DrPlus Singapore · Pigmentation
Melasma Treatment in Singapore
The symmetrical brown or grey-brown patches across the cheeks, forehead or upper lip are the pigmentation most easily made worse by aggressive treatment. A doctor confirms it is melasma, gauges how deep the pigment sits, and builds a deliberately cautious plan — because with melasma, gentle and layered outperforms strong and fast. Results vary by individual.
- Doctor-led consultation
- Suitability assessed first
- Results vary by individual
— Who this page is for
Who this page is for
Melasma is chronic, hormonally influenced and heat-sensitive — which makes it the pigment concern where the treatment plan matters more than the device. If any of these sound familiar, an assessment will establish what you are actually dealing with.
Symmetrical patches that creams haven't shifted
Brown or grey-brown patches on both cheeks, the forehead or the upper lip that over-the-counter brightening products have not moved — or have made more irritated.
Pigment that worsened after a previous laser
Rebound darkening after an aggressive laser or peel is a classic melasma story. It does not mean nothing can be done — it means the next plan must be conservative and depth-matched.
Pregnancy or hormone-related pigmentation
Melasma often appears or intensifies with pregnancy, hormonal medication or natural cycles. Timing and treatment choice depend on your situation, which a doctor maps first.
Not sure if it's melasma or sun spots
Sun spots, freckles, PIH and Hori's nevus can all look similar but are treated differently — and treating the wrong one wastes sessions. Diagnosis comes first.
— What this involves
How melasma is treated — and why gentle wins
Melasma happens when pigment-producing cells become overactive, driven by a combination of hormones, sun and visible light, and heat. The excess pigment can sit high in the epidermis, deep in the dermis, or both — and that depth largely decides the plan: epidermal pigment responds better to topicals and conservative laser, while dermal and mixed patterns are slower and need more patience.
The foundation of every melasma plan is rigorous daily sun protection and a doctor-guided topical regime — for many patients this base alone produces meaningful lightening over weeks to months. Energy-based treatment, when it is used, is deliberately conservative: low-fluence pico laser at pigment-aware settings, paced so reactive skin is never pushed into rebound darkening. Aggressive settings routinely make melasma worse, which is why we do not lead with them.
Melasma is controlled rather than cured. It can settle and flare with sun, heat and hormonal change, so a realistic plan includes maintenance — not a one-off procedure. We do not publish prices; after assessment you receive a personalised written plan and quote, with no obligation to proceed.
All three Singapore clinics — Tanjong Pagar, East Coast and Novena — assess and treat melasma routinely. WhatsApp us a clear photo of your pigmentation and we can usually explain what a sensible plan would involve before you visit.
— Why DrPlus
Why patients choose DrPlus for melasma
Melasma on Asian skin punishes aggression and rewards patience — the clinical judgment is the treatment.
Melasma, sun spots, PIH and Hori's nevus are treated differently. The doctor confirms what your pigment actually is — and how deep it sits — before anything is recommended.
Low-fluence pico laser and doctor-selected topicals, paced for melasma-prone skin tones so treatment lightens pigment without provoking rebound.
Sun, heat and hormonal drivers are addressed alongside clinic treatment — without that base, no device result holds.
You will hear 'control and lightening' rather than 'cure' — because that is what melasma treatment can honestly deliver, and planning around it is what keeps results stable.
Ready to discuss your skin?
Book a doctor-led assessment tailored to your concerns.
— Related treatments
Related treatments & pathways
Melasma is one member of the pigment family — these are the pathways a doctor may combine with or recommend instead.
Pico Laser
Best for: Conservative pigment clearanceUltra-short pulses fragment pigment with less heat than traditional lasers — used at low, melasma-safe settings within a layered plan.
Learn MoreChemical Peels
Best for: Surface pigment & toneMild, doctor-selected peels can support lightening of superficial pigment when the skin barrier is ready for them.
