Important note on melasma: Melasma is heat-sensitive. Several laser and IPL treatments that work beautifully for sun damage can actually worsen melasma if used incorrectly. At Laser Vantage, we assess every patient's pigmentation type before recommending any treatment. If you have melasma, your protocol will be chosen specifically for its safety profile with hormone-driven pigmentation — which may include chemical peels, very controlled low-heat laser protocols, or topical pre-treatment before any energy-based device is introduced.
Your Treatment Options
Each treatment targets pigment differently — at different depths, through different mechanisms, and for different pigmentation types. Your provider will recommend the right option or combination at your consultation.
Intense Pulsed Light · Broad Spectrum
The gold standard for diffuse sun damage, brown spots, and uneven tone — across large areas of the face, neck, chest, and hands in a single session.
Limelight IPL delivers broad-spectrum light pulses that are preferentially absorbed by melanin — the pigment that makes dark spots dark. The contrast between the concentrated pigment in a sun spot and the surrounding normal skin means the spot absorbs significantly more energy, heats up, and is selectively destroyed. Surrounding skin is largely unaffected.
After treatment, dark spots typically appear darker for 7–14 days — this is expected and is actually a sign the treatment worked. The darkened pigment rises to the surface and naturally flakes off, revealing clearer skin beneath.
This is one of the most commonly asked questions — and one of the most important things to prepare for. After Limelight IPL, treated spots will typically darken and may develop a "coffee ground" texture over the first week. This is the pigment being drawn to the surface. Do not pick or exfoliate them. Within 7–14 days they naturally slough off, leaving the skin visibly clearer.
This process is sometimes surprising if you're not expecting it — but it's a reliable indicator that the treatment worked. Your provider will walk you through exactly what to expect at your appointment.
Yes — this is one of IPL's greatest advantages over spot-only laser treatments. The large Limelight handpiece can treat the entire face, neck, décolleté, or hands in a single session, addressing diffuse sun damage and overall uneven tone across the whole treatment area rather than targeting individual spots one by one.
This makes Limelight IPL ideal for patients with widespread sun damage or global uneven tone rather than a single isolated spot.
Limelight IPL is best suited for Fitzpatrick skin types I–III. Because IPL relies on the contrast between the dark spot and the surrounding skin, patients with naturally darker skin tones (types IV–VI) have less contrast for the device to differentiate between the spot and normal skin — increasing the risk of inadvertent pigment change or burns.
For patients with darker skin tones wanting pigment treatment, the Motus AZ+ offers a safer, color-blind alternative for spot treatment. Your provider will assess your skin type at consultation and recommend the most appropriate option.
Ablative CO2 Resurfacing · Light & Moderate
For patients whose pigmentation comes with texture, skin quality changes, or deeper sun damage — CO2 resurfacing addresses both the pigment and the surface it sits on.
CO2 laser physically ablates (removes) the outer layers of skin where pigmented cells and sun damage reside. As new, fresh skin regenerates during healing, it comes in significantly more evenly toned — without the accumulated melanin deposits that create dark spots and discoloration. The collagen remodeling triggered by CO2 further improves overall skin quality.
This makes CO2 particularly effective for patients whose hyperpigmentation is accompanied by skin texture changes, fine lines, or roughness — because it addresses the full surface picture rather than just the pigment alone.
The CoolPeel uses a high-energy, short-pulse delivery mode that achieves superficial CO2 resurfacing with significantly less downtime than a full ablative treatment — typically 1–3 days of redness and dryness rather than 5–10 days of peeling. It's ideal for patients with early to moderate sun damage who want real resurfacing results but can't take extended recovery time.
For deeper, more established hyperpigmentation and sun damage, the Moderate CO2 setting goes further and produces more dramatic results — with correspondingly more downtime. Your provider will assess your pigmentation depth and recommend the appropriate level at your consultation.
In the wrong hands or for the wrong patient, yes — which is why provider expertise and patient selection matter enormously. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a known risk of ablative resurfacing, particularly in darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick types IV–VI). CO2 is best suited to lighter skin types for this reason.
For sun damage pigmentation in appropriate skin types, CO2 is highly effective. For PIH, melasma, or patients with darker skin, other options (chemical peels, Motus AZ+) are more appropriate and safer. Your consultation is where these nuances are evaluated carefully.
Alexandrite 755nm · Spot Treatment & Laser Facial
Precision spot treatment for benign pigmented lesions — or a full laser facial for overall tone correction. Comfortable, in-motion technology safe for a broader range of skin types.
The Motus AZ+ uses a 755 nm Alexandrite laser — a single, precise wavelength with high affinity for melanin — delivered via Moveo in-motion technology with a cooled sapphire contact tip. This gives it several advantages over broadband IPL for certain patients.
For isolated benign pigmented lesions (specific spots rather than diffuse damage), the Motus AZ+ can be used to directly target individual spots with precision. For overall tone correction and skin quality, the MoveoGlo protocol delivers a comprehensive laser facial using both the 755 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths. The cooled in-motion delivery also makes the treatment significantly more comfortable than traditional pulsed laser or IPL — with no rubber-band sensation.
