Skin story 02
Pigmentation
Uneven tone, dark patches and marks that will not fade. Pigmentation has many causes, and the same concern can look different on different skin.
Pigmentation is the umbrella term for melasma, post-inflammatory marks, sun-induced spots, freckling and several rarer patterns. Each has its own cause: hormones, inflammation, ultraviolet light, friction, or a combination.
The first step is identifying the pattern and its depth, because a treatment that helps surface pigmentation can aggravate deeper melasma. Dermoscopy and a careful history come before any procedure.
Plans typically combine strict sun protection, prescription lightening agents used safely, and in-clinic procedures chosen for your skin type. Maintenance matters: pigmentation is managed over time, not erased in one visit.
On Indian skin
Indian skin tones produce melanin readily, which protects against some sun damage but makes post-inflammatory marks and melasma more common and more persistent.
Treatment intensity has to respect this. Settings and agents that are routine on lighter skin can trigger new pigmentation on deeper tones, so every procedure is calibrated to your phototype.
How we treat it
Common questions
- Is melasma curable?
- Melasma is controlled rather than cured. With sun protection, the right topicals and periodic procedures, it can be lightened significantly and kept stable, but it tends to return if triggers continue.
- Are lasers safe for pigmentation on Indian skin?
- Specific lasers and settings are safe on deeper skin tones when used by an experienced dermatologist. The wrong device or setting can worsen pigmentation, which is why device choice follows diagnosis.
- How important is sunscreen?
- It is the foundation of every pigmentation plan. Without daily broad-spectrum protection, most other treatments give short-lived results.