Cosmelan and Dermamelan are both products that can treat all types of pigmentation, such as melasma, post-inflammatory pigmentation, solar and senile lentigo (age spots) and freckles.

It is a peel procedure to reduce surface pigment followed by a special skincare regime to reduce pigment over three-six months. This treats the source of pigment by reducing melanin overproduction at the melanocyte. A large part of the procedure is maintaining the depigmentation with an at-home care pack.

Whether it’s the skin’s ageing caused by continuous sun exposure, facial blemishes from excessive pigmentation or other more general imperfections caused by melanin, dark blemishes are more and more commonplace problems today.

Dermamelan works similarly to Cosmelan but with a stronger corrective and regulating action as it contains higher amounts of the active ingredients found in Cosmelan. Your therapist can help you decide whether a Cosmelan or Dermamelan treatment is more suitable for your type of skin.

• Melasma
• Sunspots
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
• Lentigos
• Freckles
• Scarring and discolouration after acne
• Improvement in skin tone and texture
• Overall brightening and refining the skin.

• Avoid sun and tanning beds for four weeks prior to treatment.
• Stop using three to seven days before treatment: an exfoliant, retinol (vitamin A cream), hormone cream and hydroquinone.
• If you suffer from an active cold sore, you should not be treated and should wait until the cold sore is completely healed.
• Botox and/or filler treatments may be performed up to two weeks prior to treatment.
• In case of symptoms such as fever or flu, you will not be treated.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the treatment cannot be performed.

After an in-depth consultation, a treatment plan will be made depending on your goals for your skin. One week before applying the Cosmelan or Dermamelan mask, we prepare the skin with a peeling. One week later, you return, and the Cosmelan or Dermamelan depigmentation mask will be applied. You will leave the clinic with the mask on, and it will stay on for 4-12 hours, depending on instructions from your practitioner. You will wash the mask off at home, and the next day you will start the at-home aftercare program. This will be discussed intensively at your appointment.

Two to three days after the treatment is applied, the skin will begin to flake and peel. For the first few days-weeks, the face may feel tight, itchy, and slightly red. In this case, it is advisable to apply a provided hydrating cream and re-apply during the day when the flaking is most intense.

The day after the treatment, your skin will begin to peel and may feel very tight, dry and sensitive.

This reaction is normal, especially for the first 48 hours. It is extremely important not to pick or peel at your skin, as this may damage the healthy new skin underneath. After starting to use the Cosmelan 2 or Dermamelan home treatment, swollen, red, peeling and burning skin is normal for the next few days, and even the two months, your skin can begin to peel even more.

It is recommended to continue the maintenance skincare routine for at least six months following the Cosmelan or Dermamelan mask.

A large part of the procedure is maintaining the depigmentation with an at-home care pack. The aftercare will be discussed during your appointment.

• You will go home with the mask; please keep this in mind. The mask is yellow/brown in colour;
• Avoid the sun and tanning beds during the entire treatment process and protect your skin with a sunscreen of at least factor 50;
• Do not use scrubs or peels during the treatment process. Avoid steam baths, saunas and swimming for the first six weeks. Swollen, red and burning skin is normal for the next few days and even the first month, do not be alarmed;
• Throughout the treatment process, you should not undergo any other treatments, either facial or laser treatments;
• Any underlying causes of the pigmentation can never be anticipated. Therefore there can never be a complete guarantee of the disappearance of all pigmentation.

It is very important to be aware that this procedure does not offer a permanent solution. Maintenance treatments with matching products after the procedure and precautions, such as avoiding sun exposure, are necessary.