What is melasma?

Melasma is also known as hormonal pigmentation or cholasma. It presents as patchy pigmentation on the forehead, under the eyes & upper lip.

Melasma is caused by a combination of genes, UV rays, and hormones. It is more common in pregnancy & may occur after taking the birth control pill.Chemical peels are useful adjunctive treatments for melasma.
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Peels can be tailored according to skin type, downtime & budget. Much like lasers, they are most useful for epidermal & mixed melasma. My favorite peeling agents for melasma include Dermamelan, lactic acid, retinoic acid & modified Jessner peels.
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What peels are used for melasma?
Lots, but the safest peels are low strength glycolic, lactic, retinoic acid, modified Jessner & low concentration TCA. Novel peels including Dermamelan & Cosmelan can be useful.
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Why do some Brisbane Skin clinics treat melasma with Fraxel?
Because Fraxel carrier more profit to the provider, as each treatment ranges from $890 to $1690 per session. I do use Fraxel for resistant melasma, however as first line therapy, I prefer precision Q Switch lasers as they are more effective, have less side effects & cost 1/5 that of Fraxel.
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Pico is most useful in mixed pigment including melasma, sun spots, freckles & age warts. Pico is especially useful in darker skin types, including ethnic & Asian skin.