Daily sun protection
A tinted broad-spectrum sunscreen that also filters visible light, applied and reapplied every day of the year. Without this, no treatment works.
Facial aesthetic medicine · Torremolinos
Melasma treatment in Torremolinos
Melasma is not just any pigmentation: it is chronic, driven by hormones and sun, and tends to come back. That is why we treat it with a combined medical plan designed to lighten it and, above all, keep it under control.
- Free facial consultation
- Performed by a doctor
- Combined plan and maintenance
- Sun protection routine
Hormonal pigmentation
What is melasma and why is it so hard to treat?
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation that appears as brown or greyish patches with irregular edges, usually fairly symmetrical, mainly on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip and chin. It is much more common in women and in medium to darker skin types.
It occurs because the pigment cells (melanocytes) in that area are overactive. Hormones play a part (it often appears during pregnancy, with the contraceptive pill or hormone treatments), as do UV radiation, visible light and even heat, along with a genetic predisposition. That is why it gets worse in summer and in climates like the Costa del Sol.
It is important to understand that melasma is a chronic condition: it can be lightened a great deal and kept under control, but no one can promise it will not return. Aggressive treatments can even make it worse because of rebound inflammation. At Centro Ubud a doctor assesses the type and depth of your melasma and designs a gradual, gentle plan with sun protection and maintenance.
This treatment is for you if…
- You have symmetrical patches on your cheeks, forehead or upper lip.
- They appeared or worsened with pregnancy or the contraceptive pill.
- They darken in summer even though you use sunscreen.
- You have tried creams and the patches always come back.
If your marks are sun spots or post-acne marks, the treatment is different. We tell them apart at the consultation by looking at their distribution, colour and how they behave throughout the year, and by reviewing possible triggers such as hormonal medication.
How we treat it
The keys to treating melasma
Gentle peels
Superficial medical peels with depigmenting active ingredients, in spaced sessions and without irritating the skin.
See chemical peel
Depigmenting agents
Active ingredients that slow melanin production, at home and in clinic, and in selected cases oral treatments prescribed by the doctor.
Skin quality
Techniques such as Dermapen or facial mesotherapy can help active ingredients penetrate better and strengthen the skin barrier.
Real results
Before and after at Centro Ubud
Real cases from patients at our clinic, published with their consent. Everyone is different and results vary.
How it works
Your treatment, step by step
01
Free consultation
We assess your case, answer your questions and explain which results are realistic for you.
02
Personalised plan
We design your treatment with the most suitable techniques, an estimated number of sessions and a price, with no obligation.
03
Treatment and follow-up
We carry out the sessions at our clinic in La Carihuela and review your progress to adjust the plan.
Treatments
What the melasma plan involves
A phased, unhurried treatment, because with melasma an aggressive approach usually backfires. We adjust each phase according to how your skin responds.
Phase 1
Diagnosis and preparation
We assess the type of melasma and your skin, review your medication and prepare the skin at home with depigmenting agents and sun protection for a few weeks.
Phase 2
In-clinic lightening
Spaced sessions of peels and other gentle techniques, ideally during the less sunny months.
See facial pigmentationPhase 3
Maintenance
Once lightened, a home routine and regular sessions help stop it darkening again, especially before and after summer.
ChronicControlled, not cured
CombinedSeveral gentle techniques
DoctorPerformed by a doctor
FreeFirst facial consultation
Frequently asked questions
Questions about melasma
Can melasma be cured?
Melasma is a chronic condition. With good treatment it can be lightened a great deal and kept under control, but it can flare up again with sun, heat or hormonal changes. That is why maintenance is part of the treatment, as is daily sun protection, even on cloudy days or indoors near a window.
What is the difference between melasma and other pigmentation?
Sun spots are well-defined marks caused by accumulated sun exposure and respond well to more direct treatments. Melasma is diffuse, symmetrical and hormonal, and needs a gentle, ongoing approach. Telling them apart is the first step.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the depth and extent. The usual approach is a course of several sessions a few weeks apart, followed by maintenance. We give you an approximate plan at the consultation. The first improvements are usually noticeable after several weeks, because the skin needs time to renew itself and for pigment production to slow down.
Can melasma be treated with laser?
Some lasers can make melasma worse because of the heat and inflammation they generate. That is why we prefer gentle, gradual techniques and assess any other option on a very individual basis.
What time of year is best for treatment?
Autumn and winter, when sun exposure is lower. In summer we focus on protecting and maintaining, with very gentle treatments if appropriate.
Can I be treated while pregnant?
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, peels and most depigmenting agents are not used. Sun protection is essential, though, and treatment is planned for afterwards.
How much does melasma treatment cost in Torremolinos?
It depends on the plan you need. At the free consultation we give you a fixed quote with no obligation.
Where are you?
We are at Calle Arenas, 12, in La Carihuela (Torremolinos, Málaga). We see patients from Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Málaga and the surrounding area. Appointments are booked via WhatsApp.
Centro Ubud · La Carihuela, Torremolinos
Book your free facial consultation
Tell us what you would like to improve and we will explain, with no obligation, which treatment suits you.
Calle Arenas, 12 · 29620 Torremolinos, Málaga · Get directions · Patient reviews
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All treatments are subject to a prior professional assessment. Results are individual and may vary from person to person. Centro Ubud is an authorised healthcare centre in Torremolinos (Málaga). NICA 64610. Clínica UBUD S.L. · CIF B56756158.