Melasma & pigmentation — treated correctly.
The Pigmentation Facial at Kennedy Skincare starts at $250. Targeted protocols for melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and sun-damage dark spots — using tyrosinase-inhibiting actives, LED, gentle resurfacing, and microchanneling where appropriate. What we don't do: IPL or aggressive heat-based laser on melasma. Heat triggers melasma — too many studios still get this wrong.
Start with the $49 Introductory Skin Analysis Facial — Kelsey identifies the type of pigmentation first.
The three types of pigmentation — and why it matters.
Treating pigmentation without diagnosing the type is the single biggest reason most "brightening" treatments don't work. The protocols are different.
Melasma.
Hormone- and heat-driven pigmentation. Typically appears symmetrically — across both cheeks, the forehead, and the upper lip. Triggered by pregnancy, birth control, sun exposure, and heat (which is why IPL and most lasers make it worse). It's a chronic condition, not a one-time fix.
Treatment: tyrosinase inhibitors (azelaic acid, kojic, tranexamic acid, hydroquinone when appropriate), LED light therapy at calming wavelengths, gentle resurfacing only — no aggressive peels, no IPL, no heat-generating lasers.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH).
Discrete dark spots left behind by inflammation — acne, a burn, an aggressive peel, a bug bite. Typically darker than the surrounding skin and located exactly where the injury was. Fades over weeks to months as the skin renews.
Treatment: microchanneling to accelerate cell turnover, professional brightening peels (lactic, mandelic), tyrosinase inhibitors, and — most importantly — treat the underlying cause first (clear the active acne, calm the rosacea) so new spots stop forming.
Sun Damage / Solar Lentigines.
The flat brown "age spots" from accumulated UV exposure. Most common on the face, chest, and hands. Generally responsive to a wider range of treatments than melasma because they're not heat-triggered.
Treatment: microderm peels, microchanneling, professional brightening, and — when needed — referral for laser resurfacing. Always with mineral SPF 50 daily as the foundation.
The Kennedy pigmentation protocol.
Every pigmentation client follows the same five-step pattern, calibrated to their type:
- 1. Skin diagnosis & type identification. Melasma, PIH, sun damage, or layered. Wrong diagnosis = wrong treatment.
- 2. In-studio protocol. Pigmentation Facial ($250+) every 4–6 weeks for 3–6 sessions. Microchanneling layered in for resistant pigmentation or texture.
- 3. Medical-grade homecare. Custom routine with tyrosinase inhibitors, antioxidants, and barrier support. Usually 3–5 products.
- 4. Sun protection — non-negotiable. Mineral SPF 50 every morning, reapplied. Wide-brim hat. A single unprotected weekend at the beach can undo months of work.
- 5. Maintenance. Once cleared, melasma clients stay on monthly facials and homecare indefinitely. PIH and sun damage clients can taper to quarterly maintenance.
What we DON'T recommend for melasma.
- IPL (Intense Pulsed Light). Heat-based. Almost always makes melasma worse. Avoid.
- Aggressive Fractional CO2 or erbium laser. Heat + inflammation. Same problem.
- Strong glycolic peels. Can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on top of the existing melasma. Calibrated lactic and mandelic peels are safer.
- Sun without SPF. Self-explanatory. Even in the car.
Real client outcome.
"My friends literally question if I've had surgery on my face. It's so much tighter, brighter, and lifted — without any injections or downtime."
— Pigmentation Client, Corona del Mar · Anti-Aging Program
Questions, answered.
Pigmentation, treated correctly.
The starting point is a $49 Skin Analysis Facial. Kelsey identifies the type of pigmentation, maps the protocol, and tells you what to avoid. No template, no guesswork.
Book My $49 Skin Analysis →