Pigmentation is one of the most common reasons people walk into our Karrinyup clinic. Sometimes it is a single sunspot that has been hanging around since a holiday a decade ago. Sometimes it is the kind of soft brown shadow on the cheeks that no amount of brightening serum has shifted.
KEY POINTS
What You Will Learn In This Guide
- Why pigmentation is not one condition, and how sunspots, melasma and post-inflammatory pigmentation each behave differently.
- How laser pigmentation treatment works at a wavelength level, and why the settings matter more than the machine.
- How many sessions to expect, what happens week by week, and when you see the final result.
- Why the time of year matters when you are treating pigmentation in Perth.
- The aftercare that protects your result, and who should wait before booking.
The advice you get on pigmentation in Perth varies wildly, and a lot of it sells one tool as the answer for every problem. The truth is more nuanced. The pigment in a sunspot behaves differently to the pigment in melasma, and the right laser, at the right energy, with the right plan around it, makes the difference between a result you keep and a result that bounces back.
This guide is written by the team at Luxe Medical Aesthetics in Karrinyup, led by Dr Tessa Kaminski. It is the conversation we have in clinic before booking anyone in for a laser pigmentation treatment, written out in full.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- What Pigmentation Actually Means
- The Four Types We See Most Often
- How Laser Pigmentation Treatment Works
- Pico Laser, IPL, Cosmelan And Peels
- What A Course Looks Like At Luxe
- The First Session, Week And Month
- Why The Time Of Year Matters In Perth
- Aftercare That Protects The Result
- Who Should Wait Before Booking
- What It Costs In Perth
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Pigmentation Actually Means
The brown you see on your skin is melanin. Cells called melanocytes sit at the base of your epidermis and produce it in response to UV exposure, inflammation, hormones, certain medications and a handful of genetic factors. In a healthy distribution, melanin protects the deeper layers of skin. When melanocytes overproduce in one area, or melanin sits trapped in the wrong layer, you see the patches and spots that bring most people to our clinic.
- Epidermal pigment sits in the top layers of the skin. It responds well to laser.
- Dermal pigment sits deeper. It can still respond, but usually needs more sessions and more careful settings.
- Mixed pigment is exactly what it sounds like. Most real-world pigmentation is mixed, which is why a quick visual diagnosis is rarely enough.
In Perth we see a lot of mixed pigmentation. The combination of high UV, an outdoor lifestyle and a population that spans every Fitzpatrick skin type produces a wider range of presentations than you would see in cooler parts of the country.
The Four Types Of Pigmentation We See Most Often
MOST COMMON
Sunspots (Solar Lentigines)
Flat, light to mid-brown patches on the face, chest, shoulders, hands and forearms. They are the cumulative record of years of UV exposure. Usually well defined, they do not blanch when pressed and stay stable in colour. Sunspots are typically epidermal, so they respond well to Pico laser, often inside a small number of sessions. They often sit alongside broader sun damage.
THE MOST STUBBORN
Melasma
Soft, symmetrical, brown or grey-brown pigmentation across the cheeks, forehead, upper lip or jawline. It is driven by a mix of hormones, UV exposure, heat and inflammation. Pregnancy, the oral contraceptive pill and hormonal IUDs can all play a role.
Melasma can be managed, not cured. Even a beautifully responsive course of laser will not stop it returning if the underlying triggers are not addressed.
The best melasma results come from a planned combination of low-energy laser, prescription topicals, daily mineral sunscreen and disciplined sun behaviour. We will talk you through all of this in your consultation.
AFTER INFLAMMATION
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
The brown or grey mark left behind after the skin has been irritated. A picked spot, a flare of cystic acne, an aggressive peel or a poorly delivered IPL can all leave PIH. It usually fades on its own over months, but laser can speed that up considerably when used carefully. Darker skin types are more prone to PIH and need a more conservative approach.
THE IN-BETWEEN
Freckles And Age Spots
Freckles are genetic and tend to lighten in winter and darken in summer. Pico laser can clear them, but if you like your freckles we will leave them alone. Age spots on the back of the hands are a very common request and respond well. Larger or atypical pigmented lesions need to be assessed by a doctor first. If something looks more like a mole than a pigment patch, we send you for a mole check before we touch it with a laser.
How Laser Pigmentation Treatment Actually Works
Pico laser fires extremely short pulses of light at melanin. The pulses are measured in picoseconds, which is one trillionth of a second. They are so short that the energy arrives as a mechanical, almost percussive force rather than as heat. The pigment shatters into fragments small enough for your immune system to clear naturally over the following days and weeks.
