Condition · 2 treatment paths
Hyperpigmentation (Melasma)
Melasma is a common, harmless condition causing brown or grey-brown patches on the face, particularly the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. It is most frequent in women with darker skin tones and often follows pregnancy or hormonal treatment.
Send your imaging + plan. Board-reviewed opinion in 5–10 working days.
- Treatment paths
- 2Treatment paths
- Specialties
- 1Specialties
- Typical severity
- MildTypical severity
About hyperpigmentation (melasma)
What to know
The patches are flat, symmetrical and painless, and darken with sun exposure. Diagnosis is usually made by looking at the skin, sometimes with a special lamp to judge how deep the pigment lies. Melasma tends to fade and return over the years, and sun, heat and hormonal changes are common triggers.
First-line care is strict daily sun protection with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, plus topical lightening creams such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid or tranexamic acid prescribed by a dermatologist. Chemical peels and some lasers may be added for stubborn patches, but they can worsen pigment if used carelessly. Treatment abroad is rarely necessary and is usually considered only for specialist laser or peel care.
Pre-flight workup
Tests to have already done
- Clear photographs of your skin before any treatment, taken in natural light, to show the starting pattern.
- A list of every cream, peel, laser or procedure you have already used, with dates and how your skin reacted.
- Your medicine list, including hormonal contraception, hormone therapy and any medicines that cause light sensitivity.
- Notes on sun exposure, sunscreen use and any pregnancy, since these strongly influence melasma.
- Thyroid or hormone test results if a doctor has already requested them.
Second opinion
When to get a second look
- Your patches have darkened after a peel or laser, which can happen with melasma and needs a change of approach.
- Several months of properly used creams have not helped and a stronger procedure is being proposed.
- The pigment is unusual, such as blue-grey, raised, bordered irregularly or on one spot only, and a skin biopsy has not been considered.
- A clinic proposes repeated aggressive laser sessions and you want to know if gentler options exist.
Talking to your doctor
Questions to ask
- Is this definitely melasma, or could it be another pigment condition such as post-inflammatory darkening?
- Is my melasma epidermal, dermal or mixed, and how does that affect which treatment will work?
- Could my hormonal medicine be contributing, and should that be discussed with my own doctor?
- Which peels or lasers carry a risk of making melasma darker in my skin type?
- What sunscreen and sun protection routine do I need to keep results?
- How likely is it to return, and what do we do if it does?
Outlook
Realistic prognosis
Melasma is not dangerous but is often long-lasting and tends to relapse, especially with sun exposure, heat and hormonal change. Most people improve with strict sun protection plus topical or procedural treatment, but complete, permanent clearance is uncommon. Outcome depends on how deep the pigment sits, your skin tone and how carefully triggers are controlled after treatment. Maintenance is usually needed.
01 · Specialties
Specialties that treat Hyperpigmentation
Diagnostic workup
Before you pick a hospital, get the workup right
Picking the right treatment is downstream of a complete diagnosis. Skip steps here and the destination surgeon usually re-orders them anyway — at higher cost and another week on the ground.
- Confirm the diagnosis on imaging or labs
For hyperpigmentation (melasma), plan on the workup your home doctor would order anyway — typically a recent specialist consult plus the imaging / labs the destination team will need to quote accurately. Anything older than 90 days usually gets re-done.
- See a cosmetic surgery specialist locally first
An in-person clinical exam at home — even a single consult — costs little and dramatically improves the destination plan. Bring back: written impression, recommended procedure, surgical-risk class, and any contra-indications.
- Send us the file for a free second opinion
Two surgeons in our medical panel review the workup independently. They tell you whether they'd operate, watch, or refer — even if that means recommending against travel.
- Pick a path with timeline + cost in writing
Once a treatment is the right call, we line up 2–3 hospital options with itemized quotes, surgeon profiles, and a travel timeline. You hold the file — switch hospitals or step away at any point.
Where to be treated
Hyperpigmentation (Melasma) treatment by destination
04 · FAQ
Common questions about hyperpigmentation (melasma)
Can melasma be cured permanently?
Usually not. Melasma can be controlled and lightened, but it often returns with sun, heat or hormonal changes. Sun protection and maintenance treatment reduce relapse, and results are better when triggers are managed.
Why did my melasma get worse after a laser?
Heat and inflammation from some lasers and peels can stimulate pigment cells and darken melasma, particularly in darker skin. Gentler settings, pre-treatment with lightening creams and strict sun protection lower this risk.
Does sunscreen really matter?
Yes, it is the foundation of treatment. Visible light and UV both worsen melasma, so a broad-spectrum sunscreen, ideally tinted with iron oxide, plus a hat and shade is advised daily, even indoors near windows.
Is melasma harmful?
No. Melasma is a cosmetic condition and does not become cancer. It can still affect confidence, so treatment is about appearance, not safety.
Clinical context
Working up hyperpigmentation (melasma) properly
A condition like hyperpigmentation (melasma) is rarely well-served by jumping straight to treatment shopping. The sequence below is what a cosmetic surgery specialist would expect to see completed — and the absence of any step is the right cue to delay travel decisions.
