Melasma Treatment in Islamabad

Melasma treatment in Islamabad is a medical treatment plan that fades the brown or grey-brown patches of melasma on the cheeks, forehead, nose and upper lip using strict sun protection, prescription lightening creams, chemical peels and low-energy laser toning. Melasma cannot be permanently cured, but most patients see 50–80% lightening in 3–6 months with a combined plan, and maintenance keeps it under control. Treatment starts from PKR 3,999 per session.

At Dermalase, A-103 Main Sumbal Road, F-10/1 Islamabad, melasma is diagnosed and treated by Dr. Shumaila Khan, an aesthetic physician with a Diploma in Dermatology from Cardiff (Wales, UK) and board certification from the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine (AAAM), working with her clinical team since 2011.

Melasma Treatment Quick Facts

What Is Melasma?

Melasma is a chronic skin condition in which overactive pigment cells (melanocytes) produce excess melanin, causing symmetrical brown, grey-brown or bluish-grey patches on sun-exposed areas of the face. It is not dangerous or contagious, but it is persistent, worsens with sun and heat, and often returns after treatment.

In Pakistan, melasma is commonly called “chaiyyan” or “jhaiyan”, and during pregnancy it is known as chloasma or the “mask of pregnancy”.

Is Melasma Curable?

Melasma is controllable, not permanently curable. Treatment can lighten patches significantly, often close to normal skin tone, but the tendency to develop melasma remains. Sun exposure, heat or hormonal changes can bring it back, which is why every melasma plan includes a maintenance phase.

What Causes Melasma?

Melasma develops when several triggers act on genetically sensitive skin:

• Ultraviolet (UV) light: the strongest trigger; even short daily exposure stimulates melanocytes.
• Visible light: blue light from the sun (and to a lesser degree, screens) triggers pigment in darker skin types, which ordinary sunscreens do not block.
• Heat: cooking over a stove, hot climates and saunas worsen melasma even without sun.
• Hormones: pregnancy, oral contraceptive pills and hormone therapy.
• Genetics: about half of patients have a family member with melasma.
• Thyroid disorders: linked with higher melasma risk.
• Irritating products: harsh cosmetics, scented products and some medicines that increase light sensitivity.

Why Melasma Is So Common in Pakistan

Pakistani skin is mostly Fitzpatrick type III–V, which has more active melanocytes. Combined with strong sun, long hot summers and daily kitchen heat, this makes melasma one of the most common reasons women in Islamabad and Rawalpindi visit a skin clinic.

Types of Melasma

By Depth

By Pattern

• Centrofacial: forehead, cheeks, nose, upper lip and chin; the most common pattern
• Malar: cheeks and nose
• Mandibular: along the jawline
• Extrafacial: forearms, neck and chest, less common

How Is Melasma Diagnosed?

Dr. Shumaila diagnoses melasma through:

1. Clinical examination: pattern, colour and symmetry of the patches.
2. Wood’s lamp examination: a UV lamp that shows whether pigment is mainly epidermal or dermal, which decides the treatment.
3. Dermoscopy: magnified view of pigment and blood vessels in the patch.
4. History: pregnancy, contraceptive pills, thyroid issues, family history, sun and heat exposure, and creams used before.
5. MASI scoring: the Melasma Area and Severity Index measures severity at the start and tracks improvement at every follow-up.

Melasma vs Other Pigmentation

Many dark patches are not melasma, and the wrong diagnosis leads to the wrong treatment.

See our hyperpigmentation treatment page for non-melasma pigmentation.

Melasma Treatment Options at Dermalase

Melasma responds best to a combined plan. No single cream or laser works alone.