Three wavelengths do most of the work, and each one has a job:
532
Superficial Pigment
Best for surface-level red and brown pigment. The shortest of the three, and the least penetrating.
755
The Workhorse
The broad all-rounder for most pigmentation, including sunspots and mixed epidermal pigment.
1064
Deep And Darker Skin
Bypasses melanin in the upper layers to reach deeper pigment. The safer choice for Fitzpatrick IV to VI.
The laser is only as good as the person holding it. Settings change based on your skin type, the depth of the pigmentation, the area being treated and what we learned from your previous session. The most common reason patients come to us with PIH is a previous laser or IPL treatment that was set too high for their skin. The device on the shelf is the same in most clinics. The judgement around it is not.
DOCTOR-LED ASSESSMENT
Not sure which type of pigmentation you have?
Melasma treated with the wrong laser becomes worse melasma. We assess your skin type, examine the pigmentation properly and tell you honestly what laser can and cannot do for it.
Pico Laser, IPL, Cosmelan And Chemical Peels
You can treat pigmentation with several different tools, and the right answer depends on the pigment type and your skin type. Here is the straightforward version.
| Treatment | Best for | Not ideal for | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pico laser | Sunspots, freckles, age spots, mixed pigmentation, PIH, conservative melasma | Active melasma flares without supporting topicals | Minimal. Redness for a few hours, then pigment darkens and sheds over 7 to 14 days |
| IPL | Superficial sunspots in lighter skin | Darker skin, melasma, deep pigment | Redness and brown crusting for 5 to 10 days |
| Cosmelan or depigmenting peel | Stable melasma, persistent diffuse pigmentation | Sensitive or eczema-prone skin | Visible peeling and redness for one to two weeks |
| Chemical peels and facials | Maintenance, mild surface pigmentation, skin texture | Deep or hormonal pigmentation on its own | Light flaking, usually 3 to 5 days |
In practice we often combine a Pico course with cosmeceutical support and, where appropriate, prescription topicals. Single-tool plans rarely produce the best outcome on real, mixed pigmentation.
What A Course Of Treatment Looks Like At Luxe
Every patient gets a consultation first. We assess your skin type on the Fitzpatrick scale, examine the pigmentation under good lighting and sometimes under a Wood’s lamp to understand how deep it sits, take your medical history, and explain what is reasonable to expect.
A typical course for sunspots runs to four to six sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart. PIH may need fewer sessions but more time between them. Melasma sits in its own category and is planned in stages over months rather than weeks, usually starting with lower-energy passes, layering in topical support, and reviewing at three months.
We do a test patch at the first appointment if your skin is darker than Fitzpatrick III, if you have any history of PIH, or if we have any concern about how your skin will respond. It costs a small amount of time on the first visit and removes a much bigger risk later.
The First Session, The First Week, The First Month
- In the chair, 15 to 30 minutes. Cleansed skin, protective eyewear, numbing cream where you want it. The sensation is a warm, rapid tapping. Most clients describe it as more surprising than painful.
- The first 24 hours. Mild redness, sometimes a faint flushed feel. Mineral makeup is fine the next day. Avoid hot showers, sauna and heavy gym sessions for 48 hours, because heat is what triggers rebound pigmentation.
- Day two to day five. The pigment often darkens. This is expected. The particles have risen toward the surface and are about to shed. Do not pick and do not exfoliate.
- Day five to day fourteen. The darkened spots lift off as part of natural skin turnover, leaving clearer, more even tone underneath.
- Week four. We review and decide on the next pass.
- Three to six months after your final session. Peak result. Collagen remodelling continues for several months, so we judge the outcome at the longer end of that window.
If you are treating melasma, the timeline is longer and slower. Patience and consistency matter more than power.
Why The Time Of Year Matters When You Live In Perth
Perth has one of the highest UV indices in Australia. We routinely hit eleven to fourteen in summer. UV exposure is the single biggest reason pigmentation comes back after laser. Heat is a close second.
For most courses we recommend starting between April and September, while the daily UV load is lower and your skin is less reactive.
If you are starting in late spring or summer we are not necessarily turning you away. We will plan with that in mind, recommend a stricter daily SPF protocol and adjust energy where appropriate. This is also where we differ from clinics in cooler parts of the country. A protocol that works fine in Melbourne can drive rebound pigmentation in Perth if the practitioner does not factor in our UV environment.
Aftercare That Protects The Result
Aftercare is not a list of nice-to-haves. It carries half the result.
- Mineral SPF 50+ every morning, year round. Zinc oxide based, applied generously, reapplied every two hours outdoors.
- No AHAs, BHAs or retinol for five to seven days. Your barrier has just had a workout and these can trigger irritation pigmentation.
