Laser for hyperpigmentation cost is a hot topic these days. People are looking to get rid of their dark spots, but they don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it. When it comes to laser treatments for hyperpigmentation, you have two main options: fractional lasers and ablative lasers. Fractional lasers use multiple beams of light that penetrate the skin at different depths, while ablative lasers remove layers of the skin in order to treat the problem area.

So which one should you choose? That depends on your skin type and what kind of results you’re looking for. If your skin is darker than average or has an uneven tone (like melasma), then an ablative laser might be better for you—it can treat deep-seated pigmentation in addition to surface spots like sun damage or acne scarring. But if your skin is fair or lightly pigmented, then an ablative laser isn’t going to give you much in terms of results because it will just burn off the top layer without affecting any deeper layers where pigment actually resides.

Laser For Hyperpigmentation Cost

If you’re one of the many people who has hyperpigmentation, dark spots and discolouration, you’ve probably thought about doing something about it. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there which are effective. But exactly how much will it cost to treat hyperpigmentation? 

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. Treatments range from at-home products to in-clinic procedures, so the price varies between these. Plus, we all have different skin types and different severities of hyperpigmentation, so where some of us respond to one skincare product, others need multiple courses of more expensive treatments to get the results they’re looking for. 

But here at Face Dr, we’re never one to shy away from a challenge, so we’ve broken down your options for hyperpigmentation treatments and how exactly much they cost. Want a personalised approach? Book a free online skincare consultation with one of our experts. They can analyse your skin and type of hyperpigmentation to give you a better idea of what you can do about it—and what it’ll cost. 

BOOK YOUR FREE VIDEO SKINCARE CONSULTATION NOW

Before we get to the price tags, what exactly is hyperpigmentation? 

WHAT IS HYPERPIGMENTATION? 

Hyperpigmentation is a natural skin condition where some spots and patches appear darker than the rest of your usual skin tone. There are three main types: 

• Sunspots—caused by the sun, the most common form of hyperpigmentation
• Melasma—caused by hormones, usually from pregnancy or hormonal birth control 
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—caused by inflammation from acne, cuts, burns or eczema, for example 

Luckily, there are plenty of treatments out there to treat hyperpigmentation and lighten the look of dark spots and discolouration, as well as preventing new patches from forming. 

Depending on your budget, you’ve got some options, from cheap and cheerful creams to more costly—but more effective—professional procedures. Read on to find out exactly how much you can expect to spend when treating hyperpigmentation. 

The cost of hyperpigmentation treatments

Under £200 

If you’re on a budget and are looking to spend under £200 on hyperpigmentation treatments, at-home skincare is the best way to go. Certain brands—like ZO Skin Health, SkinCeuticals and iS Clinical—use medical-grade ingredients and have ranges dedicated to hyperpigmentation. 

This means you can either pick up one product to try if your budget is under £100 or the whole range where products will work together to brighten dark spots and discolouration. You can choose from lightening creams and serums, cleansers and toners, and exfoliators—or add all of them into your skincare routine!

Products to try: 

• SkinCeuticals Discolouration Defence Serum £85  
• iS Clinical Brightening Serum £64 
• ZO Skin Brightening Program — get in touch with hello@myfacedr.com for pricing  

£200 to £500 

If you’ve got a little more room in your budget for hyperpigmentation treatments, you can start thinking about professional procedures which are often more effective and quicker than at-home products. 

MICRODERMABRASION 

Microdermabrasion is a method of exfoliation that removes the top layer of skin cells to reveal a lighter complexion underneath. It does this with small particles which physically break up the dead skin cells and remove them.

It isn’t suitable for darker skin tones as it may cause hyperpigmentation to become darker. For other skin tones, your skin may be a little sensitive and red after a microdermabrasion treatment, but there’s minimal downtime and you can wear make-up straight away to cover any redness. 

The cost depends on where you’d like the treatment—face, hands or chest, for example—and how many treatments you need. A skincare expert will be able to tell you how many courses of microdermabrasion you’ll need to get the results you’re looking for.

Single treatments usually start at around £70 but a course of three is often recommended, so you can expect to pay around £200 or more for a full treatment. 

Treatments to try: Sk:n clinics. £65 for one treatment on the face with a course of three costing £200.

CHEMICAL PEELS 

You can buy at-home products which act as chemical peels but, as they’re available over the counter, they have a weak concentration of active ingredients. For some, this is enough. But for many with stubborn dark spots, you may need a stronger chemical peel which needs to be performed by a skincare expert. 

Similar to microdermabrasion, chemical peels work by exfoliating away dead and discoloured skin cells. However, instead of using physical particles, chemical peels use chemicals and acids to do this. These acids break down the bonds between dead skin cells making them easier to remove. 

Usually, professionals will recommend a course of treatments, usually three, to get the best results. 

Different chemical peels are available, such as those which use glycolic acid or mandelic acid. Prices range from £100 to £200 for one treatment, depending on the type of peel, so you can expect to spend £300 to £600 for a course of three chemical peel treatments. 

