Pigmentation treatment addresses areas of uneven skin tone, such as sun damage or melasma, using approaches including picosecond laser and chemical peels. The most appropriate option depends on the type and cause of pigmentation, determined through individual skin assessment at Orovenza.
Orovenza assesses your skin and the likely cause of pigmentation before recommending a treatment pathway, since some forms of pigmentation respond differently to treatment than others.
Treatment Information
Treatment Details
What It Treats
Selected pigmentation concerns including sun damage, age spots and melasma.
Treatment Options
Options may include picosecond laser or chemical peels, depending on the type and cause of pigmentation.
Downtime
Downtime depends on the treatment selected and will be explained during consultation.
Results Timeline
Improvement typically develops progressively, often across a course of treatments.
The Process
How Pigmentation Treatment Works
Skin Assessment
The type and likely cause of your pigmentation are assessed.
Treatment Planning
An appropriate treatment approach is proposed based on your assessment.
Treatment
The selected treatment is carried out according to the agreed plan.
Review
Your progress is reviewed and further treatment considered where appropriate.
By Dr Edwin Anthony, Lead Clinician, Contoura Medical · Treatments delivered by Nurse Rashmi Mehta · Last updated 4 October 2026
Pigmentation treatment at Orovenza is a planned course of chemical peels, picosecond laser and prescription or topical pigment control, backed by daily SPF. It is for adults in London with melasma, sun spots, post-inflammatory marks or uneven tone, including darker Fitzpatrick skin types.
What it is and how it works
Pigmentation is extra melanin sitting where you do not want it. Sun spots, or solar lentigines, are flat, well defined brown marks left by years of UV exposure. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is the dark mark that lingers after acne, a burn, eczema or an overly aggressive treatment.
Melasma behaves differently. It shows up as symmetrical patches on the cheeks, forehead or upper lip, and it is driven by hormones, sunlight and visible light. It also tends to come back, so it needs a long-term plan.
Because the causes differ, we combine three tools: chemical peels to speed up cell turnover and lift surface pigment, picosecond laser to break pigment into tiny particles your body clears, and prescription or topical pigment control to quieten the cells that make melanin. Oral tranexamic acid is an option we may discuss at consultation for melasma, only after a medical screen. Daily broad-spectrum SPF underpins all of it.
Who it is best suited for
Adults with melasma who want a realistic management plan
People with sun spots on the face, hands or chest
Anyone left with dark marks after acne or skin inflammation
Those with dull, blotchy or uneven tone
Darker skin types (Fitzpatrick IV to VI) who need a cautious, well prepared approach
Your treatment journey at Orovenza
Consultation and skin assessment: Nurse Rashmi Mehta examines your pigment pattern, takes a full medical history and asks about triggers such as pregnancy, contraception, medicines and sun habits. She records your Fitzpatrick skin type, which shapes every choice that follows.
Plan and skin preparation: Most people use a home routine of pigment control and SPF for 2 to 6 weeks before any peel or laser. For darker skin this step is essential, and patch testing is carried out where needed.
Treatment day: The chosen peel or laser is applied at settings matched to your skin type. Most appointments take 30 to 45 minutes.
Aftercare: You go home with written instructions, a simple barrier-friendly routine and clear SPF advice.
Review: We check progress, take photographs and adjust the plan. Dr Edwin Anthony (GMC 4776646), Lead Clinician at Contoura Medical, provides medical oversight, including prescribing decisions.
Results and how long they last
Sun spots and PIH often fade well over a course of treatment, although new sun spots can appear with further sun exposure. Melasma takes patience. The American Academy of Dermatology advises that it can take between 3 and 12 months to see results, and longer for long-standing patches.
Hormones matter too: the British Association of Dermatologists notes that up to 50% of women may be affected by melasma during pregnancy. A 2024 meta-analysis of 22 trials involving 1,280 patients found that tranexamic acid significantly reduced melasma severity, although treatment protocols varied widely. That is why we talk about controlling melasma rather than curing it.
Recovery and aftercare
Superficial peel: mild redness for a few hours, then light flaking for some people between days 2 and 5.
Picosecond laser: redness and warmth for a few hours. Treated sun spots may darken slightly and flake away over 5 to 10 days.
Days 1 to 3: gentle cleanser and bland moisturiser only. No scrubs, retinoids or acids.
Days 3 to 7: restart your pigment control routine when your nurse advises, usually once skin feels normal.
Every day: SPF 50, reapplied every two hours outdoors, plus a wide-brimmed hat in strong sun.
Avoid saunas, hot yoga and heavy exercise for 24 to 48 hours.
Safety, side effects and who should avoid it
Common effects are temporary redness, tightness, flaking and sensitivity.
Less common risks include rebound darkening, lighter patches, blistering and cold sore flare-ups.
Darker skin carries a higher risk of PIH. The BAD warns that procedures can worsen pigmentation, particularly in people of colour, so we prepare the skin and start conservatively.
