Pigmentation
Uneven tone has more than one cause. The protocol depends on which one you have.
What Drives Pigmentation
Pigmentation is a category, not a single condition.
Sun and age spots come from accumulated UV exposure triggering melanin overproduction in localized areas. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) forms after inflammation: a breakout, a wound, irritation. Melasma is hormonally driven, estrogen-sensitive, and one of the most difficult to treat because triggers are internal. Uneven tone and patchiness can be any of the above, or all of them at once.
What they have in common: melanocytes producing melanin unevenly, depositing pigment at the wrong depth or in the wrong concentration. They do not share the same treatment protocol.
Treating melasma the way you would treat sun spots will not work, and can make it worse. Identifying the type first is the only correct starting point.
512 Skincare
Find what’s driving it before you treat it.
A few questions about your skin point us toward the right starting place — and what to skip.
How We Approach It
We identify the source before we recommend a treatment. That means looking at your history: sun exposure patterns, hormonal changes, skin of color considerations, prior treatments, and what has and has not worked before.
From there, we build a targeted approach. For surface pigmentation and sun damage, BBL (Broadband Light) on the Sciton platform is often the most direct route: light energy absorbed by excess melanin breaks down the pigment, which rises to the surface and sheds. For post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation layered over texture or scarring, microneedling with PDRN supports barrier repair while addressing the structural issue. Chemical peels accelerate cell turnover and lift surface discoloration. Laser peels address mid-depth pigment and tone.
For melasma, the approach is careful: some treatments that work well for other pigment types can stimulate melanocytes and deepen melasma. We will tell you what applies in your case.
Aftercare matters as much as the treatment. UV protection is non-negotiable throughout. Introducing actives too early interrupts healing. We sequence everything.
How we work
Prescriptive, not transactional.
We recommend what your skin needs and build it as a series, then adjust depth and timing as your skin responds.
What to Expect
Most pigment treatments involve some visible change during healing. After BBL, treated spots typically darken before they shed - this is normal, and it means the treatment is working. After chemical peels or laser: expect flaking. Let it shed on its own. Picking or peeling forces pigment back in and risks new PIH.
Timelines are honest. Melasma in particular requires patience and consistent sun protection. One treatment is not enough. A series, managed carefully, is.
Is This for You?
Pigmentation responds well to the right treatment, poorly to the wrong one. A consultation lets us identify what we are actually dealing with and build something that fits. No generic protocol. No guesswork.
Treatments We Use for Pigmentation
We choose treatments based on how pigmentation is showing up in your skin:
- Sun spots and age spots: we target UV-driven pigment with light and resurfacing options selected for your skin history.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): we fade lingering marks by controlling inflammation first, then sequencing pigment-safe correction.
- Melasma and hormonal discoloration: we move slowly and conservatively because heat, hormones, and inflammation can deepen pigment.
- Uneven tone and patchiness: we identify whether pigment is surface, inflammatory, hormonal, or mixed before treating.
- Diffuse surface discoloration: we improve visible brightness through steady resurfacing and pigment-safe aftercare.
BBL Laser (Sciton)
Broadband light targets excess melanin directly. Effective for sun spots, age spots, and vascular discoloration. Scheduled outside peak sun-exposure months.
Microneedling with PDRN
Supports barrier repair and recovery while addressing PIH layered over texture concerns.
Chemical Peels (Tier 1-3)
Accelerates cell turnover and lifts surface-level discoloration. We introduce them after microneedling and before or between laser sessions.
Nano and Micro Laser Peels (Sciton)
Mid-depth resurfacing that addresses tone, texture, and pigment simultaneously.
Profractional Resurfacing Laser (Sciton)
For pigmentation layered over significant textural concerns or scarring. Deeper remodeling with structured recovery.
Next step
Start with an assessment, not a guess.
Every plan here is built around your skin and how it responds. It begins with a complimentary consultation.