Melasma Treatment in Calgary: Why PicoWay and VBeam Can Make a Difference

Melasma is a hormonal and sun-driven form of facial pigmentation that responds badly to heat. Picosecond lasers licensed for melasma break up pigment without the thermal injury that can make it worse, and are usually paired with pigment-regulating skincare and daily sun protection. It is managed rather than cured.

Melasma is one of the most stubborn forms of facial pigmentation. It often appears as uneven brown or grey-brown patches across the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, nose or chin and can be extremely frustrating to manage.

Unlike a simple sunspot, melasma is influenced by several factors, including sun exposure, hormones, heat, inflammation and genetics. That means treating melasma requires a very different approach than simply treating brown pigment.

At RestoBod Laser Clinics in Calgary, Alberta, we use advanced medical laser technology to help safely manage melasma. Our clinic offers both PicoWay® and VBeam® by Candela, allowing us to address different components of this complex skin condition.

Most importantly, PicoWay is specifically Health Canada licensed for the treatment of melasma — Health Canada Licence 94931, amended February 2023.

What Causes Melasma?

Melasma develops when pigment-producing cells in the skin become overly active.

Common triggers include:

• Sun exposure
• Hormonal changes
• Pregnancy
• Birth control or hormone therapy
• Heat
• Skin inflammation
• Genetics

For many people, melasma can fade at times and become more noticeable again when triggered by factors such as sun exposure, heat or hormonal changes. The Canadian Skin Patient Alliance notes that it tends to persist, though treatments can gradually lighten the darkened skin.

One of the challenges with melasma is that treating it too aggressively can actually stimulate more pigmentation. Excessive heat or inflammation may trigger the skin to produce even more pigment, sometimes leading to darker or more persistent patches.

This is why choosing the right melasma laser treatment matters.

PicoWay for Melasma

PicoWay is one of the most advanced laser technologies available for pigmentation and is Health Canada licensed specifically for melasma treatment.

PicoWay uses extremely fast pulses of laser energy to target unwanted pigment in the skin. Rather than relying heavily on heat, this pico laser breaks pigment into very small particles that can gradually be cleared by the body.

This makes PicoWay particularly valuable as a laser for melasma, where excessive heat can sometimes make pigmentation worse.

At RestoBod, our approach to PicoWay melasma treatment in Calgary is intentionally conservative.

Melasma isn’t a condition where more laser energy automatically produces better results. Successful treatment requires the right settings, appropriate spacing between treatments and careful management of the skin between appointments.

Why VBeam May Also Help

Melasma isn’t always just about brown pigmentation.

Some people also have increased redness or tiny blood vessels within the areas affected by melasma. These blood vessels may contribute to the ongoing stimulation of pigment-producing cells.

This is where VBeam may be helpful.

VBeam is a medical pulsed dye laser designed specifically to target redness and vascular concerns in the skin.

When a vascular component is present, treating the redness or blood vessels may help reduce one of the factors contributing to persistent melasma.

For selected clients, we may therefore recommend PicoWay to target pigmentation and VBeam to address the vascular component.

Not every person with melasma needs both treatments. Your treatment plan should depend on what is actually happening within your skin.

Why IPL and Microneedling May Not Be the Best Choice for Melasma

Melasma is sometimes mistaken for ordinary sun damage and treated with IPL or microneedling.

While both treatments can be useful for other skin concerns, melasma requires additional caution.

Heat and inflammation can stimulate pigment-producing cells. IPL can create significant heat in the skin, while microneedling intentionally creates thousands of tiny injuries to trigger a healing response. In someone who is prone to melasma, that inflammation may lead to increased pigmentation or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Some people may initially notice improvement in skin texture or pigmentation after these treatments, only to have the melasma return or become darker.

That does not make microneedling wrong for every skin concern, but it should not be treated as a safe or first-line option for melasma simply because it isn’t a laser. We don’t use it for melasma.

At RestoBod, we believe melasma should be treated conservatively, with the goal of reducing pigment without creating unnecessary heat or inflammation that may stimulate the condition.

Melasma Treatment Requires More Than a Laser

Laser treatment can significantly improve the appearance of melasma, but long-term management is just as important. At RestoBod, we often combine laser treatments with professional homecare from NOON Aesthetics to help regulate pigment production, reduce inflammation and maintain results between treatments.

