Melasma and Facial Dark Spot Treatment in Medellín

Melasma is a chronic pigmentation disorder that causes symmetrical brown or grayish patches, mainly on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip and chin. It is more common in women and in olive, medium or darker skin, and it is triggered by sun, visible light, heat and hormonal changes such as pregnancy, birth control or menopause.

Depending on how deep the pigment sits, melasma can be epidermal (more superficial, with a better response), dermal (deeper and more resistant) or mixed, the most common. Depending on its location, it can be centrofacial, malar (on the cheeks) or mandibular. Identifying the type helps choose the treatment and set realistic expectations.

Melasma forms broad, symmetrical patches on both sides of the face and darkens with heat or hormonal changes. A sun spot is smaller, well defined and appears where you've had the most sun. They often coexist, which is why a medical assessment is the first step.

Melasma is a chronic condition: there is no definitive cure and it can't be removed forever, but it can be controlled. With a medical plan, skin tone improves visibly and progressively, and with maintenance and daily sun protection it is possible to sustain what you've achieved. Be wary of anyone who promises to get rid of it in a single session.

There is no single best treatment: the most effective approach combines several tools based on your skin. It usually includes tinted sun protection, active ingredients such as tranexamic acid, cysteamine, azelaic acid, retinoids and vitamin C, medical chemical peels such as Cosmelan® or Dermamelan® and, in some cases, microneedling. It is always defined during your medical assessment.

Yes, it is one of the best-supported active ingredients for melasma. It helps reduce pigment production and the vascular component of the spot. In our office we use it topically, as micro-injections and orally, depending on your case. The oral form is only prescribed after a medical assessment, because it isn't right for everyone: we review any history of thrombosis, birth control use and other conditions.

Cysteamine is a topical depigmenting treatment that helps reduce melanin production. It is a useful alternative when hydroquinone isn't tolerated or isn't advisable, and it is applied at home: it's left on for a few minutes and then removed, as directed by your doctor. In our office we use it as part of a combined plan.

Both are depigmenting protocols from Mesoestetic® that combine an in-office mask with an at-home maintenance cream. They differ in formulation and intensity, and the choice depends on the type of dark spot, your skin and your tolerance. Learn more about facial chemical peels.

Yes. For sun spots and post-acne marks, the Alma Hybrid™ laser, which combines CO₂ and 1570 nm, can help a great deal. For melasma it is not the first step: heat can make it worse, especially in medium-to-dark skin, so it's only considered in selected cases and once the skin has been prepared.

It usually takes several spaced sessions, because improvement is progressive; sun spots tend to respond faster than melasma. With active ingredients and gentle microneedling you return to your routine the same day; with chemical peels such as Cosmelan® or with laser, there are a few days of redness or peeling.

Sun, visible light, heat and hormonal changes can reactivate pigmentation. That's why a broad-spectrum sunscreen is key — in many cases a tinted one (with iron oxides), which also protects against visible light — applied every day and reapplied. At your consultation we'll recommend the right one for your skin.

The cost depends on the type of dark spot, the protocol (for example, Cosmelan®, laser or microneedling) and the number of sessions your skin truly needs. It's defined during your consultation so you're never charged more or less than necessary. Book via WhatsApp.