Summary:
A patch on the cheek, a cluster of sunspots or brown marks after acne can all be described as pigmentation. Yet the reason for the colour – and the treatment it needs – may be different. You added a vitamin C serum. You wore SPF every day.
If skincare has not produced the improvement you hoped for, it does not necessarily mean your routine is wrong or that laser is the next step. Effective treatment begins with identifying the condition, reviewing triggers and choosing an approach suited to your skin.
Not all dark patches are the same, and identifying the type correctly is the first step towards treating it effectively.
| Type | Appearance | Primary cause | Skin depth | Responds to topicals? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melasma | Brown or grey patches; cheeks, forehead, upper lip | Multiple influences, including hormonal fluctuations, UV exposure and genetic susceptibility | Epidermal pigment with variable dermal changes | Often improves with appropriate medication and sun protection recurrence is common. |
| PIH | Brown, grey or darker marks at sites of previous inflammation | Acne, eczema injury, or procedures | Primarily epidermal, dermal or both | Often helpful for epidermal PIH; deeper pigment may fade slowly |
| Sunspots | Persistent flat brown spots on sun-exposed skin | Cumulative UV exposure | Mainly epidermal | May lighten with selected treatments; response varies |
| Freckles | Small, scattered spots that can darken with sun exposure | Genetic and UV triggered | Epidermal | May lighten, but sun exposure can make them more visible again |
| Hori’s naevus | Greyish-blue brown speckled facial pigmentation | Acquired dermal melanocytosis; cause is not fully understood. | Dermal only | Lightening creams usually have limited effect on the dermal pigment |
Melasma is linked to hormonal fluctuations and sun exposure, and can sit in the epidermis (the outer layer of skin), the dermis (the deeper layer), or both. This depth variation significantly affects treatment.
PIH is the dark mark left after skin inflammation, most commonly acne. In people with naturally higher melanin levels, this response tends to be stronger and longer-lasting.
Hori’s naevus is frequently misdiagnosed and specific to Asian skin. It sits exclusively in the dermis, which makes it resistant to topicals, and clinical studies conducted in Singapore have confirmed that laser therapy is required to reach and break down the pigment effectively.
Asian populations include a wide range of skin tones and treatment responses. Ethnicity alone does not establish your Fitzpatrick skin type or determine the settings you need.
Darker skin is generally more prone to visible post-inflammatory pigmentation. Inflammation from acne, irritating skincare, friction or a procedure can produce marks that persist after the original trigger has settled.
This does not mean darker skin has more melanocytes. Differences in melanin production, distribution and response to inflammation contribute to pigment behaviour.
Studies have reported melasma prevalence as high as 40% in some South-East Asian populations, though figures vary across regions and methodologies.
Treatment should account for your skin tone, diagnosis, previous pigmentation reactions and current skin stability. More aggressive treatment is not automatically more effective.
Laser pigmentation removal is not one-size-fits-all. The right approach depends on the type of pigmentation, its depth, and how your skin is likely to respond. Here is how the three main options compare.
| Topicals | Korean Pico Laser | ProYellow Laser | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Reduces melanin production; accelerates cell turnover or controls inflammation | Ultra-short pulses produce a mainly photoacoustic effect to break down selected pigment | 577nm light is absorbed by haemoglobin and superficial melanin |
| Best suited for | Melasma management, selected epidermal PIH and maintenance after assessment | Selected sunspots, freckles and dermal pigmentation; melasma only in carefully selected cases | Visible vessels or redness with selected superficial pigment concerns |
| Downtime | Usually no downtime, but irritation or peeling can occur | Depend on mode: Toning is gentler, full pico may involve several days | Depends on mode and intensity; redness or swelling may occur |
| Limitation | Response depends on diagnosis, formulation and tolerance; melasma may recur | Can cause darker or light patches; not automatically appropriate for active PIH or melasma | Does not treat every pigmentation condition or reach all dermal pigment |
Topicals and sun protection are important treatments in their own right, particularly for melasma. Laser may be added in selected cases, rather than assumed necessary because a cream has not cleared every patch.
Korean Pico Laser is among the more established options for laser treatment for pigmentation in Singapore, particularly for Asian skin types. Rather than relying on heat, the Pico laser works through a photoacoustic effect, generating mechanical pressure waves that shatter pigment particles, and is considered a safe and effective treatment modality across an increasing range of dermatological indications. Lower thermal impact matters greatly for Asian skin, where heat-related inflammation can trigger the very pigmentation you are trying to resolve.
ProYellow Laser operates at a 577 nanometre wavelength, targeting oxyhaemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen) and melanin with high selectivity. A prospective split-face study of 82 patients found that adding the ProYellow Laser to a standard melasma regimen helped maintain improvement and reduce recurrence rates. It is particularly suited to pigmentation that coexists with redness or vascular activity.
For patients with multiple overlapping concerns, Cheongdam Aesthetics also offers the Pico Mix & Match programme, combining pico-toning or yellow-toning laser with pre- and post-treatment steps customised to your skin concerns. A full laser upgrade may be considered when appropriate. Recovery depends on all selected components.
The right combination depends on what you are actually dealing with. Cheongdam’s doctors can map out a protocol specific to your concern. See the full range of laser treatments here.
Laser treatment for pigmentation, particularly melasma, takes time. Most patients require a series of sessions rather than a single visit, and the skin continues to improve between appointments as the body clears fragmented pigment particles. Complete clearance cannot be guaranteed.
No pigmentation treatment is durable without sun protection. Evidence indicates that consistent broad-spectrum sunscreen use after laser treatment is associated with significantly lower rates of melasma recurrence.
Broad-spectrum SPF 50 applied every morning, and reapplied regularly throughout the day if outdoors, is the standard clinical recommendation.
Beyond sunscreen, supporting measures include:
A doctor will assess your pigmentation through a visual examination and skin analysis. The skin analysis system’s UV mode can help highlight pigmentation that is less apparent under normal lighting, providing additional information about its pattern and distribution. These findings, together with your skin condition and treatment history, guide the treatment plan. Melasma requires particular care, as unsuitable laser settings can worsen pigmentation.
The cost of pigmentation removal in Singapore varies depending on the diagnosis, treatment area, selected procedure and the number of sessions required,. Ask whether consultation, numbing, aftercare and GST are included. A quotation is most useful after the doctor has established the appropriate plan.
Yes, in some circumstances. Treatment-related inflammation can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or aggravate melasma. Burns, lighter patches and scarring are other possible complications. Risk depends on the device, wavelength, settings, diagnosis and skin response – not energy level alone. Conservation treatment can reduce some risks but cannot eliminate them.
Every treatment plan at Cheongdam Aesthetics starts with understanding your skin specifically, not a generic protocol applied to everyone who walks in.
Consultations for pigmentation laser treatment in Singapore begin with a full skin assessment to determine pigmentation depth, suitable treatment options, and a plan built around your skin type and lifestyle. Treatments are performed by doctors who hold the required accreditation under the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee, as required for all aesthetic procedures in Singapore.
