Is uneven skin tone or sun damage leaving your complexion looking less than its best? Hyperpigmentation (those stubborn areas where skin produces excess melanin) affects people of all ages and skin tones, often appearing after sun exposure, hormonal changes, acne breakouts, or simply as part of the aging process.
At our Asheville medical spa, we offer five proven treatments that target hyperpigmentation at different depths and through different mechanisms. We treat everything from surface-level sunspots to deeper melasma with personalized treatment plans that deliver clearer, more even-toned skin.
What Causes Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation develops when your skin produces too much melanin in response to various triggers. Common forms include sunspots (also called age spots or liver spots), melasma (often triggered by hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy), and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark marks left behind after acne, cuts, or other skin injuries).
Knowing which type you’re dealing with helps determine the most effective treatment approach. During your consultation at Mountain Radiance, our experienced aesthetic providers will assess your specific concerns and recommend the right treatment plan for your skin.
1. IPL Photofacial for Sunspots and Surface Pigmentation
Intense pulsed light (IPL) uses a broad spectrum of light wavelengths to target discoloration, making it ideal for addressing pigmentation alongside redness and broken blood vessels.
How IPL treats hyperpigmentation
IPL delivers controlled pulses of light energy that penetrate the skin and target melanin-rich areas. The pigmented cells absorb this light energy, which breaks up the excess melanin. Your body’s natural healing process then clears away these fragmented pigment particles over the following weeks, revealing clearer, more even-toned skin.
The treatment works effectively on sunspots, age spots, freckles, and sun damage. Most patients need 2-3 treatments for age spots, spaced about 4–6 weeks apart. Some see significantly clearer skin after just one session.
Over the next 3-4 days, treated spots will darken before peeling away over the following 2-3 weeks. This darkening before lightening means that the treatment is working effectively. Once the pigment peels, you will see smooth, clear skin.
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2. Chemical Peels for Pigmentation at Multiple Depths
Medical-grade chemical peels use concentrated exfoliating ingredients to remove the outermost layers of skin, taking stubborn pigmentation along with them. By promoting healthy cell turnover, peels reveal fresh, evenly-toned skin while encouraging new collagen production.
VI Peel Precision Plus for stubborn pigmentation
The VI Peel Precision Plus is our most popular formula for treating hyperpigmentation. This medium-depth peel suppresses melanin production while significantly increasing cell renewal, making it highly effective for melasma, sun damage, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
The formula works safely on all skin types and tones, delivering results as quickly as one week after treatment. A series of peels provides the most dramatic improvement.
VI Peel Purify with Precision Plus for acne-related dark marks
If you’re dealing with both active breakouts and the dark marks acne leaves behind, the Purify with Precision Plus formula addresses both concerns simultaneously. This peel balances oil production and unclogs pores while also targeting melanin production to lighten stubborn post-acne scars.
SkinMedica Vitalize and Rejuvenize Peels
For mild to moderate pigmentation irregularities, our SkinMedica Vitalize Peel evens skin tone while improving fine lines and wrinkles. The formula works particularly well on sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and melasma.
The stronger Rejuvenize Peel penetrates deeper to treat stubborn discoloration. A series of 3-6 treatments delivers truly noticeable improvement in both tone and texture.
You’ll see some peeling for 2-5 days after treatment, depending on which formula we use. Your skin will look renewed and glowing once any peeling subsides, with results continuing to improve over the following months as new collagen develops.
3. ProCell Microchanneling for Discoloration and Sun Damage
ProCell Microchanneling treats hyperpigmentation by activating your skin’s natural healing response. Using ultra-fine microfilaments, the treatment creates hundreds of thousands of tiny microchannels in the upper layers of skin, triggering cell turnover and collagen production that gradually replace discolored cells with fresh, evenly-toned skin.
Each session is performed with a medical-grade serum containing naturally-derived stem cells and vitamins A and C, which penetrate deep below the surface to support your skin’s repair process. The microchanneling also significantly boosts product absorption, meaning any pigment-correcting serums applied during or after treatment reach the deeper skin layers where they’re most effective.
ProCell Microchanneling works well for sun damage, discoloration, and post-acne dark marks. Most patients see improvement after just one session, with results continuing to develop over the following weeks. For more stubborn pigmentation, a series of treatments spaced 3–4 weeks apart delivers the best outcome.
4. CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing for Aggressive Pigmentation Correction
For patients with stubborn pigmentation that hasn’t responded to other treatments, or those who want to address multiple skin concerns at once, CO2 laser skin resurfacing offers our most powerful option. This is the aggressive treatment in our lineup, and it delivers dramatic results in 1–2 sessions for the right candidate.
How CO2 laser treats hyperpigmentation
CO2 laser uses precisely targeted beams of light to vaporize the outermost layers of damaged skin while sending controlled heat into the deeper layers. This process removes pigmented cells along with sun damage, while simultaneously stimulating significant new collagen production. Your body responds by generating fresh, healthy skin to replace what was treated, which means dramatic improvement in tone, texture, and overall skin quality.
Because CO2 laser works at multiple depths at once, it addresses pigmentation that other treatments can’t reach. It’s particularly effective for sun damage, deeply set discoloration, and pigmentation paired with textural concerns.
Other concerns CO2 treats
One of the biggest advantages of CO2 laser is how much it accomplishes in a single treatment. Beyond fading hyperpigmentation, CO2 laser also improves:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne scars and surgical scars
- Skin laxity and crepey texture
- Enlarged pores
- Overall skin tone and brightness
We believe CO2 laser is best suited for patients who want significant results and are willing to commit to the recovery time that comes with a more aggressive treatment. You can expect about a week of downtime, with redness, peeling, and sensitivity as your skin heals and regenerates. Most patients see results that continue to improve for several months as new collagen develops.
5. Medical-Grade Skincare for Daily Pigment Control
While professional treatments deliver dramatic improvement, maintaining clear, even-toned skin requires daily care with the right products. Medical-grade skincare provides concentrated active ingredients that work continuously between your in-office treatments.
Supportive skincare products for hyperpigmentation
- SkinMedica Even & Correct Serum
- SkinMedica Lumivive System
- SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum
- Alastin A-Luminate Pigment Serum
- SkinMedica, Alastin, or VI Derm’s Vitamin C serums
Sun protection for preventing hyperpigmentation
Sun protection is the single most important step in preventing and managing hyperpigmentation. We carry medical-grade sunscreens from SkinMedica that provide broad-spectrum protection while feeling lightweight on your skin.
UV exposure triggers melanin production, which can darken existing spots and create new ones. Daily SPF 30 or higher sunscreen protects your skin and preserves the results from your treatments.
Retinol for fading dark spots
Retinol products promote healthy cell turnover, helping to fade dark spots gradually while preventing new pigmentation from forming.
Where to find medical-grade skincare
Mountain Radiance carries two premium medical-grade skincare brands in office, SkinMedica and Alastin. If there’s a SkinMedica product we don’t carry in-office, you can get it online from our store (with subscribe and save options!). We also partner with RegimenPro so that you can access other professional brands we don’t carry in a convenient online shop.
During your consultation, we’ll recommend specific products tailored to your hyperpigmentation concerns.
Creating Your Personalized Treatment Plan
The most effective approach to treating hyperpigmentation often combines multiple strategies. Many patients achieve excellent results by pairing professional treatments like IPL or chemical peels with a customized medical-grade skincare regimen.
Our top treatment combinations for hyperpigmentation
IPL photorejuvenation combined with medical-grade skincare creates a powerful approach for sunspots and surface pigmentation. The IPL clears existing spots while your daily skincare prevents new ones from forming.
For stubborn melasma or deeper pigmentation, chemical peels paired with microchannelling can address pigment at multiple depths. Follow up with targeted skincare to maintain your results long-term.
During your consultation at our Asheville medical spa, we’ll evaluate your specific type of hyperpigmentation, your skin type, and your goals. We’ll then create a personalized treatment plan that delivers the clearest, most even-toned skin possible.
Ready to achieve clearer, more even-toned skin? Our experienced team at Mountain Radiance provides personalized hyperpigmentation treatment plans using advanced technology and proven techniques. Dr. Mark Chandler oversees all treatments, so you can rest assured that you receive the highest standard of care.
Call our Asheville office at (828) 627-2711 or schedule your consultation online to get started!