1. Sun and Visible-Light Protection (Foundation of Treatment)

Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30–50 is the most important melasma treatment. For Pakistani skin, a tinted sunscreen with iron oxides is recommended, because iron oxides block visible light that ordinary sunscreens miss. Reapply every 2–3 hours outdoors and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

2. Prescription Topical Treatment

Topical creams reduce melanin production and are prescribed after diagnosis:

• Hydroquinone (2–4%): the most studied lightening agent, used in short, supervised courses to avoid side effects such as exogenous ochronosis (blue-black darkening from long-term misuse).
• Triple combination cream: hydroquinone, tretinoin and a mild steroid, used for a limited period only under medical supervision.
• Non-hydroquinone agents: azelaic acid, tranexamic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, cysteamine, thiamidol, arbutin and vitamin C, used for maintenance and sensitive skin.

3. Oral Tranexamic Acid

Low-dose oral tranexamic acid is prescribed for moderate to stubborn melasma after screening. It reduces pigment production and the blood-vessel component of melasma. It is not given to people with a history of blood clots, clotting disorders, or during pregnancy.

4. Chemical Peels

Superficial chemical peels remove pigmented cells from the upper skin layer and help topical creams work better. Common melasma peels include glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid and Jessner’s peel, plus professional depigmentation peels such as Cosmelan. Only superficial peels are used, because deep peels can worsen melasma on brown skin. See chemical skin peels.

5. Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser Toning (RevLite)

Low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser toning breaks melanin into fine particles that the body clears, without heating the skin enough to trigger rebound pigmentation. Dermalase uses the Cynosure RevLite Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, which is suitable for Pakistani skin types. Sessions are spaced 1–2 weeks apart for a short course.

6. PICO Laser

Picosecond lasers deliver energy in trillionths of a second, shattering pigment with less heat than older lasers. Low-energy PICO toning treats mixed melasma with lower risk of rebound. See PICO laser in Islamabad.

7. SylfirmX (Pulsed-Wave RF Microneedling)

SylfirmX is a radiofrequency microneedling device with a pulsed-wave mode designed for melasma. It targets the abnormal blood vessels and damaged basement membrane under melasma patches, which supports longer-lasting results, especially in mixed and stubborn melasma.

8. Microneedling With Tranexamic Acid

Microneedling creates micro-channels that deliver tranexamic acid directly into the skin. It is useful for melasma that does not respond to creams alone.

9. HydraFacial and Skin Boosters (Supportive)

HydraFacial with brightening serums and skin boosters improve skin barrier, hydration and glow during a melasma course. They support results but do not treat melasma on their own.

Melasma Treatment Plan by Type

What Not to Do: Treatments That Worsen Melasma

Steroid “Formula” Creams

Unregulated whitening and “formula” creams sold in Pakistan often contain strong steroids, high-dose hydroquinone or mercury. They lighten skin quickly at first, then cause rebound darkening, redness, thin skin, acne, visible veins and steroid-induced rosacea. Stopping them suddenly often makes pigmentation worse. If you have used such creams, tell your doctor, as treatment must start with safely repairing the skin.

Aggressive Lasers and IPL

High-energy lasers, ablative resurfacing and IPL (intense pulsed light) heat the skin and can trigger rebound melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on brown skin. Melasma lasers must be used at low energy by a trained doctor.

Home Remedies and Bleaching

Lemon, bleach creams, baking soda and harsh scrubs irritate the skin and make melasma darker.

Melasma During Pregnancy

Melasma that appears in pregnancy (chloasma) often fades partly within a year after delivery. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, hydroquinone, retinoids, oral tranexamic acid and lasers are avoided. Treatment focuses on tinted sunscreen and pregnancy-safe azelaic acid. A full plan begins after delivery and breastfeeding.

Melasma in Men

About 1 in 10 melasma patients is male. In men, melasma is often linked to sun exposure from outdoor work, genetics and heat. Treatment is the same, with extra focus on daily sunscreen, which many men skip.

Melasma and Islamabad’s Climate

Islamabad’s long summers (April–September) bring intense UV and heat, the two strongest melasma triggers. Melasma often darkens in summer and lightens in winter. The best time to start procedures such as peels and laser toning is October to February, when UV is lower, so the skin can clear pigment before summer. Sun protection must continue year-round, including cloudy and winter days.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Melasma Treatment?