Diagnostic workup, in sequence
- First-line clinical assessment
History, physical exam, and risk-factor review by a senior generalist or cosmetic surgery specialist. Symptoms list, family history, prior workup notes, and current medication list should travel with the patient.
- Standard imaging + labs
Baseline blood work, condition-specific imaging (ultrasound / X-ray / MRI / CT — depending on indication), and ECG / pulmonary function as relevant. Bring digital copies of any prior imaging — saves repeat scans and the cost that goes with them.
- Specialist diagnostic workup
Procedure-specific tests — biopsy, cardiac catheterisation, endoscopy, or genetic / molecular profiling depending on the suspected diagnosis. Done at the centre that will treat, ideally, so results integrate cleanly into the treatment plan.
- Multidisciplinary review (where indicated)
Cancer, complex cardiac, transplant, and rare-disease cases should be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel — surgical, medical, imaging, and pathology — before any treatment commits. Single-discipline plans for complex disease are a quality red flag.
When to escalate to specialist review
- New, persistent, or worsening symptoms beyond the usual pattern — particularly anything that disrupts work, sleep, or daily function for >2 weeks.
- Symptoms accompanied by red-flag features (unintentional weight loss, night sweats, bleeding, severe pain, neurological signs).
- Any "this feels different" instinct — especially with recurrent or chronic conditions where you know your baseline well.
- A second-opinion misalignment with your current care plan — when two qualified clinicians disagree, the case warrants a third review before committing.
Before you book international travel
- Confirm your specific diagnosis is fully worked up before you commit to a treatment plan abroad. Travelling for the workup is fine; travelling for treatment without the workup done is not.
- Get your case reviewed remotely by the destination centre's team before you book flights — credible international patient programs review imaging + reports before they confirm the surgical plan.
- Bring a digital + physical copy of your full medical record: imaging on USB drive in DICOM format, labs in PDF, current medication list with dosages, allergies, and any prior surgical reports.
- Plan for the post-op rehabilitation phase before you fly — the surgery itself is rarely the bottleneck.
- Confirm that follow-up imaging and any necessary in-person reviews can be done at home — a treatment plan that requires repeat international trips is more burdensome (and more expensive) than the headline procedure.
Mbinu na viwango vya uhariri
This hyperpigmentation (melasma) overview is written by the editorial team from published Cosmetic Surgery sources and lists 2 treatment options offered by hospitals on our network. The page shows its last-updated date. Clinical descriptions are editorial — your treating clinician confirms what's right for your specific case.
- Taarifa za hospitali. Maelezo ya hospitali yanakusanywa kutoka vyanzo vya umma na tovuti za hospitali. Uidhinishaji (JCI, NABH na mengine) huonyeshwa pale tulipo na rekodi. Daima omba hospitali cheti chake cha sasa.
- Sifa za madaktari. Sifa, utaalamu na wasifu hutoka wasifu wa daktari hospitalini. Leseni hukaguliwa kwenye rejista ya baraza la kitaifa la madaktari tu pale wasifu unapoonyesha alama ya "Leseni imehakikiwa" yenye tarehe.
- Bei. Viwango vya bei ni vya kukadiria, vimekusanywa kutoka orodha za bei na vifurushi vya hospitali na huonyeshwa na tarehe ya mwisho ya kusasishwa. Unacholipa ni kile kilichoandikwa kwenye nukuu ya hospitali.
- Maandishi ya kitabibu. Imeandikwa na timu ya wahariri ya Medcasts kutoka vyanzo vya kliniki vilivyochapishwa. Isipokuwa ukurasa umetaja mhakiki kwa jina, haujakaguliwa na daktari.
- Uhuru. Hospitali haziwezi kulipa ili kubadilisha nafasi yao kwenye kurasa zetu.
Hyperpigmentation (Melasma)
Continue evaluating hyperpigmentation (melasma) care
Condition overview is one entry. These hubs route the same care decision via specialty, surgeon, treatment, and destination — including the doctors actively treating hyperpigmentation (melasma).
- Surgeons Doctors treating Hyperpigmentation (Melasma) Volume-ranked specialists across all relevant specialties.
- Specialty Cosmetic Surgery hub Programs, surgeons, hospitals across cosmetic surgery.
- Procedure Chemical Peel (TCA / Phenol) First-line treatment with success rates, recovery, hospital pricing.
- Procedure Laser Skin Resurfacing (CO2 / Erbium) Alternative treatment path with cost and recovery data.
- Browse All 79 conditions Map condition → specialty → first-line treatment.
- Browse 9 destination countries Cost-of-care profiles, hospital programs, visa playbooks.
- Compare Hospital comparison Side-by-side accreditations, ratings, beds, and pricing.
- Compare Doctor comparison Surgeons compared on volume, fees, languages, video-consult availability.
- Tool Match-me triage Three questions, get a specialty + destination + 3-hospital shortlist.
- Tool Cost calculator Hospital-reported pricing across procedures × destinations.
- Action Free second opinion Independent panel review of your case in 48 hours — no charge.
Hatua inayofuata · Hyperpigmentation (Melasma)
Free second opinion on your Hyperpigmentation case.
Share imaging and the current plan. Multidisciplinary board returns a written opinion within 5–10 working days — no obligation to travel.