I’m 37, a dermal therapist and a mum of three, and I have melasma, and I’ll be honest, it’s one of the most frustrating skin conditions to treat, not because it’s impossible, but because it’s so often approached the wrong way.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that melasma is just sun damage, when in reality it’s hormonally driven, pregnancy, the pill, stress and internal fluctuations all influence how your melanocytes produce pigment, with the sun simply triggering what’s already happening beneath the surface.
After each of my pregnancies I’ve done Cosmelan (an in-clinic peel) with amazing results, but maintaining that result long-term comes down to consistency, not quick fixes. This is why treatments like strong peels, incorrect laser, or over-the-counter brightening products often fail. While they might give temporary improvement, but they don’t address the root cause, and can actually worsen melasma by creating inflammation and damaging the skin barrier.
This is where my approach, and why I align with DMK, is different. We focus on restoring skin function, strengthening the barrier, improving cellular health and reducing the internal triggers driving pigment, rather than just trying to strip it away.
Personally, treatments like LED and Laser Genesis have been a complete game changer for me in maintaining my skin, alongside daily SPF 30+ (without fail!). I always preach to my clients that I never leave the house without protection - usually in the form of a BB cream or tint. A realistic treatment timeline isn’t weeks, it’s months, starting with barrier repair in the first 4–6 weeks, gradual brightening from 6–12 weeks, and more consistent improvement over 3–6 months, with maintenance always being key.
I don’t treat my melasma aggressively, I treat it consistently and with respect, because the goal isn’t perfect skin, it’s stable, healthy skin that doesn’t keep rebounding, and that’s where real, long-term results come from.
If you are also on a melasma journey and would like some professional advice and treatment to manage it, the fairies at our Perth Skin Clinics (Mount Hawthorn or Claremont) would love to help you. Book your appointment here.
Carmen