• Women and men with brown or grey-brown facial patches
• Patients whose melasma has not improved with over-the-counter creams
• Patients with rebound pigmentation after formula creams (after skin repair)
• Patients ready to follow daily sun protection and maintenance

Melasma Treatment Procedure at Dermalase

Step 1: Diagnosis and Assessment

Dr. Shumaila examines the patches, performs a Wood’s lamp check, reviews your history and previous creams, and records your MASI score and baseline photos.

Step 2: Skin Preparation (2–4 Weeks)

You begin sunscreen and a prescribed cream to calm the skin and suppress pigment before procedures. Skin damaged by steroid creams is repaired first.

Step 3: In-Clinic Sessions

Peels, laser toning or SylfirmX are performed based on your melasma type. Most sessions take 20–45 minutes, with little or no downtime.

Step 4: Progress Review

MASI score and photos are compared every 4–6 weeks, and the plan is adjusted.

Step 5: Maintenance

Once patches fade, you move to a maintenance routine to prevent relapse.

Melasma Treatment Sessions and Timeline

Aftercare After Melasma Procedures

• Apply tinted SPF 30–50 every morning and reapply every 2–3 hours outdoors
• Avoid sun, heat, steam, sauna and cooking over open flame for 48 hours
• Use a gentle cleanser and plain moisturiser
• Pause retinol, scrubs and acids for 3–5 days after peels or laser
• Do not pick or rub peeling skin
• Continue your prescribed cream as advised

How to Prevent Melasma From Coming Back

• Wear tinted, iron-oxide sunscreen every day, all year
• Use physical protection: wide-brimmed hats, umbrellas and shade
• Reduce heat exposure; keep distance from stoves and ovens
• Continue a maintenance cream such as azelaic acid or tranexamic acid
• Avoid formula creams and unprescribed whitening products
• Book a maintenance review every 3–6 months
• Discuss hormonal triggers such as contraceptive pills with your doctor

Side Effects of Melasma Treatment

These risks are minimised when treatment is supervised by a doctor and settings are matched to your skin type.

Melasma Treatment Price in Islamabad

Melasma treatment Price in Islamabad starts from PKR 3,999 per session. Your exact plan and full course cost are confirmed after a free skin assessment.

What Does Melasma Treatment Cost Depend On?

• Melasma type and depth: dermal and mixed melasma need more sessions than epidermal melasma.
• Treatment method: laser and SylfirmX cost more than peels and topical-only plans.
• Number of sessions: most patients need 4–8 sessions.
• Area treated: cheeks only cost less than full face or face with neck.
• Previous cream damage: skin harmed by steroid creams needs repair first.
• Maintenance: sunscreen, creams and occasional sessions after the active course.
• Doctor’s expertise: doctor-led diagnosis and laser settings reduce the risk of rebound pigmentation.

Why Choose Dr. Shumaila Khan for Melasma Treatment in Islamabad?

• Qualified doctor: Diploma in Dermatology (Cardiff, Wales, UK) and AAAM board certification
• Experience: treating pigmentation and laser patients since 2011, 600+ verified Google reviews
• Proper diagnosis: Wood’s lamp assessment and MASI scoring before any treatment
• Lasers safe for brown skin: RevLite Q-switched Nd:YAG, PICO laser and SylfirmX
• No formula creams: only evidence-based, prescribed treatment
• Measured progress: photos and MASI scores at every review
• Maintenance plan: long-term control, not just short-term fading
• Location: F-10/1 Islamabad, easy access from Rawalpindi, DHA, Bahria Town and G-sectors

Book Your Melasma Treatment in Islamabad

Melasma does not fade with formula creams or guesswork. It needs the right diagnosis and a plan built for your skin. Book your free skin assessment with Dr. Shumaila Khan at Dermalase. Your melasma type will be checked, your patches measured, and you will receive a clear treatment and maintenance plan with the full cost explained upfront.

📍 Dermalase by Dr. Shumaila Khan
A-103, Main Sumbal Road, F-10/1, Islamabad
🕐 Monday – Saturday
💬 WhatsApp: (+92) 303 555 8444

Frequently Asked Questions