Treatment to try: Prodigy Peel P3 Pro. £295 

Over £500 

If you’ve got cash to splash on hyperpigmentation treatments, one option to try is IPL.

IPL

IPL, which stands for “intense pulsed light,” is a laser treatment which directs short blasts of light at the skin. Depending on the treatment, this light either penetrates the skin and breaks down the melanin which forms dark spots or it removes the outermost layer of the skin to encourage new non-discoloured skin cells to form.  

It’s a great option for those with fairer skin but those with darker skin tones should speak with an expert first. Some people see results after just one treatment, but most people need three treatments to get the full benefits. 

IPL treatments aren’t painful but some people feel a little discomfort from the zaps. Luckily, treatments usually only take a few minutes depending on how large of an area you’re looking to treat. There may be some irritation and redness afterwards, but this often goes down quickly and can be covered with make-up straight away if needed. 

Costs vary depending on how many laser treatments you need and the area you’re targeting. You can expect to pay around £200 for a small area, £500 for a half face and £700 for a full face for a course of three treatments. 

Get an expert opinion

Hopefully, that’s made the mystery of hyperpigmentation treatment prices clearer. If you’d like tailored advice to find out the best treatment for you, book a free online skincare consultation with one of our skin experts.

The consultations last for 30 minutes and can be done from the comfort of your own home. We’ll analyse your skin over video, ask about your exact concerns and then recommend the best treatments to tackle your hyperpigmentation—and answer any pricing questions. 

Our experts can recommend one-off treatments to add to your routine or help you build an entire new routine to get your skin clear and glowing.

Best laser for hyperpigmentation on dark skin

You read a lot about the wonders of Botox and the benefits of lasers, but you don’t always hear about the potential side effects involved. The technology for in-office beauty treatments has come a long way, but it’s still not perfect. Additionally, some of those popular lasers and light treatments pose more risks than rewards—especially for skin of color. We asked licensed esthetician and skincare expert Kerry Benjamin to help us figure out what to try and what to avoid.

MEET THE EXPERT

Kerry Benjamin is an L.A.-based esthetician. She is the founder of StackedSkincare and the StackedSkincare spa in Santa Monica, CA.

Scroll through to find out which beauty treatments women with dark skin should stay away from. 

“Lasers can be very dangerous and often cause permanent damage for darker skin tones,” Benjamin says. “Putting heat on skin that already has a propensity to pigment will likely only worsen the problem; I’ve seen this way too many times with my clients.” That said, darker skin tones, including type four, five, and six skin can safely have laser hair removal with an ND-Yag laser.¹ Not every laser is for every skin type.

“You need to treat dark skin with caution, or you can cause serious permanent damage,” Benjamin says. “Microdermabrasion, medium-depth chemical peels, dermaplaning, and microneedling are all super safe and effective at treating acne, pigment issues, and scarring.” It may take more than six months of treatments, but when you’re dealing with the delicate skin on your face, “slow and steady wins the race” is a pretty good philosophy to adopt. And even though these procedures may not be as intense as laser treatments, you can combine multiple treatments for better results (without creating pigmentation risks). But, use caution if you have a darker skin type, or if you’re prone to hyperpigmentation with medium depth chemical peels (superficial are safer!).²

At home, Benjamin recommends broadband SPF 30 or higher (duh), retinol, and products with exfoliating and skin-brightening ingredients like lactic acid, kojic acid, azelaic acid, arbutin, and licorice extract, all of which will help with skin texture and tone irregularities. “For hyperpigmentation and acne scarring, the Collagen Rejuvenating Kit is ideal,” Benjamin says. It includes an epidermal growth factor activating serum, a mineral peel with exfoliating willow bark extract and nourishing seaweed extract, and a collagen-boosting at-home microroller. “The combination of these treatments will stimulate collagen, speed up wound healing and cell turnover, and break down scar tissue to brighten and smooth out the tone and texture of the skin.” There is one caution: “People with active pustular or cystic acne should not use a microneedle. Once the acne is gone, it is safe to microneedle at home to remove any post-inflammatory pigmentation or scarring left behind from the acne.

can laser remove pigmentation permanently

Pigmentation Removal With Laser: What To Expect

Pigmentation can appear out of nowhere.

One morning you wake up and look in the mirror, and you can see little brown patches across your forehead and dotted around your face. These unwanted dark spots can build up over time and damage your self-confidence. 

But pigmentation doesn’t have to be permanent. PicoSure is the most advanced laser treatment for pigmentation removal.  You can get clearer, younger-looking skin without the downtime and side effects of more invasive laser treatments. 

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about PicoSure pigmentation removal. 

What Is Pigmentation?

Pigmentation is the colouring of your skin. Melanin is the pigment produced in your skin cells that determines the colour of your skin. When your body produces too much melanin, it causes hyperpigmentation, resulting in darker patches of skin.

