Pigmentation issues such as dark spots, melasma, sun damage, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) can cause an uneven skin tone, making the skin appear dull and aged. Medium to deep chemical peels provide an advanced skin resurfacing treatment designed to fade stubborn pigmentation, exfoliate damaged skin layers, and promote even-toned skin. These peels utilize powerful exfoliating agents such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA), phenol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, which penetrate the mid to deep dermal layers to break down excess melanin and stimulate cell renewal for brighter, more radiant skin.

Laser pigmentation reduction targets excess melanin deposits in the skin using specific wavelengths that are preferentially absorbed by melanin. Q-switched lasers — including the Nd:YAG at 1064 nm and 532 nm, and the alexandrite at 755 nm — deliver ultra-short nanosecond or picosecond pulses that shatter melanin granules through a photoacoustic or photothermal effect. The fragmented melanin is then cleared by macrophages through the lymphatic system over the following weeks.

This treatment effectively reduces pigmentation by:

Melanin Exfoliation – Exfoliating layers of skin with accumulated melanin, helping fade discoloration.

Melanin Regulation – Regulating melanin production, preventing future dark spots.

Skin Cell Renewal – Improving skin turnover, revealing fresh, healthy skin.

Collagen & Elasticity Boost – Stimulating collagen and elastin, restoring an even skin texture.

Solar Lentigines – These flat brown spots caused by years of sun exposure sit at the dermal-epidermal junction. Q-switched 532 nm or 755 nm lasers target this superficial melanin effectively.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation – Dark marks left behind after acne or skin injury involve melanin that has dropped into the dermis.

Nevus of Ota – This blue-grey dermal melanocytosis typically affects one side of the face. Q-switched lasers at 1064 nm or 755 nm penetrate to the deep dermis where the melanocytes reside.

Laser pigmentation treatment is appropriate for patients with discrete sun spots, age spots, café-au-lait macules, freckles, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and certain birthmarks like nevus of Ota. It also addresses uneven skin tone caused by cumulative UV damage. Ideal candidates have a clear diagnosis of the pigment type and realistic expectations about the number of sessions required.

Melasma Treatment – Treating hormonal pigmentation triggered by pregnancy or sun exposure.

Sunspots & Age Spots Reduction – Reducing UV-induced brown spots and age-related discoloration.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) – Fading dark marks left behind by acne or skin trauma.

Even Skin Tone – Brightening and smoothing skin for a more uniform complexion.

Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 nm – The workhorse for deeper pigmentation and darker skin types. Its longer wavelength reaches dermal melanin while minimising epidermal absorption. Nanosecond pulses fragment melanin granules through a photoacoustic effect.

Q-Switched 532 nm – The frequency-doubled Nd:YAG at 532 nm is strongly absorbed by melanin and targets epidermal pigmentation. It is highly effective for superficial sun spots and freckles on lighter skin types.

Picosecond Lasers – Delivering pulses in trillionths of a second rather than billionths, picosecond lasers fragment melanin into finer particles than Q-switched nanosecond lasers.

At Claire Derma, a laser pigmentation session begins with cleansing the skin and photographing the treatment area under standardised lighting. Your dermatologist selects the laser platform and wavelength based on your pigment diagnosis and skin type. For discrete spots, the laser beam is directed precisely at the lesion using a small spot size (2 to 4 mm).

Fades Stubborn Pigmentation – Lightens melasma, sunspots, and dark patches.

Evens Out Skin Tone – Provides a uniform, radiant complexion.

Stimulates Skin Regeneration – Encourages fresh, healthy skin cell growth.

Benefit – Laser treatment can clear pigmented lesions that topical products cannot reach. Creams and serums work on the epidermis, but melanin in the dermis — as in PIH, nevus of Ota.

Benefit – Results from laser pigmentation treatment are often visible after a single session for superficial spots. Treated lesions darken, crust, and shed within one to two weeks.

Benefit – Modern Q-switched and picosecond lasers cause minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The ultra-short pulses confine energy to the melanin target without generating significant heat in adjacent structures.

Having laser pigmentation treatment at Claire Derma means your pigment type is diagnosed accurately before any laser is fired. This matters because the wrong treatment can make pigmentation worse — aggressive laser settings on melasma, for instance, can trigger a rebound flare that's harder to treat than the original condition.

This treatment is ideal for individuals who:

Struggle with deep or stubborn pigmentation.

Experience uneven skin tone due to sun exposure or hormonal changes.

Laser pigmentation treatment requires strict sun avoidance before and after sessions. UV exposure stimulates melanocytes and can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, undermining the treatment result. Patients should avoid direct sun for four weeks before and after each session and apply SPF 50 daily without exception. Tanned skin absorbs laser energy unpredictably and increases the risk of burns. At Claire Derma, we will postpone your session if your skin shows signs of recent sun exposure.