Melasma & Pigmentation Treatment

Epione Beverly Hills treats melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, solar lentigines, and rosacea-related redness using low-fluence laser technology safe for deeper complexions. Results become visible two to four weeks after the first session, with a typical course spanning multiple visits over several weeks. All skin tones are accommodated. Treatment plans are personalised at a $500 in-person consultation with Dr. Ourian.

Pigmentation disorders treated at Epione Beverly Hills include melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), solar lentigines (sun spots), ephelides (freckles), and diffuse skin tone irregularity from rosacea or photodamage. The clinic uses low-fluence laser technology — an approach that delivers energy at lower pulse energies repeated across multiple passes rather than a single high-energy ablative pulse — to target melanin in the basal layer of the epidermis and superficial dermis without generating the degree of post-inflammatory heat response that can paradoxically worsen pigmentation in susceptible patients. This is a critical consideration for melasma, which is notoriously prone to rebound hyperpigmentation following aggressive laser treatments, particularly in darker Fitzpatrick types. The low-fluence protocol used at Epione is designed to be safe for deeper complexions by staying below the thermal threshold that triggers melanocyte upregulation, allowing gradual pigment clearance across multiple sessions without the risk of PIH rebound. The mechanism involves photothermolytic fragmentation of melanin granules within melanocytes and keratinocytes, with the fragments subsequently cleared by the epidermal turnover cycle and dermal macrophage activity. Results in melasma patients become visible two to four weeks after the first session, as the disrupted pigment clears through the skin surface with the normal cell renewal cycle. Rosacea-related redness and vascular irregularity are also addressed through the vascular targeting capabilities of the laser, which destroys dilated capillaries responsible for persistent facial erythema. A typical treatment course spans multiple sessions over several weeks, with the spacing and number of sessions tailored to the patient's pigmentation severity, skin type, and response. Sun protection is mandatory throughout the treatment course, as UV exposure reactivates melanin production and can negate treatment progress.