Too much sun. A breakout that left a mark. A patch of uneven tone that appeared during pregnancy and never fully left. No matter how your hyperpigmentation started, one foundational truth applies to all of it: hyperpigmentation is an inflammatory response.
This is the framework I have built my entire approach to pigmentation around, and it is the reason most people stay stuck treating dark spots the wrong way for years.
When your skin perceives a threat, whether that is UV radiation, the trauma of an active blemish, heat, friction, or hormonal fluctuation, it activates melanocytes as a protective mechanism. Those melanocytes increase melanin production in response to the inflammatory signal. The dark spot, the patch, the uneven tone: these are not the problem. They are the visible result of an inflammatory process happening beneath the surface.
This means that treating hyperpigmentation effectively is not just about applying a brightening serum to what you can see. It means understanding and addressing the type of inflammation driving your specific pigmentation, because different triggers require different approaches. Using the wrong protocol — or the right ingredients in the wrong sequence — can actually worsen the very condition you are trying to treat.
This guide walks you through the three primary types of hyperpigmentation, how each one forms, what actually works to treat it, and the specific products I recommend for each. I have also included a section on LED therapy and a comprehensive ingredient guide, because treating hyperpigmentation well requires more than a single serum.
What Is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanocytes in the skin overproduce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color. These patches of discoloration can appear brown, tan, pink, gray, black, or even purple depending on your skin tone and the depth of the pigmentation. They most commonly develop on sun-exposed areas: the face, neck, chest, arms, and the backs of the hands.
Hyperpigmentation affects an estimated 1 in 3 adults worldwide, and in women aged 18 to 65 living in sun-rich regions, the prevalence of melasma alone climbs above 30%. Despite how common it is, most people waste months or years using products that address the surface without touching the root cause.
The most important thing to understand before beginning treatment: not all hyperpigmentation is the same, and what effectively treats one type can make another type significantly worse. Identifying which type you have is the essential first step.
The Inflammation Connection: Why This Matters for Every Type
Inflammatory cytokines like prostaglandins and leukotrienes activate melanocytes, which is why any source of irritation, from acne to eczema to aggressive skincare products, can leave behind dark marks. This is also why certain well-intentioned brightening treatments backfire: if the formula is too irritating for your skin, it creates more inflammation, which stimulates more melanin, which creates more pigmentation. More aggression rarely produces better results.
The approach that produces lasting results addresses inflammation first, correction second, and prevention as an ongoing daily practice. That sequence matters as much as the products themselves.
Type 1: Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
What It Is
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation develops after the skin experiences inflammation or trauma. Acne, eczema, cuts, burns, rashes, friction, and over-aggressive skincare products can all trigger it. The immune response activates melanocytes in the affected area, which continue producing excess melanin even after the original inflammation has resolved.
PIH appears as brown, purple, or red marks depending on skin tone and the depth of the discoloration. It tends to darken with sun exposure and heat, and can persist for months or years without targeted treatment. It is more pronounced and longer-lasting in medium to deeper skin tones because melanocytes in these skin types are more reactive to inflammatory signals.
What Drives It
The single most important thing to understand about PIH is that the dark mark is not the active problem. The inflammation that created it may be resolved, but the melanocytes were activated and they need to be calmed and regulated before the pigment can fully fade. Treating only the surface without supporting the skin's healing environment is why PIH is so stubborn for so many people.
How to Treat It
Effective PIH treatment focuses on four simultaneous goals: accelerating tissue healing to close the inflammatory wound, calming residual inflammation to prevent further melanocyte activation, gently increasing cell turnover to bring pigmented cells to the surface and shed them, and inhibiting melanin production to prevent the cycle from continuing.
Growth factor and exosome-based serums are among the most effective tools for PIH because they address the healing component directly. When the skin heals fully and rapidly, the window for melanin overproduction closes faster.
Powered by NeoGenesis's patented S²RM technology (stem cell released molecules), this mist accelerates tissue healing, reduces inflammation, and supports cellular repair at a depth that topical serums alone cannot reach. For PIH specifically, using a healing growth factor product in the days and weeks immediately following an active blemish reduces the intensity of the dark mark that forms by supporting full, rapid skin repair before the melanocyte response can entrench itself. Spray directly onto clean skin morning and evening.