Change in pigmentation can appear on almost any part of the body but usually appears on the face and other areas exposed to the sun’s powerful UV rays. 

While hyperpigmentation isn’t harmful, it can make you appear older than you truly are. 

What Causes Pigmentation?

There are lots of different causes for changes in pigmentation. However, for most people, pigmentation is caused by an excess of melanin. When too much melanin is produced in an area of the skin, it leads to discolouration and noticeable pigmentation. 

The most common causes of pigmentation include:

• Sun exposure
• Genetics
• Change in hormones
• Birthmarks
• Damage to the skin
• Medical conditions
• Medications

Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of hyperpigmentation. This is because sun exposure triggers the body to produce more melanin to protect the skin. This is why your skin becomes darker after exposure to sunlight – a suntan. 

Overexposure to the sun’s UV rays causes excessive creation of melanin which is deposited in the skin, resulting in hyperpigmentation.

Is PicoSure Laser Good for Pigmentation?

PicoSure laser treatments are the best way to treat hyperpigmentation. You can remove freckles, sun-damaged skin, pigmentation, and age spots without the downtime and risks involved with more invasive cosmetic treatments. 

In a clinical study published in the Annals of Dermatology, PicoSure laser sessions were shown to be an effective treatment for melasma and pigmentation. PicoSure also has a much lower risk of adverse side effects when compared to other laser therapies. 

How it Works

Your clinician can target the discolouration with PicoSure laser energy. Because the discolouration is darker than the surrounding skin, it attracts and absorbs the laser energy. 

Unlike some laser therapies, PicoSure laser treatments do not damage the surrounding skin. The laser energy is delivered in one trillionth of a second. The short burst of energy doesn’t heat the skin like traditional laser treatments.

The excessive melanin deposits in the skin are shattered into tiny pieces. Your body can then naturally remove the shattered pigment from your skin, leaving you with a clearer and even-toned complexion. 

A laser treatment session usually lasts around 30 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated and the type of pigmentation. 

What Happens After the Treatment?

Laser treatments are the fastest way to remove hyperpigmentation, but it still takes time to see results.  Pigment will darken for 1-3 weeks following the treatment, then will begin to fade.

Immediately following a laser session, you may experience redness, tenderness, and mild swelling. Many clients say that the sensation is similar to the effect of sunburn. You may want to use a cold compress on the area to make it feel more comfortable. 

It’s important that you don’t rub or scratch the area to avoid any side effects and allow the skin to heal properly. 

Many people go straight back to work and social activities immediately following treatment. Any side effects should subside within a day or two of treatment. During this time, you should avoid applying any skincare products or makeup that could irritate the skin.Do I Need To Prepare?

You should avoid any laser treatments, skin needling, or chemical peels for 2 weeks before the procedure. It’s also important to protect your skin with sunscreen and avoid direct sun exposure in the week leading up to your laser session. 

Your clinician may also recommend that you stop certain medication and topical skin creams a week before treatment as they can increase the light sensitivity of the skin.

 If you take regular medications and/or use high grade or prescription skincare it is best to consult with our clinicians prior to your treatment. 

Does Laser Pigmentation Removal Hurt?

The level of discomfort can depend on the location of the treated area and the type of pigmentation. PicoSure is a much more gentle laser treatment. Most people do not require anaesthetic and describe the sensation as similar to an elastic band flicking against the skin. 

We also use a skin cooling system to minimise any discomfort. 

Is There Any Downtime?

There is no downtime associated with PicoSure laser pigmentation removal. You don’t need to book any time off work or cancel any social plans. However, to allow your skin to heal your clinician will recommend that you avoid the following for the next 24 hrs,  strenuous exercise, saunas, hot tubs, chlorinated pools and do not expose the treated area to direct sunlight. 

Your skin will be more sensitive to sunlight immediately following treatment, so you should apply SPF 50 sunblock before leaving the clinic. 

How Many Laser Sessions Are Needed for Pigmentation?

The number of sessions you will require will depend on the depth and type of pigmentation you want to treat. We usually recommend a series of up to 6 sessions spaced 3-4 weeks apart to achieve the best results. You will see an improvement after each session. 

During your free consultation at b clinic, your clinician will provide a personalised treatment plan for your aesthetic goals.

Will Laser Pigmentation Removal Work for My Skin Type?

It’s essential that you see a qualified practitioner for any laser treatment. During your consultation, your clinician will determine the type of pigmentation and your skin type before recommending a treatment plan that will provide the best results.

Does Pigmentation Return After Laser Treatment?

You will require a series of laser sessions to remove pigmentation from the skin. After each session, you will see an improvement as more of the melanin deposit is shattered and flushed away by the body. 

Pigmentation can return as several factors cause discolouration of the skin, including sun exposure. However, you can maintain your results for longer and stop pigmentation from appearing by protecting your skin from the sun with SPF 50 sun cream, by using high quality skincare at home and avoid prolonged exposure.