01Skincare
Medical-Grade SkincareFirst-line for most pigmentation. Specific products are discussed in consultation, not advertised — UK and UAE advertising rules apply.
Identified, Then Treated
Pigmentation
A category, not a diagnosis. Sun damage, post-inflammatory pigmentation, melasma, and lentigines respond to different treatments.
Your Concerns
What Is It?
Pigmentation is a category, not a diagnosis. Sun damage, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, and age-related lentigines all present as dark patches but have different causes — and respond to different treatments. Using the wrong treatment on the wrong type often makes the picture worse, particularly for skin of colour. At 23MD, pigmentation is classified clinically before any treatment is recommended. In Dubai, our clinical team leads this work; melasma in particular needs careful clinical judgement to avoid rebound — see the dedicated melasma page.
Recommended Pathway
Treatments for Pigmentation
The treatments our doctors most often recommend for this concern. Your consultation confirms the right combination and sequence for you.
05Energy-Based
Selective Laser & RFUsed carefully and only after assessment; not all pigmentation responds, and some types can worsen with the wrong device. For skin of colour, our Dubai clinical team leads this work.
Unsure which pathway suits you?
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
23MD DigitalSkin Expert
Upload a photo and receive a personalised skin assessment with treatment recommendations from our doctor-led protocols.
Analyse My SkinCommon Causes
What Could Be Causing It
UV Exposure
By far the most common driver in both regions.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
After acne, eczema, or trauma; common in skin of colour.
Hormonal Pigmentation
Melasma — see the dedicated melasma page for the conservative approach this needs.
Photoageing
Solar lentigines and uneven tone accumulating across decades.
Drug-Induced
Certain medications can produce or worsen pigmentation; reviewed at consultation.
FAQs
Your Questions, Answered
The most common drivers are UV exposure, post-inflammatory response after acne or trauma, hormonal triggers (melasma), and accumulated photoageing. Each behaves differently and responds to different treatments.
Yes. Melasma is hormonally driven, particularly responsive to UV, and tends to recur even after treatment. It needs a separate, more cautious approach. See the dedicated melasma page.
Often, yes — especially if UV protection is inconsistent. Sustained sun protection is the foundation; treatment without it is incomplete.
UV is the primary trigger for most pigmentation and the main reason treated pigmentation recurs. Daily broad-spectrum SPF is non-negotiable in any pigmentation plan.
Some devices are safer than others, and treatment depth and settings matter. In Dubai, our clinical team leads pigmentation treatment for skin of colour; in London, the consultation will discuss whether energy-based treatment is appropriate or whether a more conservative path is safer.
Related
Continue Exploring
Medically reviewed by Dr Suha Kersh, MB BCh BAO LRCP&SI, MRCPsych, GMC-registered since 1992.