Face Reality GlowTone Corrective Serum
A comprehensive multi-brightener featuring the Hexa-Bright Complex: tranexamic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid, alpha-arbutin, acetyl glucosamine, and two forms of stable vitamin C, all working through complementary pathways to interrupt pigmentation at multiple stages simultaneously. Designed specifically for post-acne hyperpigmentation and appropriate for all skin tones including deeper complexions. Apply in the morning after your healing serum.
Senté Cysteamine HSA Pigment & Tone Correcting Mask
Applied as a morning pretreat for 15 minutes before cleansing, cysteamine addresses PIH through five simultaneous mechanisms, more than any other single brightening ingredient. Its anti-inflammatory pathway means it actively calms the melanocyte activation driving the pigmentation rather than simply bleaching what is visible at the surface. Proven in clinical trials to be equally effective as hydroquinone, with a safety profile appropriate for long-term use. Use daily for 12 to 16 weeks, then twice per week for maintenance. For a complete guide to cysteamine and how it works, read The Complete Guide to Cysteamine.
Type 2: Melasma
What It Is
Melasma presents as symmetrical brown or grayish patches most commonly on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, and chin. It is one of the most challenging forms of hyperpigmentation to treat because it is driven by multiple intersecting factors: hormones, chronic inflammation, heat, and UV exposure, often simultaneously.
Estrogen and progesterone make melanocytes more sensitive to UV, which is why pregnancy, oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy are the most common melasma triggers — and why melasma is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy.
What makes melasma particularly difficult is that it sits in a layer of the skin that exfoliating-only approaches cannot reach. It is also exquisitely sensitive to heat: any treatment that generates warmth in the skin can worsen melasma, which is why certain in-office treatments and heat-generating devices require extreme caution for this condition.
What Drives It
The hormonal component of melasma makes melanocytes hyperreactive. They respond to UV, heat, and inflammation more aggressively than normal, which is why melasma tends to worsen in summer, after hot showers, after vigorous exercise, and after anything that flushes the face. Controlling the inflammatory and heat-driven triggers while simultaneously inhibiting melanin production is what produces lasting improvement.
A landmark study followed 200 pregnant women and found that those who applied broad-spectrum sunscreen daily had a melasma incidence of just 2.7%, compared with much higher rates in unprotected controls. Sunscreen alone was enough to dramatically reduce hormonal hyperpigmentation. This underscores how central UV protection is to every melasma treatment protocol.
How to Treat It
Melasma requires the most consistent, multi-pronged approach of all three types. Gentle is not optional, it is mandatory. Anything that creates irritation, heat, or inflammation will trigger more melanin production regardless of what brightening actives are in the formula.
Hydrinity Restorative HA Serum
This is the foundation of our melasma protocol. Its patented supercharged hyaluronic acid technology reduces inflammation at the cellular level, strengthens the barrier, and calms the heat-triggered pigment activity that keeps melasma cycling. A calmer skin environment is what makes every other brightening product work more effectively. When the skin is settled and well-supported, the corrective steps that follow produce more consistent, longer-lasting results.
Hydrinity Vivid Brightening Serum
A comprehensive brightening serum combining tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and next-generation pigment inhibitors designed specifically for melasma-prone skin. Tranexamic acid addresses the UV-induced release of arachidonic acid that activates melanocytes, making it one of the most targeted ingredients for the hormonal and UV-driven components of melasma. Apply in the morning over the Restorative HA Serum.
Senté Cysteamine HSA Pigment & Tone Correcting Mask
Applied as a 15-minute morning pretreat before cleansing. For melasma specifically, cysteamine's five-pathway brightening mechanism combined with HSA's cellular repair support makes it the most comprehensive topical brightening tool available for this condition. It works through an anti-inflammatory mechanism rather than a bleaching mechanism, which is critically important for melasma because irritation worsens it. Use daily for 12 to 16 weeks, then twice per week for maintenance.
Type 3: Sun Damage (Solar Lentigines and Dyschromia)
What It Is
Sun-induced hyperpigmentation accumulates gradually over years of UV exposure and most commonly appears on the face, chest, arms, and the backs of the hands. Solar lentigines (sun spots, age spots, liver spots) are flat, well-defined brown spots. Dyschromia refers to more generalized uneven tone and patchiness from cumulative UV exposure across larger areas.
