Hyperpigmentation
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What is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation refers to the darkening of the skin due to an excess production of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour. This can affect many parts of the face and body. The pigmentation of the face may called melasma. Hyperpigmentation can also affect areas such as the armpits, groin, or intimate regions.
What are the causes of hyperpigmentation?
There are many different factors that can cause hyperpigmentation or skin darkening. These include:
- Sun exposure – an important and common cause of pigmentation changes in the skin.
- Hormonal imbalances – can result in areas of hyperpigmentation and this is common during pregnancy.
- Certain medications – can be photosensitive resulting in hyperpigmentation.
- Genetics – Some individuals are more genetically predisposed to developing pigmentation changes.
- Post inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) – This is as a result of injury or conditions that cause an inflammatory response in the skin. Common conditions include acne or burns. PIH can also result following laser treatments or peels.
- Thyroid disease – These can result in hormonal imbalances resulting in pigmentation changes in the skin.
What are the different types of hyperpigmentation?
There are many different types of hyperpigmentation which include:
- Sunspots or age spots: Result from sun exposure and are common in areas frequently exposed to the sun.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: Develops after skin inflammation or injury, such as acne, cuts, or burns.
- Melasma: A specific type of hyperpigmentation characterized by brown or gray-brown patches, often on the face, which can be triggered by hormonal changes during pregnancy or with the use of birth control.
What are the treatment options for hyperpigmentation?
There are many different types of treatment for hyperpigmentation depending on the cause. During your consultation with our team, they will provide you with guidance on the possible options to reduce and prevent pigmentation changes in the skin. Treatment options for hyperpigmentation may include:
- Topical treatments: Skin-lightening agents like hydroquinone, retinoids, or botanical extracts can help fade dark spots.
- Chemical peels: Exfoliating acids can be applied to the skin to remove the top layer and reduce hyperpigmentation. This includes the Mesoestetic Dermalan peel offered by CLNQ for intimate lightening treatment.
- Laser therapy: Various laser and light-based treatments can target melanin and improve skin tone.
- Microdermabrasion: Mechanical exfoliation to remove the outer layer of skin and promote new skin growth.
- Sun protection: Regular use of sunscreen is crucial to prevent further darkening of hyperpigmented areas. This is the most important factor in preventing pigmentation changes.
Book your consultation with team to discuss your pigmentation concerns.
Hyperpigmentation treatment at CLNQ Manchester and Cheshire
Pigmentation is assessed and treated at our Manchester clinic at Deansgate Square and our Cheshire clinic on King Street in Knutsford. Every course starts with a face-to-face consultation, because the same brown patch can be sun damage, melasma, or post-inflammatory pigmentation left behind by acne — and those three respond to quite different treatments.
Your skin type matters as much as the diagnosis. Manchester is a diverse city and a large proportion of the pigmentation we see is in Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI, where some lasers and aggressive peels carry a real risk of making pigmentation worse rather than better. We assess skin type at consultation and choose accordingly, and we patch test where a treatment calls for it.
Patients travel to us from across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and the wider North West — Altrincham, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Sale, Stockport, Bolton and Warrington are all within roughly half an hour of one of the two clinics. Deansgate Square is a short walk from the Deansgate–Castlefield tram stop, and the Knutsford clinic sits on King Street with parking nearby.
CLNQ Manchester · 11 Owen Street, Deansgate Square, Manchester M15 4YB
CLNQ Cheshire · 49–51 King Street, Knutsford WA16 6DX
Call 0800 0584558 or book a consultation. A third CLNQ clinic opens at Battersea Reach in London in the first quarter of 2027.
Which hyperpigmentation treatment is right for your skin?
There is no single treatment for pigmentation. The right choice depends on how deep the pigment sits, what caused it, and your skin type. Most patients do best on a combination of an in-clinic treatment and a home regime, because pigmentation returns without sun protection whatever you have done in clinic.
- Cosmelan — a depigmentation mask applied in clinic and followed by a home programme. Suits stubborn epidermal pigmentation and melasma, and is one of the safer options in darker skin types because it does not rely on heat.
- Dermalan — a related in-clinic depigmenting programme, chosen where the pigmentation pattern and skin type suit it better than Cosmelan.
- Chemical peels — work on the surface layers and lift mild, superficial discolouration. Useful as a course rather than a one-off, and the strength is matched to your skin type.
- Microneedling — helps where pigmentation sits alongside acne scarring or uneven texture, by remodelling the skin rather than targeting pigment directly.
- Morpheus8 and laser resurfacing — for pigmentation combined with texture, laxity or sun damage. These are heat-based and are selected carefully by skin type.
- Skin brightening — our combined approach for overall tone rather than one discrete patch.
- HydraFacial — not a pigmentation treatment on its own, but useful maintenance between courses and for general brightness.
If your pigmentation is symmetrical across the cheeks, forehead or upper lip and worsens in summer or with hormones, read our page on melasma, which is treated differently. Prices are on our price list.
Hyperpigmentation: common questions
Can hyperpigmentation be cured permanently?
It can usually be cleared or substantially faded, but “permanent” is the wrong word for most people. The pigment cells that produced the patch are still there, and sun exposure, inflammation or hormonal change can set them off again. That is why every treatment plan we give includes daily sun protection and a home regime — without those, pigmentation reliably comes back.
How long does it take to see results?
Superficial sun-related pigmentation can start to lighten within a few weeks of starting treatment. Deeper or hormonal pigmentation such as melasma is slower and usually needs a programme run over three to six months. We would rather set that expectation at the start than have you disappointed at week four.
Is laser safe for darker skin tones?
It depends on the laser and the skin type. Heat-based treatments can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in Fitzpatrick IV to VI, which is the opposite of what you came in for. That does not rule laser out, but it does mean the assessment matters more than the machine. For many darker skin patients we start with a depigmenting programme such as Cosmelan rather than laser, and we test before we treat.
What is the difference between hyperpigmentation and melasma?
Melasma is one type of hyperpigmentation. It tends to be symmetrical, sits on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip, is driven by hormones as well as sun, and is more likely to recur. General hyperpigmentation covers everything else — sun spots, age spots, and the marks left after spots or injuries. They are separated at consultation because the treatment differs.
Will pigmentation come back after treatment?
It can, particularly melasma and particularly after a sunny holiday. Recurrence is not treatment failure; it is how pigment cells behave. Daily broad-spectrum SPF, sensible sun habits and a maintenance regime are what keep results. We will tell you what maintenance your particular pattern needs.
How much does hyperpigmentation treatment cost in Manchester?
It depends on which programme suits your skin and how many sessions are needed, so we quote after assessing you rather than over the phone. Our published price list covers the individual treatments, and you will have a written quote before starting anything.
Can I treat pigmentation with over-the-counter creams?
Some over-the-counter products containing niacinamide, azelaic acid or vitamin C help mild discolouration and are worth using alongside SPF. They rarely shift established or deeper pigmentation on their own. Be cautious with unregulated skin-lightening creams bought online — some contain high-strength steroids or mercury, which damage the skin and are illegal to sell in the UK.
Where can I have pigmentation treatment near me?
CLNQ treats pigmentation at Deansgate Square in Manchester and on King Street in Knutsford, Cheshire, with a third clinic opening at Battersea Reach in London in the first quarter of 2027. Book a consultation online or call 0800 0584558.
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