Melasma is a common and often complex skin concern that presents as areas of uneven pigment across the face. At That Face Place, our approach is assessment-first because effective melasma management depends entirely on understanding your skin’s individual presentation.
We see melasma across a spectrum, from mild surface pigment to deeper, more persistent presentations. Our nurses, dermal therapists and doctor work together to ensure your management plan is matched to where your melasma sits on that spectrum.
Melasma is a skin condition characterised by patches of darker pigment, most commonly appearing on the face, particularly across the cheeks, upper lip, forehead and chin. It is triggered by a combination of UV exposure, heat, hormonal influences and inflammation, which is why it tends to be persistent and prone to returning after improvement.
Unlike some pigmentation concerns, melasma is considered a chronic condition. This means the goal of management is suppression and long-term maintenance rather than a one-time fix. Consistency generally outperforms intensity when it comes to melasma.
Melasma also varies significantly between individuals in depth, stability, skin reactivity and vascular involvement. This is why a thorough assessment before beginning any treatment plan is essential.
Pigmentation / Melasma
Presentation Types
Mild, Moderate, Severe
Who It Affects
More common in women, those with higher Fitzpatrick skin types, hormonal changes, or significant sun exposure history.
Our Approach
Assessment-first, consultation-led management.
Lead Clinician
Nurse or dermal therapist for mild to moderate presentations. Doctor-led with ongoing nurse and dermal therapist support for severe presentations.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
We do not treat melasma during pregnancy or breastfeeding. We recommend waiting until hormones have settled before beginning a management plan.
At your consultation, your clinician will assess your skin in detail, including depth, reactivity and skin type, to confirm the most appropriate approach for you.
Light, surface-level patches of pigment. Often early in presentation, relatively stable and responding well to gentle management approaches. Skin barrier is generally intact with limited reactivity.
Mild melasma is managed by our nurse or dermal therapist team.
More widespread or recurring pigment, often with mixed epidermal and dermal involvement. May have an inflammatory or vascular component. Can be more sensitive to treatment and more prone to rebound.
Moderate melasma is managed by our nurse or dermal therapist team, with doctor involvement where indicated.
Longstanding, recurrent, or treatment-resistant pigment. May present with deeper, greyer tones indicating dermal involvement. Often has a significant vascular or hormonal component and has typically not responded to prior management approaches.
Severe or resistant melasma is referred to our doctor, with ongoing skin and barrier management supported by our nurses and dermal therapists throughout your medical journey.
Not sure which type you have? That’s completely normal. Melasma can be difficult to self-assess. Book a consultation and your clinician will assess your skin and guide you from there.
At That Face Place, melasma management is built around a few important principles: address inflammation before targeting pigment aggressively, protect and support the skin barrier, and build a plan that your skin can sustain long-term. Below is an overview of how we approach each presentation.
For clients with recurrent, diffuse, or mixed epidermal-dermal melasma, or those with inflammatory, vascular, or higher Fitzpatrick skin type presentations, management is led by our nurse or dermal therapist team, with doctor referral where a prescription-based approach is indicated.
Where prescription topical therapy is part of your plan, your clinician will advise on pausing it in the days leading up to certain procedures and resuming once your skin’s barrier has recovered. Your skin’s stability always guides our timing decisions.
For clients with longstanding, vascular, dermal, hormonally driven, or previously treatment-resistant melasma, and those with Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI, management begins with our doctor. Following assessment and prescription of an appropriate medical plan, your nurses and dermal therapists continue to support your skin barrier and pigmentation throughout your medical journey.
Once your skin is assessed as stable by your doctor, the following may be incorporated under their guidance:
Severe melasma is managed long-term. Your doctor will build a cycling maintenance plan that includes ongoing SPF, prescription topicals where appropriate, and regular review appointments. Your nurse and dermal therapist remain part of your care team throughout.
One of the most important things to understand about melasma is that consistency generally outperforms intensity. Aggressive or heat-based treatments can trigger significant rebound pigmentation, particularly in reactive or dermal presentations.
Our approach is to build a plan your skin can sustain. This means suppressing melanocyte activity gradually, supporting your barrier and reducing the inflammatory triggers that keep melasma returning.
Your treatment plan may evolve over time. We review and adjust at every appointment based on how your skin is responding.
Your first appointment begins with a thorough skin assessment. Your clinician will review your skin’s presentation, history of melasma, previous treatments, skin type, hormonal history and current skincare routine.
Based on this assessment, you’ll receive a personalised management plan that outlines which pathway is most appropriate for you, which treatments are recommended and in what order, your at-home skincare foundation including any clinic-dispensed products, and what to realistically expect from management over time.
Mild to moderate presentations are assessed and managed by our nurse and dermal therapist team.
Moderate to severe or complex presentations will be referred to our doctor for prescription-based medical management. Your nurse and dermal therapist will continue to support your skin and barrier throughout your entire journey.
All consultations at That Face Place are unhurried, education-focused and never pushy. We will only recommend what genuinely suits your skin.
No. We do not treat melasma during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Hormonal changes during this time are a significant trigger for melasma, and many management approaches are not appropriate while pregnant or breastfeeding. We recommend waiting until your hormones have settled before booking a consultation so we can properly assess your skin and build an appropriate plan. In the meantime, daily SPF with iron oxides and avoiding heat triggers are the most important steps you can take.
Melasma responds slowly to management. Most clients begin to notice meaningful improvement over the course of 8 to 16 weeks of consistent treatment, though this varies depending on presentation type, depth, and how consistently daily SPF and trigger avoidance are maintained. Your clinician will set realistic expectations at your consultation.
Not always. Mild and moderate presentations are assessed and managed by our nurse and dermal therapist team. If your melasma is severe, resistant, or warrants prescription medical management, your clinician will refer you to our doctor. This will be discussed openly at your initial assessment. You’ll always know exactly what is being recommended and why.
Costs depend on the management plan recommended at your consultation, as no two presentations are the same. Your clinician will outline all treatment and product costs during your consultation before anything begins. There is no obligation to proceed.
Whether you’re just noticing the early signs of melasma or have been managing it for years without success, a consultation is the best first step. We’ll assess your skin, explain your options honestly, and build a plan that’s right for your presentation, with a team that supports you at every step.
Our clinic is located in Palm Beach, Gold Coast, a short drive from Burleigh Heads, Currumbin, Elanora and surrounding areas.
