Cosmelan Pigmentation Treatment

Cosmelan is the world's most validated professional depigmentation method, effective against melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and chloasma. Combines an in-clinic mask (Cosmelan 1) with a 6-to-12-month maintenance programme (Cosmelan 2) to suppress tyrosinase and achieve lasting pigmentation control.

Cosmelan is a professional depigmentation protocol developed by mesoestetic (Spain) and used in over 100 countries. It holds the distinction of being one of the most clinically documented depigmentation methods available, with published studies demonstrating efficacy in melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), solar lentigines, and chloasma. It works through a dual mechanism: immediate depigmentation via tyrosinase inhibition (blocking melanin synthesis at the enzymatic level), and progressive skin normalisation that reduces the recurrence rate of pigmentation compared to peels or laser treatments alone. The Cosmelan protocol begins in the clinic with the application of Cosmelan 1 — a concentrated mask containing azelaic acid, phytic acid, ascorbic acid, arbutin, and kojic acid, among other actives. The practitioner applies the mask and leaves it in contact with the skin for a prescribed duration (typically 8 to 12 hours) before the patient removes it at home. During the first 3 to 5 days post-mask, the skin experiences desquamation, redness, and mild irritation — a controlled inflammatory response that drives accelerated cellular turnover and the beginning of melanin clearance. Phase 2 of the protocol is the maintenance stage using Cosmelan 2 cream, applied at home once or twice daily for 6 to 12 months. The maintenance product continues to suppress tyrosinase, preventing the re-accumulation of melanin that causes relapse — the most common failure mode of laser and peel-based approaches to pigmentation. A rigorous SPF 50+ regimen is mandatory throughout treatment, as UV exposure is the primary driver of melanogenesis. At 1,900 PLN (approximately €445), the Cosmelan treatment at Tesoro includes the full take-home kit (Cosmelan 2, Hidra-Vital Factor K, Melan Recovery cream, and SPF 50+). In Western European clinics, Cosmelan is typically priced at €600–€900 for the same protocol. For patients with stubborn melasma or diffuse hyperpigmentation resistant to conventional treatments, Cosmelan represents a meaningful clinical step-up at a substantially lower cost when accessed in Wrocław.