Melasma Treatment in London
Melasma needs the right diagnosis, medical treatment first and long-term follow-up, not a single laser session. Dr Hasan Benar is a fully trained dermatologist at 54 Harley Street, London, who has treated melasma and other pigmentation for 15 years and seen more than 10,000 patients with pigmentation, many with darker skin. Your first consultation is free and online.
Is it really melasma? Diagnosis comes first
The right treatment for the wrong diagnosis still fails. Before treatment, Dr Benar checks whether your pigmentation is melasma or one of the conditions that can look like it: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun spots (solar lentigines), lichen planus pigmentosus, ochronosis, medication-induced pigmentation, naevus of Ota and Hori's naevus, and seborrhoeic keratoses or other pigmented lesions.
Melasma is a long-term condition
Melasma is chronic and often comes back. It can be triggered by UV light, visible light, heat and hormones, so we do not offer a one-session cure. Your plan has three stages: control the activity, clear or improve the pigment, then maintain the result with check-ups every three months.
Medical treatment first, the Benar Pigment Protocol™: the protocol combines a personalised prescription skincare plan, a prescribed oral treatment where it is suitable and safe for you, and gentle in-clinic chemical peels. Combination treatment for melasma is supported by published clinical research. Daily protection against UVA, UVB and visible light, including tinted sunscreens with iron oxides, is part of every plan. You can also start with an online prescription skincare review.
Why patients choose Dr Benar for melasma
Melasma is a specialised area, different from general aesthetic dermatology. Dr Benar sees melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, mixed epidermal and dermal pigmentation and pigmentation in skin of colour every week.
15 years, 10,000+ patients
Dr Benar has treated melasma and other pigmentation for 15 years and seen more than 10,000 patients with pigmentation at 54 Harley Street.
Expert care for darker skin
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, East Asian and Black skin is more prone to dark marks after treatment. Dr Benar has extensive experience with skin types IV to VI and knows which lasers and peels to avoid.
Laser only when it helps
More technology does not mean better results. Q-switched Nd:YAG, Tixel and Fotona are used only for stubborn melasma, at gentle settings and in carefully selected patients. Sometimes the right advice is: no laser for you.
About Dr Hasan Benar
Dr Hasan Benar is a fully trained dermatologist at Dr Elif Clinic, 54 Harley Street, London. He has treated melasma and pigmentation for 15 years and more than 10,000 patients, including many with darker skin. He is a published author in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2024), shares educational videos on YouTube and Instagram (@drhasanbenar) and is reviewed on Doctify and Top Doctors. Not in London? Start with a free online consultation.
How to choose a melasma doctor in London
Dr Benar's own 100-point checklist: melasma and pigmentation as a real specialist focus (22), dermatological diagnosis (16), experience with skin of colour (14), managing melasma as a chronic condition (12), knowledge of medical treatments (10), sun and visible-light protection (7), careful, selective use of lasers (7), chemical peels and combination treatment (4), number of similar patients treated (3), standardised before and after photos with 6 to 12 month follow-up (2), academic work and teaching (2), patient reviews (1). The best melasma doctor is not the one with the most powerful laser, but the one who knows exactly what pigmentation they are treating, when to avoid laser and how to manage relapse. Read the full guide.
Who is the best doctor for melasma in London?
Choose a dermatologist for whom melasma is a real focus, who confirms the diagnosis first, has experience with your skin type, treats melasma medically before using lasers and follows you up long term. Dr Hasan Benar has treated melasma and pigmentation for 15 years and more than 10,000 patients at 54 Harley Street, London.
Can melasma be cured?
Melasma can be cleared or greatly improved, but it is a long-term condition and can return. UV light, visible light, heat and hormones can trigger it again, which is why we follow you up every three months.
Is laser good for melasma?
Sometimes, for stubborn melasma, at gentle settings and in the right patient. Used too early or too strongly, laser can make melasma worse, so medical treatment comes first.
Is melasma treatment safe for darker skin?
Yes, when the treatment and settings are chosen for your skin type. Dr Benar has extensive experience with skin types IV to VI. Some treatments are not suitable in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so please tell us in your free online consultation.