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CoLaz Aesthetics Clinic
Home · Concerns · Pigmentation

Skin concern

Pigmentation.

Melasma, sun spots, post-inflammatory dark patches and uneven tone that no SPF alone is going to lift. We treat pigmentation safely across all Fitzpatrick skin types.

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The condition

What is actually happening in pigmentation-prone skin.

Pigmentation is the visible result of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour, being produced or held in the wrong place. Melasma is hormone-driven, often appearing across the cheeks, upper lip and forehead. Sun spots are UV-driven and accumulate on the hands, face and chest over years. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the brown or darker mark left behind after a spot, eczema flare or any inflammation has healed.

Different patterns of pigmentation need different protocols. Melasma is especially stubborn and never fully cured, it is managed across long-term plans. Sun spots are usually clearable. Post-inflammatory pigmentation usually fades with the right combination, particularly on Fitzpatrick 4-6 skin where the pattern is most common.

At CoLaz we treat pigmentation only by qualified clinicians using modalities chosen for your specific Fitzpatrick type. Heat-based lasers used on the wrong skin type can deepen the pigmentation they are trying to clear, which is why we test-patch every Fitzpatrick 4-6 patient before a full session.

Matched to this concern

The treatments we would consider for pigmentation.

No single treatment works for every patient, we pair the right protocol to your skin type, the severity and where it is appearing. The combinations below are the most commonly indicated at CoLaz.

01 · Melasma protocol

Cosmelan Depigmentation Peel

Cosmelan is the gold-standard professional depigmentation system, a two-part in-clinic mask plus six-month home regime that reduces melanin production and clears existing pigment. The most effective protocol available for stubborn melasma, safe across all Fitzpatrick types.

Best for: melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, stubborn pigmentation, Fitzpatrick 4 to 6

02 · Targeted laser

PICO Laser Treatment

PICO laser uses ultra-short pulses to shatter pigment particles for the body to clear, with minimal heat spread that protects surrounding skin. Particularly strong on sun spots, age spots and post-inflammatory pigmentation, and safe on darker skin types where IPL would carry pigment risk.

Best for: sun spots, age spots, post-inflammatory pigmentation, Fitzpatrick 1 to 6

03 · Diffuse pigmentation

IPL Skin Rejuvenation

IPL (intense pulsed light) addresses diffuse pigmentation, freckling and overall tone on lighter skin types. A course of three to six sessions four weeks apart clears most surface pigmentation. Not suitable for Fitzpatrick 4-6 skin or for melasma.

Best for: diffuse pigmentation, freckling, overall tone, Fitzpatrick 1 to 3

04 · Brightening peels

Chemical Skin Peels

Glycolic, lactic and mandelic-acid peels brighten the surface, accelerate cellular turnover and fade superficial pigmentation. Often used as a course alongside Cosmelan or PICO to layer the result.

Best for: surface pigmentation, uneven tone, post-procedure brightening, Fitzpatrick 1 to 6

How we approach it

A pattern-matched protocol, calibrated to your skin type.

I.

Identify the pattern

At consultation we identify whether the pigmentation is melasma (hormone-driven), sun-driven, post-inflammatory or a combination, photograph the pattern in detail, and assess your Fitzpatrick type. The protocol is then matched precisely, what works for sun spots on Fitzpatrick 2 skin is wrong for melasma on Fitzpatrick 5 skin.

II.

Treat and maintain

Most courses run between six weeks (a Cosmelan in-clinic mask plus six-month home regime) and three to six months (a PICO or IPL course of four to six sessions). Strict daily SPF 50 is non-negotiable across the entire course and for life, sun exposure undoes pigmentation work faster than any treatment can clear it. Melasma in particular needs lifelong maintenance.

At home

What you can do alongside the in-clinic plan.

  • • Wear SPF 50 every morning year-round and reapply every two hours when outdoors, this is the single most important rule for pigmentation
  • • Add a vitamin C serum in the morning under SPF, supports brightening and protects against fresh UV damage
  • • Pause hydroquinone or kojic-acid home products one week before any in-clinic session unless your clinician has agreed otherwise
  • • Avoid waxing or hot-wax treatments on pigmented areas, heat can trigger more pigmentation
  • • Track hormonal changes, pregnancy, the contraceptive pill and HRT all influence melasma and shape the in-clinic plan

A note from the clinic

“Pigmentation is one of the most rewarding concerns to treat when it is done properly, and one of the easiest to make worse when it is not. Always start with the consultation, always test-patch on darker skin, always commit to SPF for life.”

Alayika Parvez · Owner and lead clinician

Common questions

About pigmentation treatment.

What causes pigmentation?
Pigmentation has three main drivers: hormonal (melasma, common in pregnancy and on the combined contraceptive pill), sun-driven (sun spots, age spots, freckling), and inflammatory (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after acne, eczema or any skin injury). Genetics and skin type also play a role, Fitzpatrick 4-6 skin produces more melanin in response to any inflammation, which is why darker skin types are more prone to post-inflammatory marks. The fix depends entirely on which pattern is present.

Can pigmentation be completely removed?
Sun spots and age spots are usually clearable with PICO laser or a Cosmelan course. Post-inflammatory pigmentation usually fades to a near-invisible level across a structured protocol. Melasma, honestly, cannot be fully cured, it is a chronic condition managed long-term. Cosmelan is the most effective protocol available for it and most patients achieve a 60-90 per cent reduction across the six-month regime, with maintenance keeping the result stable. We will be honest about what is realistic at consultation.

Is pigmentation treatment safe on darker skin?
On Fitzpatrick 4-6 skin, only with the right protocols and a clinician who treats darker skin regularly. Heat-based lasers and aggressive IPL can deepen pigmentation on darker skin, the opposite of the result intended. At CoLaz we use Cosmelan and PICO laser for higher-melanin skin types, always test-patch before a full session, and dose conservatively at the start. With the right protocols, pigmentation work is safe and consistent across all Fitzpatrick types.

How long until I see results?
PICO laser shows visible fading of treated spots within two to four weeks per session, with the full course running four to six sessions. IPL shows similar timing on Fitzpatrick 1-3 skin. Cosmelan delivers visible lightening from week three onwards as the upper pigmented layers shed, with the most significant change between weeks six and twelve. The full six-month Cosmelan regime delivers the long-term result. Chemical peels brighten progressively across a course of three to six sessions.

Will my pigmentation come back?
Sun spots can be cleared and stay clear if SPF 50 is worn daily and sun exposure is moderated. Post-inflammatory pigmentation usually fades and stays faded once the underlying inflammation (acne, eczema) is controlled. Melasma is the exception, it is a chronic condition and will return without maintenance and strict SPF. Patients on Cosmelan are committed to a six-month regime plus lifelong SPF and a brightening home routine to hold the result.

Can I have pigmentation treatment if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. We do not treat pigmentation during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Melasma in particular is hormone-driven and often improves on its own after birth and after weaning, so the right move is usually to wait. We are happy to plan ahead from a consultation, and we will book the start of the protocol once you are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding. Strict SPF and a gentle barrier-supporting routine in the interim is what we recommend during pregnancy.

How much does pigmentation treatment cost at CoLaz?
Pricing depends on which protocol is matched to your plan. Cosmelan is sold as a full six-month protocol price including the in-clinic mask, home regime products and scheduled clinic reviews. PICO laser is sold per area per session with discounts on a course. IPL is sold per area per session. Chemical peels are sold per session. The full plan price is agreed in writing at your free consultation before any session is booked.

Begin

Bring your skin in.
We will match the plan.

The first consultation is free and there is no obligation to book. We review your skin, your history and your home routine before recommending anything.

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