Pigmentation treatment
Pigmentation & melasma, treated without the trial and error.
Uneven skin tone, dark marks and melasma are among the most common — and most mistreated — skin concerns, especially in South African skin. The wrong product can make pigmentation permanently worse. Dr Claudia Moloabi diagnoses the type and depth of your pigmentation first, then treats it with protocols proven safe for your skin tone.
Understanding pigmentation
Not all dark marks are the same.
Pigmentation disorders happen when melanocytes — the cells that give skin its colour — produce melanin unevenly. But the trigger, the depth of the pigment and the right treatment differ enormously between conditions that look superficially similar.
Melasma is hormonally influenced and notoriously stubborn: heat, sunlight and the wrong treatments can all aggravate it. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation follows skin injury or inflammation — acne, eczema, even an over-aggressive facial — and is especially common in deeper skin tones. General uneven tone often involves sun damage layered over years.
This is why the internet's favourite brightening products so often disappoint, and why aggressive treatments — strong peels, the wrong lasers — can leave skin darker than before. Pigment depth matters: pigment sitting in the epidermis responds differently from pigment that has dropped into the dermis. A specialist assessment establishes what you have and how deep it sits before anything touches your skin.
Common pigmentation concerns we treat
- Melasma (often called "pregnancy mask")
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and acne marks
- Sun-induced uneven skin tone
- Darkening around the mouth, eyes or on the neck
What we treat
Diagnosis changes everything.
Four different problems. Four different treatment strategies.
01
Melasma
Symmetrical brown or grey-brown patches, usually on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. Managed — not just lightened — for lasting results.
02
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Dark marks left behind after acne, eczema or injury. Treating the underlying condition is step one; fading the marks is step two.
03
Uneven skin tone
Sun exposure, hormones and time layered together. A structured plan rebuilds a more even, luminous complexion.
04
Pigmentation in skin of colour
Deeper skin tones need treatments selected with particular care — effective on pigment, gentle on melanocytes.
Your treatment plan
Slow is smooth. Smooth is lasting.
Pigmentation rewards patience and punishes aggression. We treat accordingly.
Identify the pigment type
Melasma, post-inflammatory marks, sun damage — or a combination. Each has its own treatment pathway.
Assess depth and triggers
How deep the pigment sits, and what is driving it — hormones, sun, heat, friction or inflammation.
Protect first
Daily broad-spectrum sun protection is non-negotiable. Without it, every other treatment is undone by lunchtime.
Treat with evidence
Prescription topicals and carefully selected in-practice treatments — sequenced so your skin is never destabilised.
Maintain the result
Pigmentation loves to return. A maintenance plan and periodic reviews keep your results.
Pigmentation questions
Pigmentation, answered.
Have a question that isn't covered here? Ask the practice directly.
How long does pigmentation treatment take?
Expect gradual improvement over months, not days. Most plans show visible change within 8–12 weeks, with continued improvement after that. Melasma in particular is managed over the long term — rushing it is how skin gets damaged.
Why did my dark marks get worse with skin-lightening products?
Many over-the-counter and unregulated lightening products irritate the skin or contain unsafe ingredients — and irritation itself triggers more pigment. Some can cause ochronosis, a stubborn blue-grey darkening. A specialist plan uses proven prescription-strength ingredients at safe concentrations.
Will my melasma ever go away completely?
Melasma is best understood as a chronic condition that can be controlled extremely well rather than permanently erased. With the right treatment and maintenance, most patients achieve a dramatic, lasting improvement — but ongoing sun protection and periodic top-up treatment keep it that way.
Do I really need sunscreen if I have darker skin?
Yes — especially if you have pigmentation concerns. Darker skin is less prone to sunburn, but visible light and UV both drive melasma and post-inflammatory pigmentation in deeper skin tones. The right daily sunscreen is the single most important part of your treatment.
Can pigmentation be assessed by video consultation?
An initial assessment and treatment plan can often begin via teledermatology, with good-quality photographs. Some assessments — particularly where the depth of pigment needs to be examined — are better done in practice, and we will advise you honestly about which applies to you.