Unlike PIH or melasma, which are triggered by specific events or hormonal factors, sun damage is the result of the skin's ongoing protective response to UV radiation over decades. The melanocytes in heavily sun-exposed areas become permanently more active, which is why these spots tend to deepen with age rather than fade naturally.
What Drives It
UV radiation is the single most important driver of all three types of hyperpigmentation, but it is the primary and often only driver of solar lentigines. UV light directly stimulates tyrosinase and damages DNA inside melanocytes, prompting them to release more pigment as a protective response. For existing sun spots, the approach combines cell turnover acceleration to bring pigmented cells to the surface, tyrosinase inhibition to suppress continued melanin overproduction, and collagen support to address the structural skin damage that accumulates alongside the pigmentation.
How to Treat It
Sun damage treatment requires the longest timeline of the three types and the most comprehensive approach because it typically involves both surface pigmentation and deeper structural changes. Combining growth factor healing support, retinoid-driven cell renewal, and cysteamine for multi-pathway brightening addresses the full picture.
Plated Skin Science Intense Serum
Powered by lab-grown platelet-derived exosomes, this serum works at a cellular level to repair UV-damaged skin, reduce inflammation, improve texture, and accelerate the fading of existing pigmentation. For skin with significant cumulative sun damage, the healing and repair support of a growth factor product allows the corrective actives that follow to work in a more receptive environment.
A retinol cream combining cell-renewing retinol with Senté's patented HSA technology, which restores the skin's receptor function for growth factors and supports cellular repair alongside the retinol's action. Retinol accelerates cell turnover, bringing pigmented surface cells to the surface and shedding them while stimulating new collagen production. The HSA ensures the skin's environment supports that renewal process rather than simply being pushed through it. Use in the evening as your corrective treatment step.
Senté Cysteamine HSA Pigment & Tone Correcting Mask
For dyschromia and generalized sun damage, cysteamine's comprehensive five-pathway approach addresses the deeply established melanocyte overactivity that drives age spots and uneven tone. Applied as a morning pretreat for 15 minutes before cleansing, it layers powerfully with the retinol evening treatment to provide correction from both sides of the clock. Daily for 12 to 16 weeks, then twice per week for maintenance. I use this protocol personally on my face, neck, arms, and hands and am already seeing meaningful results within the first two weeks.
LED Therapy: Healing, Collagen Support, and Pigmentation Prevention
LED light therapy is not a brightening treatment in the conventional sense. It does not bleach or exfoliate pigment. What it does is address the biological conditions that allow hyperpigmentation to form and persist: inflammation, impaired cellular repair, collagen degradation, and poor circulation.
Red and near-infrared wavelengths reduce the inflammation that drives melanocyte activation, improve circulation and oxygenation in the skin, stimulate collagen and elastin production to address the structural damage that accumulates alongside pigmentation, and support cellular repair to accelerate the turnover of pigmented cells.
For sun-damaged skin specifically, the combination of topical correctives and regular LED therapy is genuinely synergistic. The LED addresses the deeper structural repair and anti-inflammatory support while your brightening products work on the pigment itself.
A critical note for anyone treating melasma: heat is one of the most significant melasma triggers. Any LED device that heats the skin is contraindicated for melasma. If you are treating hormonal pigmentation, you must use a device that delivers therapeutic light without thermal energy.
The LightStim ELIPSA is our recommended LED device for hyperpigmentation because it delivers powerful red and near-infrared light without heating the skin. This makes it safe for all three types of hyperpigmentation, including melasma, where thermal devices can cause significant worsening. Used five times per week alongside your brightening skincare routine, it reduces inflammation, supports collagen repair, and enhances the overall results of your pigment-correcting protocol. It is particularly valuable for clients with sun damage who want to address both the pigmentation and the structural aging that comes with it.
The Best Ingredients for Hyperpigmentation
These are the ingredients with the strongest evidence base for treating hyperpigmentation across all three types. The most effective protocols combine ingredients that work through complementary rather than redundant mechanisms.
Cysteamine — Five-pathway pigmentation inhibition, equally effective as hydroquinone in clinical trials. Safe for all skin tones, long-term use appropriate.
Tranexamic acid — Blocks UV-induced melanocyte activation. Particularly effective for melasma and PIH.
Niacinamide — Inhibits the transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to skin cells, reducing surface pigmentation. Anti-inflammatory and barrier-supportive.