- No spray tans for two weeks either side. Tan reads as pigment to a laser.
- No sauna, steam room or very hot showers for 48 hours. Heat can darken pigmentation that was about to fade.
- Gentle cleanser and a hydrating moisturiser for the first week. This is not the moment for new actives.
- Daily antioxidants between sessions. We often recommend a vitamin C serum and a careful reintroduction of retinaldehyde once the skin settles. We stock the Medik8 and Dermaceutic ranges in clinic for exactly this reason.
Who Should Wait, And Who Should Not Have Laser
We will not treat in any of the following circumstances.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Hormonal changes drive melasma flares.
- Isotretinoin in the last six months. Skin reacts unpredictably to laser energy in this window.
- An active cold sore on the treatment area. We treat once it has resolved.
- Photosensitising medication without a plan. Some medications and supplements make skin much more reactive.
- A recent tan or sunburn within two to four weeks. Tanned skin reads as pigment.
- Any pigmented lesion that looks atypical. We send you for a skin check first.
This is the kind of conversation a doctor-led consultation is for. It is faster and safer to flag these in person than to find out halfway through a course.
What Laser Pigmentation Treatment Costs In Perth
Laser pigmentation in Perth typically runs at around $250 to $600 per session, depending on the area treated and the time required. Most patients budget for a course rather than a single session, and most clinics, ours included, offer a small package saving on a planned course.
We deliberately do not publish a single headline price, because every plan is built off the consultation rather than off a price list. You will get a clear quote in writing before you book anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does laser pigmentation treatment hurt?
Most people describe it as a warm, fast tapping rather than a sharp pain. We can numb sensitive areas with topical cream if you prefer.
How many sessions will I need?
For sunspots and solar lentigines, usually four to six sessions, four to six weeks apart. Melasma is planned over months and may need ongoing maintenance. PIH depends on the cause and your skin type. Your consultation will give you a specific plan.
Can laser remove melasma permanently?
No. Melasma is managed, not cured. We can lighten it significantly with careful laser work, prescription topicals and disciplined sun protection, but the underlying tendency does not go away. Patients who maintain good aftercare keep their result far longer.
Is laser pigmentation treatment safe for darker skin?
Yes, with the right wavelength, the right energy and a doctor-led approach. We use longer wavelengths and lower energies for Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin, test patch first, and build up gradually. A plan designed for fair skin can cause harm in darker skin, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach is not safe.
Will my pigmentation come back?
Sunspots stay clear if you protect your skin and avoid the sun habits that created them. Melasma will return if its triggers are not managed. PIH stays clear unless something new irritates the skin in the same spot.
Can I have laser pigmentation treatment in summer?
You can, but we will adjust the plan. The single biggest predictor of a poor result is sun exposure during the course. If you are willing to commit to daily mineral SPF 50+ and hat-and-shade habits it is workable. For most people we still recommend starting in autumn or winter.
What is the difference between Pico laser and IPL?
Pico delivers very short, photoacoustic pulses that break pigment into clearable fragments with almost no heat. IPL delivers broader-spectrum light over a longer pulse and works mostly through heat. IPL is fine for very superficial pigment in lighter skin. Pico is the better and safer choice for mixed pigment, darker skin and melasma.
Will the pigmentation look worse before it looks better?
Yes, for a short period. The pigment darkens for one to two days, then sheds gradually over a week or two. That is the laser working. Do not pick or exfoliate.
Can I wear makeup after a session?
Yes, mineral makeup the next day is fine. Skip heavy foundations or anything containing actives such as AHAs for the first few days.
Why should I see a doctor-led clinic for pigmentation?
Because pigmentation is misdiagnosed all the time. Melasma treated with the wrong laser becomes worse melasma, and a sunspot on the face can sit very close to a lesion that needs a skin check. A doctor-led assessment gives you a plan built around your skin type, medical history and risk factors. You can meet our team before you book.
Where is your clinic?
We are at Suite 2, 184 Karrinyup Road, Karrinyup WA 6018, with free visitor parking next to the Karrinyup Shopping Centre. We see patients from across Perth’s northern suburbs, including Stirling, Trigg, Scarborough, North Beach, Doubleview, Innaloo and Wembley Downs.
READY TO CLEAR YOUR PIGMENTATION?
Book A Pigmentation Consultation In Karrinyup
We will look at the pigmentation closely, tell you what we think is going on, give you an honest answer on what laser can and cannot do for it, and write you a plan. Call us on (08) 9319 1127 or book online.
This article is general information and is not medical advice. Pigmentation can have several underlying causes and laser is not suitable for everyone. Individual results vary. Always book a consultation with a qualified practitioner before starting any treatment.
