Melasma Treatment (Chhaiyan ka Ilaj)

There is no single best melasma treatment: the right plan depends on how deep the pigment sits and on your skin type.

A doctor checks both first. Most people do best with a combination: daily sunscreen and a prescribed cream, plus chemical peels for surface pigment, gentle pico laser for moderate patches, or INFINI RF microneedling for stubborn melasma.

Melasma treatment starts from about Rs 4,800 a session for a chemical peel in a course of 3 (Rs 14,388), or Rs 5,995 for one peel. Pico laser for the face is about Rs 12,000 a session in a course of 3 (Rs 35,988), and INFINI RF microneedling about Rs 10,000 a session in a course of 3 (Rs 29,995). Prices are the same at all 12 clinics, the consultation is free, and any current offer is explained at the clinic.

Chhaiyan (چھائیاں, also written chaiyan or jhaiyan) is the Urdu word for melasma, so chhaiyan ka ilaj is melasma treatment: daily sunscreen, a prescribed cream, and peels, gentle pico laser or INFINI RF for patches that stay.

People also use the word for other dark marks. Melasma is larger, blotchy brown-grey patches, usually on both cheeks, while freckles are small, separate dots that clear faster with laser.

Tranexamic acid and hydroquinone creams both lighten melasma, but they are medicines a doctor should choose for your skin.

Hydroquinone evens out skin tone and is only safe for a limited time. Tranexamic acid comes as a cream or as tablets; tell the doctor if you have ever had a blood clot. Unlabelled whitening creams can contain steroids that make patches worse.

Yes, partly. Home care helps keep melasma down, but deeper patches usually need in-clinic treatment too. A tinted SPF 30+ every day and the cream your doctor prescribes are the base of every plan. Lemon juice and harsh scrubs irritate the skin and can darken patches. Our guide to melasma treatment at home explains what works.

Yes, men get melasma too, often on the cheeks, nose and forehead, and the treatment works the same way.

Sun and heat at work and family history are common triggers. Peels, pico laser and INFINI RF are planned for men’s skin just as carefully, at the same prices, with daily sunscreen to keep the result.

No, but it can be made much lighter and kept that way.

Melasma from pregnancy or the pill often fades within months of the birth or of stopping the pill. Sun, heat and hormones can bring patches back, even after laser, so daily sunscreen and an occasional top-up session keep the result.

Most people need three to eight sessions, depending on the treatment.

Chemical peels are usually 4–8 sessions, 2–4 weeks apart; pico laser 3–5 sessions about 4 weeks apart; and INFINI RF 3–4 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart. Patches often start to lighten after two or three sessions, and the full difference shows over a few months.

Yes, with the right laser and gentle settings, chosen by a doctor. Too much heat can darken brown skin, so we use pico laser, whose very short pulses use much less heat, often starting with a test area. Expect redness for a few hours to two days; peels can cause light flaking, and INFINI RF redness for 1–3 days. Rarely, RF microneedling causes burns, scarring, fat loss under the skin or nerve damage, risks the US FDA flagged in October 2025.

Sunscreen is safe and helps, but most melasma treatment waits until after the birth.

Melasma that starts in pregnancy often fades afterwards on its own. Most lightening creams, tranexamic acid tablets and procedures are usually postponed, so tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and they will suggest a gentle plan for the meantime.

No, melasma is harmless: it isn’t cancer and it isn’t contagious.

It mainly affects how you feel about your skin. See a doctor before any treatment if a patch is on one side only, is raised, itches or bleeds, or changes quickly, because other conditions can look similar and need checking first.

Melasma care is offered at all 12 Cutera Aesthetics clinics in 7 cities, at the same price, with a female doctor at each. Find a dermatologist near me, or message us on WhatsApp. Your consultation with the aesthetic physician is free, and a visiting dermatologist also sees patients at every branch; please book ahead for that visit.