Generally yes — the Moveo in-motion delivery system was specifically developed to improve safety across a broader range of skin types compared to traditional static-pulse devices. The continuous motion and integrated cooling distribute energy more evenly, reducing the risk of hot spots and pigmentation changes in higher skin types.
The Motus AZ+ can be used safely on Fitzpatrick types I–IV in experienced hands, making it an option for patients with medium skin tones who may not be ideal candidates for IPL. However, all pigment treatments carry some risk in darker skin types, and a thorough consultation and patch testing are always performed first.
MoveoGlo is a three-in-one laser protocol using the Motus AZ+ platform — combining MoveoPL (755 nm pigment correction), MoveoVL (1064 nm vascular treatment), and MoveoSR (skin revitalization and collagen stimulation) in a single session. For patients with pigmentation alongside redness or overall skin dullness, it treats multiple concerns simultaneously.
The result is a comprehensive improvement in tone, pigmentation, redness, and skin quality — with no downtime and a very comfortable experience. It's an excellent option for patients who want progressive improvement without recovery time or surface disruption.
Chemical Exfoliation · Dermalogica
Six customizable professional peels — AHAs, BHAs, and TCA — blended and layered to match your exact pigmentation concern, skin type, and tolerance. The most skin-type-inclusive option in our lineup.
The Dermalogica Pro Power Peel collection includes six professional-grade formulas that can be used individually or layered for a customized protocol: the Ultra Bright Peel (30% Lactic Acid — brightening, hydrating, even-toning), the Advanced Renewal Peel (30% Glycolic Acid — hyperpigmentation, fine lines), the Power Clear Peel (Salicylic/Mandelic/Malic — post-inflammatory pigmentation and blemishes), the Age Reversal Peel (15% TCA — deeper lines and advanced pigmentation), and formulas for the delicate eye area and sensitive skin.
Your provider selects and blends based on your skin type, Fitzpatrick classification, pigmentation type, and tolerance. No two treatment plans look the same — which is what makes this collection so versatile across all patient profiles.
Yes — when selected and administered correctly, chemical peels are one of the most appropriate pigmentation treatments for darker skin tones. Gentler acid formulas like lactic acid and mandelic acid are well tolerated by darker skin because they work at a slower, more controlled rate — reducing the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation compared to stronger acids or ablative lasers.
The Pro Power Peel collection's customizable nature means your provider can start conservatively and build intensity over a series — a safer and more effective approach for higher Fitzpatrick types than attempting a single aggressive treatment.
For optimal results, most patients complete a series of 4–6 treatments spaced 2–4 weeks apart. Peel results are cumulative — each session builds on the last, progressively improving pigmentation, texture, and overall tone. Some patients notice brightening after their first or second treatment, but the full impact develops over the complete series.
Ongoing maintenance peels every 6–8 weeks help sustain results and prevent new pigmentation from re-establishing — particularly important for sun damage and melasma-prone skin.
Absolutely — and this is often the most comprehensive approach. A common combination is using IPL or Motus AZ+ to address deeper or vascular pigmentation while simultaneously using a peel series to improve surface tone and maintain results between laser sessions. Chemical peels also make excellent preparatory treatments before energy-based procedures — conditioning the skin and accelerating cell turnover to enhance treatment response.
Your provider will build a sequenced plan if a combination approach is recommended for your concerns.
Find Your Match
Entry Point · All Skin Types
You have mild pigmentation, darker skin tone, PIH from breakouts, melasma, or want a lower-commitment starting point with no laser exposure.
→ Pro Power Peel series, customized to your skin type and pigmentation concern
Broad Treatment · Fitzpatrick I–III
You have widespread sun damage, age spots, freckles, or uneven tone across a large area. Lighter to medium skin tone. Want efficient, whole-face treatment.
→ Limelight IPL, 1–3 sessions — the most efficient option for diffuse sun damage
Precision + Comfort · Fitzpatrick I–IV
You have isolated spots to target, medium skin tone, or want a comfortable no-downtime laser facial that also improves overall tone and quality.
→ Motus AZ+ spot treatment or MoveoGlo full facial protocol
Maximum Results · Fitzpatrick I–III
Your pigmentation comes with texture, roughness, or skin quality concerns. You want comprehensive surface renewal and can accommodate recovery time.
→ CoolPeel for lighter treatment, Moderate CO2 for more significant resurfacing
Protect Your Results
UV exposure is the primary driver of hyperpigmentation. Without daily SPF, dark spots will return regardless of how effective your treatment was. This is non-negotiable.
After IPL and some laser treatments, spots temporarily darken before they fall off. Do not pick, rub, or exfoliate these areas — let them shed naturally to avoid scarring.
Avoid retinols, AHAs, and active ingredients for the timeframe your provider specifies after treatment. Fragrance-free, soothing products only during the healing phase.
Pigmentation is driven by ongoing sun exposure and aging. Maintenance treatments — whether a quarterly peel or an annual IPL session — are what produce lasting, cumulative improvement.
Not all dark spots respond to the same treatment. A consultation at Laser Vantage is the first step — we'll identify your pigmentation type and build a plan that's right for your skin.
Book a ConsultationIndividual results may vary. Treatment recommendations depend on pigmentation type, Fitzpatrick skin type, and clinical assessment. Some pigmentation types such as melasma require specialized protocols. A consultation is required prior to all treatments.