- Doctor-led every treatment performed by a doctor
- 8 years on Harley Street
- 50,000+ patients treated
- 4.9 Google rating
Melasma and hyperpigmentation treatment at Dr Elif Clinic is a dermatologist-led programme on Harley Street, London. After examining your skin with dermatoscopy, we treat dark patches, sun spots and melasma with a plan matched to your pigment type – the Benar Pigment Protocol™ for melasma, a medical-grade depigmentation peel or a course of laser pigmentation treatment, with aftercare products included and follow-up reviews built in.
Book a pigmentation consultation on Harley Street or call / WhatsApp +44 7979 725302.
Melasma care led by Dr Hasan Benar
Melasma and pigmentation at Dr Elif Clinic are led by Dr Hasan Benar, a dermatologist who has treated melasma and other pigmentation for 15 years and seen more than 10,000 patients with pigmentation, many with darker skin. Melasma is a long-term condition that often comes back – it can be triggered by UV light, visible light, heat and hormones – so the aim is not a one-session cure but a plan in three stages: control the activity, clear or improve the pigment, then maintain the result with check-ups every three months.
The Benar Pigment Protocol™
Medical treatment comes first. The Benar Pigment Protocol™ combines:
- a personalised prescription skincare plan
- a prescribed oral treatment, where it is suitable and safe for you
- gentle in-clinic chemical peels
- daily protection against UVA, UVB and visible light, including tinted sunscreens with iron oxides
Combination treatment for melasma is supported by published clinical research. For stubborn melasma, Q-switched Nd:YAG, Tixel or Fotona may be added – at gentle settings and in carefully selected patients – alongside options such as tranexamic acid and mesotherapy. Sometimes the right advice is no laser at all.
Dr Benar has extensive experience with skin types IV to VI – Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, East Asian and Black skin, which is more prone to dark marks after treatment – and knows which lasers and peels to avoid. Read more about Dr Hasan Benar’s melasma approach →
What is hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of patches of skin caused by an overproduction of melanin, the pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes their colour. It can appear as small spots or cover larger areas, leaving the skin tone uneven. Common triggers are sun exposure, hormonal changes, ageing and inflammation after acne or injury.
Melasma vs other pigmentation
Not all dark patches behave the same way, which is why diagnosis comes first. Melasma is linked to hormonal changes and sun exposure and tends to be stubborn, so it needs a treatment that suppresses melanin production. Sun spots are discrete marks caused by sun exposure and ageing that respond well to targeted laser. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation follows acne or irritation and is more common in darker skin tones.
| Type | Typical pattern | Our usual approach |
|---|---|---|
| Melasma | Brown patches linked to hormonal changes; worsens with sun | Medical-grade depigmentation peel, strict SPF, maintenance skincare |
| Sun spots / age spots | Discrete brown marks from sun exposure and ageing | Laser pigmentation treatment |
| Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation | Flat marks where acne or irritation has healed | Peel or laser depending on skin tone, plus medical skincare |
| Freckles and redness | Scattered small spots, diffuse redness | Laser for redness and freckles |
How we diagnose pigmentation
As a dermatologist-led clinic we use dermatoscopy to examine the skin closely, giving a detailed view of pigment structures that are not visible to the naked eye. Combined with an AI skin-analysis scan, this tells us what type of pigmentation you have and which treatment will actually shift it, so you are not sold a peel for a laser problem or the other way round.
Treatment option 1: medical-grade depigmentation peel
Our professional-grade depigmentation peel (Cosmelan) is highly effective for hyperpigmentation from melasma, sun exposure, hormonal changes and ageing. It works by inhibiting melanin production, the pigment behind dark spots and discolouration, and it requires just one in-clinic session.
- Effective pigmentation reduction: significantly reduces dark spots, melasma and other pigmentation.
- More than pigment: also softens fine lines and wrinkles and visibly reduces pore size, making it one of our strongest anti-ageing treatments.
- Fast, long-lasting: visible improvement within weeks, with long-lasting effects when maintenance skincare is followed.
- Suitable for all skin types and tones.
