If you’re one of the many people who has hyperpigmentation, dark spots and discolouration, you’ve probably thought about doing something about it. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there which are effective. But exactly how much will it cost to treat hyperpigmentation?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. Treatments range from at-home products to in-clinic procedures, so the price varies between these. Plus, we all have different skin types and different severities of hyperpigmentation, so where some of us respond to one skincare product, others need multiple courses of more expensive treatments to get the results they’re looking for.
But here at Face Dr, we’re never one to shy away from a challenge, so we’ve broken down your options for hyperpigmentation treatments and how exactly much they cost. Want a personalised approach? Book a free online skincare consultation with one of our experts. They can analyse your skin and type of hyperpigmentation to give you a better idea of what you can do about it—and what it’ll cost.
Before we get to the price tags, what exactly is hyperpigmentation?
What is hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a natural skin condition where some spots and patches appear darker than the rest of your usual skin tone. There are three main types:
- Sunspots—caused by the sun, the most common form of hyperpigmentation
- Melasma—caused by hormones, usually from pregnancy or hormonal birth control
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—caused by inflammation from acne, cuts, burns or eczema, for example
Luckily, there are plenty of treatments out there to treat hyperpigmentation and lighten the look of dark spots and discolouration, as well as preventing new patches from forming.
Depending on your budget, you’ve got some options, from cheap and cheerful creams to more costly—but more effective—professional procedures. Read on to find out exactly how much you can expect to spend when treating hyperpigmentation.
The cost of hyperpigmentation treatments
Under £200
If you’re on a budget and are looking to spend under £200 on hyperpigmentation treatments, at-home skincare is the best way to go. Certain brands—like ZO Skin Health and Obagi Medical—use medical-grade ingredients and have ranges dedicated to hyperpigmentation.
This means you can either pick up one product to try if your budget is under £100 or the whole range where products will work together to brighten dark spots and discolouration. You can choose from lightening creams and serums, cleansers and toners, and exfoliators—or add all of them into your skincare routine!
Products to try:
£200 to £500
If you’ve got a little more room in your budget for hyperpigmentation treatments, you can start thinking about professional procedures which are often more effective and quicker than at-home products.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a method of exfoliation that removes the top layer of skin cells to reveal a lighter complexion underneath. It does this with small particles which physically break up the dead skin cells and remove them.
It isn’t suitable for darker skin tones as it may cause hyperpigmentation to become darker. For other skin tones, your skin may be a little sensitive and red after a microdermabrasion treatment, but there’s minimal downtime and you can wear make-up straight away to cover any redness.
The cost depends on where you’d like the treatment—face, hands or chest, for example—and how many treatments you need. A skincare expert will be able to tell you how many courses of microdermabrasion you’ll need to get the results you’re looking for.
Single treatments usually start at around £70 but a course of three is often recommended, so you can expect to pay around £200 or more for a full treatment.
Treatments to try: Sk:n clinics. £65 for one treatment on the face with a course of three costing £200.
Chemical peels
You can buy at-home products which act as chemical peels but, as they’re available over the counter, they have a weak concentration of active ingredients. For some, this is enough. But for many with stubborn dark spots, you may need a stronger chemical peel which needs to be performed by a skincare expert.
Similar to microdermabrasion, chemical peels work by exfoliating away dead and discoloured skin cells. However, instead of using physical particles, chemical peels use chemicals and acids to do this. These acids break down the bonds between dead skin cells making them easier to remove.
Usually, professionals will recommend a course of treatments, usually three, to get the best results.
Different chemical peels are available, such as those which use glycolic acid or mandelic acid. Prices range from £100 to £200 for one treatment, depending on the type of peel, so you can expect to spend £300 to £600 for a course of three chemical peel treatments.
Over £500
If you’ve got cash to splash on hyperpigmentation treatments, one option to try is IPL.
IPL
IPL, which stands for “intense pulsed light,” is a laser treatment which directs short blasts of light at the skin. Depending on the treatment, this light either penetrates the skin and breaks down the melanin which forms dark spots or it removes the outermost layer of the skin to encourage new non-discoloured skin cells to form.
It’s a great option for those with fairer skin but those with darker skin tones should speak with an expert first. Some people see results after just one treatment, but most people need three treatments to get the full benefits.
IPL treatments aren’t painful but some people feel a little discomfort from the zaps. Luckily, treatments usually only take a few minutes depending on how large of an area you’re looking to treat. There may be some irritation and redness afterwards, but this often goes down quickly and can be covered with make-up straight away if needed.
Costs vary depending on how many laser treatments you need and the area you’re targeting. You can expect to pay around £200 for a small area, £500 for a half face and £700 for a full face for a course of three treatments.
Get an expert opinion
Hopefully, that’s made the mystery of hyperpigmentation treatment prices clearer. If you’d like tailored advice to find out the best treatment for you, book a free online skincare consultation with one of our skin experts.
The consultations last for 30 minutes and can be done from the comfort of your own home. We’ll analyse your skin over video, ask about your exact concerns and then recommend the best treatments to tackle your hyperpigmentation—and answer any pricing questions.
Our experts can recommend one-off treatments to add to your routine or help you build an entire new routine to get your skin clear and glowing.