Azelaic acid — Tyrosinase inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action. Safe across all skin tones including deeper complexions.
Vitamin C — Antioxidant tyrosinase inhibitor that also protects against UV-induced free radical damage. Most effective in stable, properly formulated serums.
Alpha arbutin — Tyrosinase inhibitor derived from bearberry. Gentler than hydroquinone with comparable brightening action at appropriate concentrations.
Mandelic acid — Exfoliating AHA with tyrosinase-inhibiting properties. Safe for all skin tones and appropriate for acne-related PIH.
Retinoids — Accelerate cell turnover to bring pigmented cells to the surface and shed them while stimulating collagen. Most appropriate for sun damage and general dyschromia.
Growth factors and exosomes — Support tissue healing and cellular repair. Most impactful for PIH and post-procedure pigmentation where accelerating skin recovery reduces the melanin response.
Licorice root, kojic acid, and glutathione — Botanical and antioxidant brighteners that complement the above actives through additional tyrosinase-inhibiting and melanin-dispersing mechanisms.
A Note on Hydroquinone
While hydroquinone has been used as a gold standard for hyperpigmentation for decades, it is not something we recommend for long-term use. It works as a bleaching agent rather than an inflammation-addressing corrective, cannot reach the deeper inflammatory drivers of melasma and PIH, and carries a risk of paradoxical darkening (exogenous ochronosis) with prolonged use. It is particularly inadvisable for deeper skin tones where the risk of causing further discoloration is most significant.
Cysteamine has been proven in clinical trials to be equally effective as hydroquinone for melasma, and it addresses pigmentation through five mechanisms simultaneously without the associated risks. For anyone currently on long-term hydroquinone or looking for a safer long-term approach, cysteamine is the most clinically validated alternative.
Preventing Hyperpigmentation: The Daily Non-Negotiables
Treatment and prevention must happen simultaneously. Without prevention, every brightening step in your routine is working against ongoing UV-triggered melanin production.
Daily broad-spectrum mineral SPF is the single most important step in any hyperpigmentation routine. Apply every morning regardless of weather, and reapply when spending extended time outdoors. Choose a tinted mineral SPF with iron oxides for added visible light protection, particularly for melasma.
Morning antioxidant support with vitamin C or a comprehensive antioxidant serum neutralizes the UV-generated free radicals that trigger melanin overproduction even when sunscreen is applied correctly.
Barrier support through consistent moisturization reduces the inflammatory sensitivity that makes skin more reactive to pigmentation triggers. A well-supported barrier is more resilient to the UV, heat, and environmental stressors that activate melanocytes.
Avoid picking and squeezing. Every time you pick at a blemish, you create trauma and inflammation that directly activates melanocytes. This is one of the most controllable contributors to PIH and one of the most consistently overlooked.
Manage heat exposure. For melasma specifically, heat is an independent trigger. Cool rinses after cleansing, avoiding prolonged hot shower exposure on the face, and using a non-heating LED device all reduce heat-driven melanocyte activation.
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Most treatments take 8 to 16 weeks to show meaningful results. Patience and consistency matter more than product strength.
For PIH from recent breakouts: visible improvement typically begins within four to six weeks of consistent treatment. Full resolution depending on the depth of the mark takes eight to twelve weeks.
For melasma: visible improvement in intensity and coverage typically begins within four to six weeks. Significant reduction takes three to six months of consistent daily treatment and daily SPF. Maintenance is ongoing because hormonal triggers do not resolve.
For sun damage: existing solar lentigines typically begin to fade meaningfully within six to eight weeks. Generalized dyschromia from years of cumulative sun exposure requires three to six months of consistent treatment. Improvement continues beyond that with sustained maintenance.
Final Thoughts
Hyperpigmentation is one of the most common skincare concerns and one of the most misunderstood. The approach that produces lasting results is not more aggressive treatment. It is inflammation-intelligent treatment: understanding what is driving your specific pigmentation, addressing the root cause, and building a routine that corrects what has already formed while preventing new melanin activation from the ground up.
If you would like help identifying your pigmentation type and building a personalized protocol, our estheticians are here. Start a complimentary consultation.
Hyperpigmentation & Dark Spots – FAQ
What is hyperpigmentation and what causes it?
Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanocytes in the skin overproduce melanin, creating patches or spots that appear darker than the surrounding skin. It can appear brown, black, gray, red, or pink depending on skin tone and the depth of the pigmentation. The most common triggers are UV exposure, inflammation from acne or skin injury, hormonal fluctuations (particularly estrogen and progesterone changes from pregnancy or birth control), heat, friction, and certain medications. At its core, all hyperpigmentation is an inflammatory response: the skin activates melanocytes as a protective mechanism when it detects a threat, and the resulting dark spot is the visible outcome of that process.
What are the different types of hyperpigmentation?
The three primary types are post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), melasma, and sun damage (solar lentigines and dyschromia). PIH develops after skin inflammation or trauma — acne, eczema, cuts, or aggressive products. Melasma presents as symmetrical brown or gray patches driven by hormones, heat, and UV. Solar lentigines are flat brown spots from cumulative UV exposure, most commonly on the face, chest, arms, and hands. Each type requires a different treatment approach. Using the protocol for one type on another can make the condition worse, not better, which is why correctly identifying your type is the essential first step.
Why do my dark spots keep coming back even when I treat them?
The most common reason is an unaddressed driver: UV exposure, ongoing inflammation, or hormonal factors that continue stimulating new melanin production. Brightening serums fade existing pigment but cannot prevent new pigment from forming if the underlying trigger is still active. This is why daily SPF is non-negotiable in any pigmentation routine. The second most common reason is applying irritating brightening products that trigger inflammation and create new pigmentation at the same time they are fading existing spots. The treatment needs to be as gentle as it is corrective.
What is the most effective ingredient for hyperpigmentation?
No single ingredient is most effective for all types, but cysteamine is the most comprehensive single brightening ingredient available because it works through five simultaneous mechanisms, more than any other topical brightener. Tranexamic acid is particularly effective for melasma and PIH because it blocks the UV-induced release of the signal that activates melanocytes. Niacinamide inhibits the transfer of melanin to skin cells and is appropriate for all skin tones. Azelaic acid is gentle, anti-inflammatory, and safe for all skin tones including deeper complexions. The most effective protocols combine two or more of these ingredients working through complementary pathways.
Can hyperpigmentation go away completely?
Yes, for most types. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from acne or injury typically fades completely with consistent treatment and daily SPF over two to four months. Solar lentigines (sun spots) generally respond well to treatment and can clear significantly, though the underlying predisposition to form them remains. Melasma is the most persistent type and the most prone to recurrence, particularly when hormonal triggers are ongoing. It can improve significantly and become manageable, but because the hormonal driver does not fully resolve in most cases, maintenance is ongoing. Stopping treatment and sun protection is the most reliable way to bring melasma back.
What causes hyperpigmentation to get worse?
UV exposure is the most powerful worsening factor for all three types. Heat is particularly significant for melasma and can worsen it independently of UV. Picking at blemishes or wounds creates additional trauma and inflammation that triggers further melanin production. Using irritating skincare products stimulates the very inflammatory cascade that drives pigmentation. Hormonal changes from pregnancy, birth control changes, or menopause can activate melasma in skin that was previously stable. Certain medications including some antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, and hormonal contraceptives can also trigger or worsen hyperpigmentation.
What makes hyperpigmentation fade faster?
Consistency with a targeted protocol matters more than using aggressive treatments. The combination of a cysteamine morning pretreat, a multi-pathway brightening serum, and daily mineral SPF creates the most comprehensive approach to fading existing pigment and preventing new formation simultaneously. Using a growth factor or exosome serum alongside brighteners accelerates healing and reduces the inflammatory window that drives new pigment. LED therapy with a non-heating device reduces inflammation and supports cellular repair, amplifying the results of topical products. Stopping all unnecessary actives that may be causing irritation is often the single most impactful change people make.
Is hyperpigmentation worse on darker skin tones?
Yes, significantly. Melanocytes in medium to deeper skin tones are more reactive to inflammatory signals, which means any source of irritation — from acne to aggressive skincare products — produces a more pronounced and longer-lasting pigmentation response. PIH in particular is more common, more intense, and slower to fade in skin tones IV through VI. This is why ingredient choice is especially critical for deeper skin tones: anything that creates irritation risks creating additional pigmentation. Cysteamine, azelaic acid, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide are the most appropriate brightening ingredients for deeper skin tones because their mechanisms are gentle and do not carry the inflammatory risk of stronger acids or hydroquinone.