What is included: consultation and skin analysis; the peel applied by a dermatologist with 15 years’ experience; aftercare products at no extra cost (Obagi serum, recovery cream and SPF 130 sunscreen); and a follow-up visit one month later to check progress and adjust your plan.
Treatment option 2: laser pigmentation treatment
Laser treatment targets the melanin in dark spots directly. The laser light is absorbed by the pigment and converted to heat, which breaks the melanin into tiny fragments that the body then clears naturally, so the spots fade over the following weeks. A course is usually six sessions, two to four weeks apart, each taking less than an hour, with minimal downtime.
- Clearer, more even skin: reduces dark spots and evens out skin tone, with long-term improvement when sun protection is maintained.
- Precise: the laser is absorbed by pigment only, leaving surrounding skin unharmed.
- Safe: performed under dermatologist supervision using FDA-approved lasers.
- Skin rejuvenation: improves texture and stimulates collagen for a healthier glow.
What is included: consultation and skin analysis; laser sessions under dermatologist supervision; aftercare products at no extra cost (Obagi Nu-Derm Clear cream, Dr Elif anti-pigment serum and SPF 130 sunscreen); and follow-up appointments through the course.
Peel or laser: which is right for me?
| Depigmentation peel | Laser pigmentation treatment | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Melasma and pigmentation from sun, hormonal changes or ageing | Discrete dark spots |
| Sessions | One in-clinic session plus home maintenance | Usually six sessions, 2–4 weeks apart |
| Session time | Single visit | Under an hour |
| Downtime | Explained at consultation | Minimal |
| Extra benefits | Fine lines, pore size, overall tone | Texture and collagen stimulation |
| Skin tones | All skin types and tones | Assessed at consultation |
Your dermatologist will recommend one or a combination based on the dermatoscopy findings. If you do not see results, we offer a full money-back guarantee. Prices are listed on our price list.
Pigmentation treatment before and after
Results from pigmentation treatment at Dr Elif Clinic. Individual results vary with the type and depth of pigmentation and with sun protection afterwards.
Why choose Dr Elif Clinic for melasma and pigmentation
- Dermatologist-led: diagnosis by dermatoscopy and treatment by a dermatologist, so the right method is chosen for your pigment type and skin tone.
- Everything included: skin analysis, the treatment itself, aftercare products and follow-up visits are part of the plan.
- Harley Street facility: the latest technology and products, with detailed aftercare instructions and support to maintain your results.
Melasma and pigmentation FAQs
Melasma is linked to hormonal changes and sun exposure, so it responds best to a treatment that inhibits melanin production. At Dr Elif Clinic we usually recommend a medical-grade depigmentation peel, completed in one session, followed by strict sun protection and maintenance skincare.
A course is usually six sessions, spaced two to four weeks apart. Each session takes less than an hour and downtime is minimal.
Yes. The medical-grade peel we use is safe and effective for all skin types and tones. Laser suitability for darker skin is assessed at consultation.
With the peel, visible improvement usually appears within weeks of the single session. With laser, spots fade progressively over the course as the body clears the fragmented pigment.
Pigmentation can return if the trigger continues, especially sun exposure and hormonal factors in melasma. Daily SPF and the maintenance products included in your plan are what keep results long-lasting, and for melasma we review you every three months to catch any recurrence early.
Yes. If you do not see results from your pigmentation treatment at Dr Elif Clinic, we offer a full money-back guarantee.
At Dr Elif Clinic, 54 Harley Street, London W1G 9PZ. Diagnosis and treatment are dermatologist-led; book online or call / WhatsApp +44 7979 725302.
Dr Hasan Benar, a dermatologist who has treated melasma and other pigmentation for 15 years and seen more than 10,000 patients with pigmentation, many with darker skin.
Sometimes – for stubborn melasma, at gentle settings and in the right patient. Used too early or too strongly, laser can make melasma worse, so medical treatment comes first.
Yes, when the treatment and settings are chosen for your skin type. Dr Hasan Benar has extensive experience with skin types IV to VI. Some treatments are not suitable in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so please tell us at consultation.
Book a pigmentation consultation on Harley Street or call / WhatsApp +44 7979 725302.
