Three kinds of pigment, three different plans
- Sun-driven pigment — freckling and flat brown patches on the areas that see the most UV
- Melasma — symmetrical, often hormone-influenced patches that respond badly to heat and over-treatment
- Post-inflammatory marks — the brown or red shadows left behind by a breakout or an injury
Treating melasma as though it were sun damage is the most common way pigmentation gets worse. Assessment separates them before anything is recommended.
Why Brisbane makes it harder
Queensland UV is high enough year-round that incidental exposure — walking to the car, sitting near a window, a weekend on the water — adds up. Heat matters too, and for melasma-prone skin, heat alone can drive pigment even without direct sun.
The practical implication is that a pigmentation plan is at least half behavioural. The skin health and sun protection guide covers what daily protection looks like here.
What may be discussed
Depending on the pigment type, the conversation may cover professional exfoliation, light-based therapy where appropriate, or a supportive home routine before any in-clinic work at all. For melasma, a conservative plan is often the correct one.
Any pigmented spot that is changing, asymmetric, itching or bleeding is a matter for your GP or a skin cancer clinic, not a cosmetic consultation. We will tell you plainly if something should be checked.
What progress looks like
Pigment responds slowly. Expect a course over months with review points, and expect the plan to include maintenance — pigmentation that has responded can return with a summer of poor sun habits.