Melasma is a relatively common pigmentation disorder. It affects mainly women. It tends to appear on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip and chin although can be anywhere on the face. It can also occur on the body in particular the forearms, neck and chest. It is usually described as brown/grey patches on the skin rather than spots. It can be debilitating for those that suffer from it.

Melasma is much more common in a darker skin type 3-6 as these individuals have more melanocytes in their skin. It also has a strong genetic component. If you have a close relative with this condition it is more likely for you to also develop it. We tend to see the beginning of this condition occur around mid-20s to mid-30s and only gets worse with time.

In the past, there has been very little that has been really effective to treat Melasma. But then along came Dermamelan.

This incredible treatment aims to reduce and sometimes eliminate pigmentation of melanic origin.

The first stage is an in-clinic treatment of the peel. Your skin will be cleansed thoroughly and a solution will be used to effectively remove any oil to allow the peel to penetrate into the skin for optimal results.

Your Dermamelan peel is then applied by your nurse. You will then be sent home with the mask/peel on your face for 10-12 hours. The precise time frame will be determined by your nurse.

We will give you your aftercare skin care to use whilst recovering and also as your maintenance treatment.

In the next few days it is normal for the treated area to be hot, red and swollen. This is all part of the process. You will then at some stage, usually in the next few days, start to peel and be very itchy. This will continue for up to ten days. Most people are generally able to get back to normal after a week. Although your skin has finished peeling you may feel tight and drier than normal. Over time this will settle.

After the peeling process, lasting approximately one week, your skin will look better but your pigmentation is still going to improve much more in the coming weeks. In fact our patients noticed their best results at 4-8 weeks.

It is at this point in the process that you need to be diligent with your aftercare. You should only be using the skincare prescribed over the next six months. This will give you the best possible outcome.