Typical ranges. Session numbers, timelines and results vary with severity, the treatment chosen and individual response — your plan is confirmed at consultation.
Melasma is an acquired pigmentation disorder in which the pigment-producing cells in certain areas of the face become over-active, producing symmetrical brown or grey-brown patches — classically over the cheekbones, forehead, upper lip and chin. It is far more common in women, usually appears between the twenties and forties, and is strongly associated with pregnancy ("the mask of pregnancy"), oral contraceptives and other hormonal changes. Sunlight and heat are the main external triggers; a genetic tendency and darker skin types (Fitzpatrick III–V) make it more likely.
What makes melasma different from other pigmentation is that the melanocytes remain over-active. Sun spots and post-acne marks are the residue of a past event; melasma is an ongoing process. That is why it relapses when treatment stops, why aggressive treatment often makes it worse, and why "cure" is the wrong word. It is also why treatment is a long-term plan: control the triggers, lighten the pigment gradually, and maintain.
Melasma is described as epidermal (pigment in the upper skin, responds faster), dermal (pigment deeper, responds slowly) or mixed — most Indian patients have the mixed type. A Wood's lamp or dermatoscope helps judge depth at consultation. Treatment then combines prescription lightening creams as the backbone, gentle repeated chemical peels, low-fluence Q-switched laser toning where appropriate, oral tranexamic acid in selected patients, and — above everything — daily broad-spectrum sun protection.
Adults — mostly women — with symmetrical facial pigmentation that has been diagnosed as melasma, or that has not responded to over-the-counter creams and needs a proper diagnosis. It is for people prepared to follow a long-term plan: daily sunscreen, prescription home care, in-clinic sessions and maintenance. Melasma that appears in pregnancy often improves afterwards, and treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding is limited to safe options. Anyone who has been using unlabelled "fairness" or steroid-containing creams should stop them under supervision — they are a common cause of melasma getting worse and of thinned, sensitive skin.
Melasma lightens slowly and deliberately. Expect the first clear change at 8–12 weeks of consistent home care and sun protection, with meaningful lightening at 3–6 months. In-clinic sessions — peels or laser toning — are typically 6–8 sessions over that period. After that, maintenance is indefinite: a lightening cream a few nights a week, daily sunscreen, and a review or top-up when needed.
Fast results are a warning sign in melasma. Strong peels, high-energy lasers and steroid-containing creams can lighten quickly and then rebound darker or damage the skin. We do not use them, and we tell you the timeline honestly at the first visit.
An MD dermatologist confirms the type and depth before anything is applied to your skin, because the treatments that suit sun spots can worsen melasma.
We plan for maintenance from the first visit and tell you the honest timeline: lightened and controlled over months, kept that way indefinitely.
Gentle repeated peels and low-fluence laser toning rather than aggressive resurfacing; prescription agents used with breaks to avoid rebound.
Home care, peels, laser toning and oral tranexamic acid are all available here, so the plan is chosen for you rather than by what one clinic offers.
Lavanayam Skin, Hair and Laser Clinic, GF 06/07, 14th Avenue High Street Market, Gaur City 2, Greater Noida West, UP – 201318. A few minutes from Gaur City 1, Noida Extension and Sector 16C.
Tuesday – Sunday: 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Medically reviewed by Dr. Anshul Choudhary, 18 September 2026.
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