Is hydroquinone safe for treating hyperpigmentation?
Hydroquinone is effective but not appropriate for long-term use, and it carries meaningful risks that make us prefer other options. With prolonged use it can cause exogenous ochronosis, a paradoxical blue-black darkening of the skin. It works as a bleaching agent rather than addressing the inflammatory driver of pigmentation, which means it can suppress the visible mark without touching the root cause. It is particularly inadvisable for deeper skin tones where the risk of further discoloration with continued use is most significant. Cysteamine has been proven in clinical trials to be equally effective as hydroquinone for melasma without these concerns, and is the most clinically validated alternative for clients who want long-term brightening support.
Should I use different products for different types of hyperpigmentation?
Yes. The treatment needs to match the driver. For PIH, the priority is accelerating healing and calming the post-inflammatory melanocyte response while gently exfoliating pigmented cells. For melasma, the priority is anti-inflammatory support, hormonal pigment suppression, and religious sun and heat protection. For sun damage, the priority is tyrosinase inhibition, cell turnover acceleration, and structural collagen repair alongside brightening. That said, several ingredients work across all three types: cysteamine, tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and daily mineral SPF with iron oxides are appropriate foundational elements regardless of type.
Can I use multiple brightening ingredients at the same time?
Yes, and combining ingredients that work through complementary mechanisms is more effective than any single ingredient alone. Vitamin C and niacinamide can be used together in the morning. Tranexamic acid pairs with azelaic acid. Cysteamine as a morning pretreat works alongside any evening brightening or retinoid protocol. The main caution is avoiding too many exfoliating actives simultaneously, which creates the irritation that worsens pigmentation. If your skin is reactive or sensitive, add one new ingredient at a time and allow two to three weeks to assess tolerance before adding another.
How important is sunscreen for treating hyperpigmentation?
It is the single most important step in any pigmentation routine, more impactful than any brightening product. UV exposure directly activates the enzyme that produces melanin and continuously drives new pigmentation formation. Without daily SPF, every brightening step you take is working against ongoing UV-triggered melanin production. Research following pregnant women found that daily SPF use alone reduced melasma incidence to just 2.7%, compared with much higher rates in unprotected controls. Choose a broad-spectrum mineral SPF with iron oxides for added visible light protection — particularly important for melasma where visible light as well as UV contributes to darkening.
When should I see a dermatologist about hyperpigmentation?
If your hyperpigmentation is not improving, the first step is consulting a licensed esthetician who can evaluate your routine, identify what may not be working, and build a professional-strength protocol specific to your skin type and pigmentation. Many people see meaningful progress within three to four months once the right combination of ingredients is in place. If you are already working with a professional and using a targeted pro-strength skincare routine consistently for three to four months without adequate response, that is the point to bring a dermatologist into the conversation. See a dermatologist sooner if the discoloration is new, changing, or irregularly shaped, if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as itching, bleeding, or changes in texture, or if you suspect a medical condition may be contributing. Certain conditions including Addison's disease and hemochromatosis can cause hyperpigmentation and require medical evaluation. Persistent melasma that does not respond to topical treatment may benefit from in-office procedures in combination with a topical protocol. Always confirm with your healthcare provider if you are taking medications that may be contributing to pigmentation changes.
What is the role of LED therapy in treating hyperpigmentation?
LED therapy does not bleach or exfoliate pigment directly. What it does is address the biological conditions that allow hyperpigmentation to form and persist: it reduces the inflammation that drives melanocyte activation, improves circulation and oxygenation, stimulates collagen production to address the structural damage that accumulates alongside pigmentation, and supports cellular repair to accelerate the turnover of pigmented cells. For sun-damaged skin, combining topical brighteners with regular LED therapy produces synergistic results. For melasma, it is critical to use only a non-heating LED device as heat is one of the most significant melasma triggers and thermal devices can cause significant worsening. The LightStim ELIPSA is our recommended device because it delivers therapeutic red and near-infrared wavelengths without heating the skin.
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Author
Jeana LeClerc
Jeana LeClerc is a licensed esthetician, Certified Acne Specialist, and the founder and CEO of Art of Skin Care. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in regenerative, science-backed skincare as a holistic alternative to invasive anti-aging treatments. Jeana is passionate about helping clients achieve lasting skin transformation through personalized routines, professional-strength products, and expert guidance.