Learn MorePIH & Post-Acne Marks
Best for: Marks left by inflammationDark marks after acne, bites or injury behave differently from melasma — the dedicated PIH pathway covers trigger control and depth-matched clearance.
Learn MorePigmentation Hub
Best for: All pigment concernsSun spots, freckles and PIH sit alongside melasma in the pigment family — the pigmentation hub maps the full set.
Learn MoreFemale Hair Loss Treatment
Best for: Postpartum or hormonal sheddingPregnancy-related melasma and postpartum hair shedding frequently arrive together — the women's hair loss page covers the assessment.
Learn More— FAQ
Common questions
Melasma is usually controlled rather than permanently cured, because it is driven by ongoing factors — sun and visible light, heat, and hormones. With rigorous sun protection, a doctor-guided topical regime and sensible maintenance, most patients keep it faded and quiet long-term. A one-off cure is not an honest promise for melasma, and plans built around control hold up far better.
Cautiously used, yes. Aggressive laser settings frequently provoke rebound pigmentation that is darker than the original — which is why melasma laser treatment at DrPlus means low-fluence, pigment-aware pico laser, introduced only after assessment and layered with sun protection and topicals. If your skin is inflamed, recently tanned or reactive, laser may be deferred.
We do not publish prices because melasma plans differ widely — the quote depends on pigment depth and extent, whether the plan is topicals-led or includes conservative pico laser sessions, and how long maintenance runs. You receive a personalised written quote after the doctor has assessed your skin, with no obligation to proceed.
Melasma is typically symmetrical — matching patches on both cheeks, the forehead or upper lip — with soft, blended edges, and it fluctuates with sun, heat and hormones. Sun spots are discrete, well-defined spots on sun-exposed areas. PIH follows a specific injury or breakout, and Hori's nevus sits deeper with a grey-blue tone. Because each is treated differently, the doctor confirms the diagnosis first.
Over-aggressive lasers or strong peels can push melasma-prone skin into rebound pigmentation — a well-known pattern, and the single biggest reason melasma treatment should be conservative. It does not mean your melasma is untreatable; it means the next plan needs lower energy, more preparation and realistic pacing, which is exactly how we approach it.
More than any other single measure. UV and visible light directly stimulate the overactive pigment cells that drive melasma — without daily broad-spectrum protection, clinic treatment results do not hold. Every melasma plan at DrPlus is built on rigorous sun protection regardless of which treatments are added on top.
We see patients at SBF Center, 160 Robinson Road #03-10, in the Tanjong Pagar CBD (call +65 8851 9547), The Flow Mall, 66 East Coast Road #03-05, in Katong on the East Coast (call +65 8857 4917), and Novena Medical Centre, 10 Sinaran Drive #10-30, in Novena (call +65 8851 9505). All three clinics offer the same doctor-led consultations, so you can choose whichever location is more convenient.
SBF Center on Robinson Road is about a three-minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT (East–West Line) in the CBD, The Flow Mall on East Coast Road in Katong is a short walk from Marine Parade MRT on the Thomson–East Coast Line, and Novena Medical Centre on Sinaran Drive is a short sheltered walk from Novena MRT on the North–South Line. If you drive, all three buildings have carparks, with further public parking nearby.
— Request a Consultation
Find out what your pigmentation actually is
WhatsApp us a clear photo, or book an assessment at Tanjong Pagar, East Coast or Novena. A doctor confirms whether it is melasma, gauges pigment depth, and gives you a written, personalised plan — no obligation to proceed.
- Doctor-led assessment and recommendations
- Singapore clinics at Tanjong Pagar, East Coast and Novena
- Reviewed personally — not auto-routed
- Reply via WhatsApp, typically within one business day
Medical disclaimer
Information on this page is for general education only and does not replace a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. Suitability, downtime, risks, and results vary by individual. Please consult your doctor before deciding on any treatment. Read the full medical disclosure.
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