Most peels, lasers and prescription pigment creams are not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Oral tranexamic acid is not suitable for anyone with a history of blood clots or a clotting disorder. Your medical screen covers this.
We postpone treatment if you have an active skin infection, open wounds, a fresh tan or recent isotretinoin use.
Comparing treatment options
Treatment
Best for
Typical downtime
Usual sessions
Darker skin suitability
Chemical peels
Surface pigment, PIH, dullness, mild melasma
1 to 7 days (superficial)
3 to 5, every 2 to 5 weeks
Good with superficial peels and skin preparation
Picosecond laser
Sun spots, PIH, stubborn pigment, texture
Usually 1 to 3 days of redness
Often 3 to 6, about 4 weeks apart
Often suitable with careful settings
CO2 laser
Deeper lines, scarring, resurfacing
Around 1 to 2 weeks
Often 1 to 2
Higher risk of pigment change, used cautiously
Microneedling
Texture, scarring, supporting pigment plans
1 to 3 days of redness
3 to 6, 4 to 6 weeks apart
Generally suitable
How Orovenza compares
Treatment takes place in a hospital setting at Langham Hospital, 77 Hallam Street, Marylebone
Nurse-led by Rashmi Mehta, with medical oversight from Dr Edwin Anthony
Skin assessment, Fitzpatrick typing and patch testing where needed
A consultation before every treatment, not just the first one
A fixed consultation fee, which is not deducted from treatment prices
Review appointments built into your plan so we can adjust as your skin responds
Call us on 020 3890 1911 or book online. Consultation fees are fixed and are not deducted from treatment prices, and your practitioner confirms your personal treatment cost at consultation. Book a consultation
Frequently asked questions
How much does pigmentation treatment cost in London?
The cost depends on the type of pigmentation, the treatments combined in your plan and how many sessions you need. Melasma usually needs a longer plan than a few sun spots. Your practitioner confirms your personal treatment cost at consultation, and the consultation fee is fixed and not deducted from treatment prices.
What is the best treatment for melasma?
There is no single best treatment. Melasma responds best to a combination of daily SPF, prescription or topical pigment control, and carefully chosen peels or low-energy laser. Tranexamic acid may also be discussed. We start gently, because aggressive treatment can inflame the skin and make melasma darker.
Can melasma come back after treatment?
Yes. Melasma often returns after treatment stops, especially after summer sun, pregnancy or hormonal changes. Most people need a maintenance routine of SPF and pigment control creams, sometimes with occasional top-up peels. Seeing it as a condition you manage, rather than cure, avoids disappointment.
Is pigmentation treatment safe for dark skin?
Yes, when it is planned properly. Darker skin types have a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so we prepare the skin for several weeks, patch test where needed and use conservative peel strengths and laser settings. Some treatments, such as aggressive resurfacing, are usually avoided or used with great care.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people need a course rather than one visit. Sun spots may clear in one to three laser sessions, while melasma and PIH usually need several peels or laser sessions spaced a few weeks apart. Your nurse gives you an estimate at consultation and reviews it as your skin responds.
Does pigmentation treatment hurt?
Most people describe it as uncomfortable rather than painful. Peels tingle or sting for a few minutes, and picosecond laser feels like quick snaps against the skin. We can pause at any time. Discomfort usually settles within an hour of leaving the clinic.
Can I have pigmentation treatment in summer?
Some treatment can continue in summer, but we are more cautious. Stronger peels and laser are often scheduled for autumn and winter, when sun exposure is lower. If you are going on a sunny holiday, allow at least two weeks between treatment and travel, and keep up high-factor SPF throughout.
What is tranexamic acid and can I take it for melasma?
Tranexamic acid is a medicine usually used to reduce bleeding, which has also been shown to lighten melasma in some patients. It can be used as a tablet or cream. Tablets need a prescription and a medical screen, because they are unsuitable for people with a history of blood clots.
Is a chemical peel or laser better for sun spots?
For distinct, well defined sun spots, picosecond laser is often more targeted, because it treats the spot itself. Peels suit wider areas of dullness and scattered pigment. Many people benefit from both, with peels improving overall tone and laser clearing the individual marks that remain.
Can I combine pigmentation treatment with other treatments?
Yes, combining treatments is usually how we get the best results. A typical plan pairs home pigment control with alternating peels and laser, sometimes with microneedling for texture. We space treatments so your skin barrier recovers between sessions, which lowers the risk of irritation and rebound pigment.
Pricing depends on the treatment plan and number of sessions required. Your practitioner will confirm the cost of your personal treatment plan at consultation. Consultation fees are fixed and are not deducted from treatment prices.
Nurse Rashmi Mehta is the Aesthetic Nurse for Orovenza non-surgical aesthetics service at Contoura Medical.
Orovenza provides a clinically led approach to non-surgical aesthetic treatments, with treatment planning centred on individual assessment, appropriate indications and natural-looking outcomes.
Patients are assessed before treatment so that the most appropriate option can be discussed based on their goals and clinical circumstances.
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