Pigmentation Treatment

Pigmentation treatment fades dark spots, melasma and uneven skin tone using medical peels, skin treatments, prescription creams and strict daily sun protection. At our Al Qusais, Dubai clinic, our aesthetic physician assesses the type and depth of your pigmentation, and our DHA-licensed beauty and laser therapists carry out the in-clinic sessions.

What causes dark spots and melasma?

Dark patches form when skin cells make too much melanin in one area. Common triggers are UV light, hormonal changes, inflammation such as acne, and genetics.

• Melasma: brown or grey-brown patches, usually on both cheeks, the forehead, upper lip or chin. It is linked to hormones, is more common in women and is made worse by the sun.
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: dark marks left after acne, eczema, bites or skin injury. It is more common in medium and darker skin tones.
• Sun spots (solar lentigines): flat, well-defined brown spots on the face, hands, arms and chest from years of sun exposure.
• Freckles: small inherited spots that darken in the sun. They can be lightened rather than removed.

Which treatments are used?

The plan depends on the type of pigmentation, how deep it sits and your skin type. Most plans combine several of these:

• Chemical peels (for example glycolic, lactic or mandelic acid) to shed pigmented surface cells. Mandelic peels are often chosen for darker skin and post-acne marks.
• Microneedling with lightening serums such as tranexamic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide or azelaic acid.
• Laser for some well-defined sun spots, if the doctor finds it suits your skin type. On darker skin, the wrong settings can make pigmentation worse.
• Prescription creams for home use, which may include hydroquinone for a limited period under medical supervision, retinoids or tranexamic acid.

We avoid aggressive laser for melasma, because over-stimulating the skin can make it darker.

Why does sun protection matter so much in Dubai?

UV light switches pigmentation back on, so results usually fade without daily sun protection. Dubai has strong sun all year, which makes this part of every plan rather than an extra.

• Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ every morning, including on cloudy days and indoors near windows.
• Reapply about every two hours when outdoors, and after swimming or sweating.
• Use a hat and shade, and avoid midday sun in the weeks around peels or laser sessions.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on the type and depth of the pigmentation and on your skin. As a guide:

• Sun spots: often one to three laser sessions.
• General sun damage and uneven tone: a course of four to six sessions of peels or combined treatments.
• Melasma: usually six to eight weeks of prescription creams first, then in-clinic sessions spaced over several months, with ongoing maintenance because it often comes back.

How much does pigmentation treatment cost in Dubai?

The cost depends on the treatments and the number of sessions in your plan, so it is quoted after your skin has been assessed.