
Are bleaching soaps like Koji San effective for skin lightening?
A SummarySkin Lightening
Dr Davin Lim | Dermatologist
The Melasma Clinic, Brisbane | Sydney
Skin lightening can be achieved in some, but not all cases. We can not change your DNA, but we can reduce the amount of pigment transfer from your pigment cells known as melanocytes to the upper skin layers.
A realistic expectation is one shade lighter than your current skin tone, however this is not possible in all cases. Treatments take time, typically as a series of laser sessions over a course of 4-10 months.
Focal areas of skin lightening can be achieved in select cases-
Dark circles require a combination approach of lasers (both vascular and pigment) as well as pigment correctors, vascular modifiers, light reflectors (boron), & dermal fillers. Constitutional or genetic causes are very difficult to treat.
Perioral hyperpigmentation (dark areas around your mouth) is complex. Good results can be achieved in some but not all cases. In some cases a dermatologist is involved to exclude secondary causes of dark hyperpigmentation- examples include irritant contact dermatitis, allergic dermatitis & endogenous causes via endocrine dysfunction.
Melasma pigmentation can be treated in over 80% of cases using a multimodality approach of medical, laser, & chemical solutions.