Depending on the individual, we may recommend products such as:

• CYS-Brightening Complex — contains 6% cysteamine hydrochloride along with additional brightening ingredients. Cysteamine is used to target stubborn hyperpigmentation and dark spots and offers a non-hydroquinone approach to pigment correction.
• TXA-Brightening Complex — contains 10% tranexamic acid along with other brightening and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Tranexamic acid is particularly interesting in melasma because it helps address both pigment production and the vascular influences that may contribute to persistent pigmentation. NOON also recommends TXA-Brightening Complex as part of its pre-procedure program for patients at risk of hyperpigmentation.
• NAM-Brightening Complex — combines 20% niacinamide with N-acetyl glucosamine and other brightening ingredients. It is designed to help reduce discoloration associated with inflammation and post-inflammatory pigmentation while supporting a more even skin tone.
• Double White — another NOON pigmentation product used to help reduce uneven skin tone and dark spots. It contains 5% alpha arbutin, an ingredient used to help reduce excess melanin production. NOON specifically identifies Double White in its pigmentation treatment protocols and states that its alpha arbutin is suitable for long-term use.

Not every melasma patient needs the same products. The advantage of having several different pigment-correcting options is that we can choose a homecare program based on the type of pigmentation, sensitivity of the skin and treatments being performed.

Professional skincare is not simply an add-on to laser treatment. With melasma, controlling pigment production between appointments is an important part of achieving and maintaining improvement.

Daily Sun Protection

Sun exposure is one of the strongest triggers for melasma.

Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen is essential, even during Calgary winters and on cloudy days. Dermatologists recommend SPF 30 or higher, reapplied through the day, and a formula with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or iron oxides (see the American Academy of Dermatology on melasma).

Visible light may also contribute to melasma, which is why tinted sunscreens containing iron oxides can be especially useful.

Be Aware of Heat

For some people, repeated heat exposure can contribute to melasma.

Saunas, hot yoga and activities that cause prolonged facial flushing may aggravate pigmentation in susceptible individuals.

Manage Hormonal Triggers

Melasma frequently develops during pregnancy or following hormonal changes.

Hormonal influences cannot always be removed and understanding that they are contributing to the pigmentation helps us create realistic treatment expectations.

Use the Right Skincare

Professional skincare can be an important part of controlling melasma.

The goal is to help regulate pigment production, support healthy skin and reduce the likelihood of pigmentation returning between laser treatments.

Can Melasma Be Permanently Removed?

Melasma is generally considered a condition that is managed rather than permanently cured.

That doesn’t mean it cannot be significantly improved.

Many people can achieve substantial improvement with the right combination of laser treatments, skincare and sun protection.

However, because the underlying tendency to develop melasma remains, maintenance is often necessary.

We would rather give our clients realistic expectations than promise a permanent cure that isn’t realistic.

Why Choose RestoBod for Melasma Treatment in Calgary?

Treating melasma is about much more than simply owning a pigmentation laser.

It requires understanding how melasma behaves and knowing when not to treat aggressively.

At RestoBod Laser Clinics, we have invested in premium medical laser technology from Candela, including:

• PicoWay® — Health Canada licensed specifically for melasma treatment and designed to target unwanted pigmentation using ultra-fast laser pulses.
• VBeam® — a medical vascular laser that allows us to address redness and vascular activity when these are contributing to the condition.

Having both technologies means we can create a treatment plan based on your skin rather than trying to make one device treat every problem.

If you would like to see melasma laser treatment before and after results on real skin, ask to see our before and after photos at your consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Melasma Laser Treatment

Why is my melasma getting worse after laser?

Almost always because of heat. Treatments that deposit a lot of heat in the skin, such as IPL, ablative lasers or aggressive laser settings, can stimulate pigment-producing cells and make melasma rebound darker than before. That is why melasma laser treatment at RestoBod uses the picosecond PicoWay at conservative settings, spaces sessions out, and is always paired with daily sunscreen and pigment-regulating skincare.

Is laser a good treatment for melasma?

It can be, if it is the right laser used the right way. Picosecond lasers break pigment into tiny particles with very little heat, which is what makes PicoWay suitable for melasma; it is Health Canada licensed for exactly that. Laser is one part of a plan, not the whole plan, and the plan always includes sun protection and skincare.

What is the most effective treatment for melasma?

A combination, not a single treatment: daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, professional pigment-regulating skincare (tranexamic acid, cysteamine, niacinamide or alpha arbutin), a picosecond laser for suitable candidates, and a vascular laser such as VBeam when redness is feeding the pigmentation. Melasma is managed over time rather than cured in one visit.

Can you remove melasma by laser?

Laser can lighten melasma significantly, but it does not permanently remove it. The underlying tendency stays, so pigment can return with sun, heat or hormonal changes. Realistic expectations are substantial improvement plus a maintenance routine, not a one-time cure.

Melasma Treatment in Calgary at RestoBod Laser Clinics

If you’ve been struggling with facial pigmentation or melasma that continues to return, the first step is determining exactly what type of pigmentation you have.

At RestoBod Laser Clinics in Calgary, we’ll assess your skin, previous treatments and potential melasma triggers before recommending the most appropriate approach.

Your treatment may include PicoWay, VBeam, professional skincare or a combination of treatments depending on your individual skin.

Book a consultation with RestoBod Laser Clinics to find out whether PicoWay or VBeam may be appropriate for your melasma.

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