Laser selection matched to the type of pigmentation you are dealing with, and to what your skin will tolerate.
Every treatment plan starts with an assessment by a licensed medical doctor before any session is booked.
Skin pigmentation is the colour your skin shows, produced by cells called melanocytes that make a pigment called melanin. The amount of melanin in any given area can vary. When some areas produce more melanin than others, you see uneven patches, spots, or darker zones in the mirror.
Not all pigmentation is the same. Some sit closer to the surface, while others sit deeper. It can also flare and settle or remain steady. The type matters because it shapes what can sensibly be done about it.
Pigmentation has more than one source. The same patch of skin can be responding to several factors at once.
UV exposure, including single intense doses and the cumulative effect of years of daylight
Hormonal shifts, including pregnancy, oral contraceptives, and the perimenopausal years
Inflammation from acne, eczema, or skin injury, which often leaves darker marks after the original issue settles
Genetic predisposition, particularly in Asian and other higher-melanin skin types
Heat exposure, including direct heat from cooking, saunas, or extended time in warm environments
Certain medications and topical reactions
Skin ageing and the gradual change in how melanocytes behave over time
Knowing which factor is doing most of the work in your case shapes how the lasers are chosen and how the plan is built.
The main pigmentation types in clinical practice each behave differently. In turn, the same laser may be a good fit for one and a poor fit for another.
| Type | What It Looks Like | Common Triggers |
|---|---|---|
| Sun spots (solar lentigines) | Flat, round, brown spots, often on cheeks, hands, and chest | Cumulative UV exposure over years |
| Melasma | Symmetrical patches, often across cheeks, forehead, and upper lip | Hormonal shifts, UV, heat |
| Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) | Dark marks left behind after acne, eczema, or skin injury | Inflammation from a prior skin issue |
| Freckles (ephelides) | Small, scattered, light to medium brown spots | Sun exposure on a genetic predisposition |
| Hori's naevus | Bluish-grey patches, usually on cheeks and forehead | Deeper pigment cells, often appearing from late teens onwards |
Lasers used for pigmentation work by delivering very short pulses of energy that are absorbed by the pigment in the skin. The pigment breaks into smaller particles, which the body then clears gradually over the following weeks. Different lasers reach different depths and suit different pigmentation types, which is why the choice of laser matters for supporting the appearance of a more even skin tone.
Pico lasers deliver energy in extremely short pulses measured in picoseconds (one trillionth of a second). The shorter pulse is designed to break pigment into smaller particles with less heat building up in the surrounding skin, which is associated with shorter downtime.
Pico is often considered for sun spots, freckles, post-inflammatory marks, and some forms of melasma.
Q-Switched Nd:YAG (Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) is an established pigment laser that uses nanosecond pulses. The wavelength reaches deeper layers, which matters for pigment that sits below the surface.
It is often considered for deeper pigmentation patterns, including some cases of Hori's naevus, and is an option across several pigmentation types.
Pigmentation tends to be persistent. Most types are affected by ongoing UV exposure, and daily sun protection is the part of any plan that does the most work over time. Broad-spectrum sunscreen, reapplied through the day, supports whatever the lasers have done. Without it, new pigmentation tends to develop alongside the old.
Additionally, heat exposure matters more than most clients expect, particularly with melasma. Direct heat from cooking, prolonged time in saunas, and outdoor activity in midday sun can all contribute. A good maintenance routine usually pairs sun protection with topical support recommended at consultation. The plan is built around what your skin is actually doing rather than a generic regimen.
Founder & Medical Director
Dr Chia Min Shan is the founder and medical director of Journey Aesthetics, a personalised aesthetic clinic in Singapore. Her approach combines clinical precision with calm, considered care, with a focus on guiding clients through decisions rather than selling services.
Dr Chia's clinical focus is skin quality, facial structure and graceful ageing. The services she works with regularly span injectables and energy-based devices, chosen and sequenced for each client rather than applied from a template.
Dr Chia views pigmentation as a category that rewards careful diagnosis before any laser is chosen. Rather than applying a standard protocol, she assesses each client's skin type, pigmentation pattern, and likely contributing factors before recommending the laser, settings, and session schedule that suit. The goal is gradual improvement built around what your skin will tolerate well, rather than maximum intensity per session.
Every consultation and laser session is performed or directly overseen by Dr Chia, a licensed medical doctor.
No fixed protocols. Your plan is built around your skin type, pigmentation pattern, and what your skin can tolerate well.
The work is not only about the pigment itself. Skin quality and overall tone shape how any laser plan holds over time.
No hard selling. If a laser is not the right route for your case, we will tell you. Progress over perfection is the operating principle.
Pricing for Pigmentation at Journey Aesthetics depends on the areas treated and the treatment plan agreed upon during consultation. The table below offers an indicative range.
At consultation, Dr Chia will assess your skin and talk through the plan she recommends, including the session count and likely cost. There is no obligation to book on the day.
At consultation, Dr Chia will look at your skin under good lighting, ask about how the pigmentation has developed, and what you have already tried. The assessment shapes which laser is recommended, at what settings, and over how many sessions. If a laser is not the right route, she will advise on other options.
A topical numbing cream is applied beforehand to reduce discomfort, and protective eyewear is worn throughout. Most sessions take 20 to 40 minutes depending on the area covered. The sensation varies by laser and area, often described as a series of small snaps against the skin.
Mild redness or warmth in the treated area is common for the first few hours, with most clients returning to normal activities the same day. Downtime is generally minimal. Effects tend to develop gradually as the body clears the broken pigment over the following weeks.
Share what brings you here. Dr Chia will personally review your enquiry and reach out.
A topical exfoliating service that supports surface renewal and is sometimes considered alongside laser work where appropriate.
Learn More →
Targeted services for the textural changes left behind after acne. Where post-inflammatory pigmentation sits alongside scarring, acne scar treatment is often considered in the same plan.
Learn More →
Injectable hyaluronic acid placed in the upper layers of the skin to support hydration and surface quality.
Learn More →Questions, Considered
Downtime varies by laser and case. With Pico laser, most clients have mild redness or warmth for a few hours and return to normal activities the same day.
Meanwhile, Q-Switched Nd:YAG can involve slightly longer recovery depending on the settings used. Some clients experience pinpoint scabs that settle on their own over several days.
Specific aftercare guidance is given at the appointment based on what was actually done.
Most pigmentation cases require a series of sessions rather than one. The exact number depends on the type of pigmentation, how deep it sits, the laser used, and how your skin is responding between sessions. For instance, sun spots may need a smaller number of sessions while melasma and deeper pigmentation may require ongoing maintenance over a longer period.
Visible effects tend to develop gradually as the body clears the broken pigment over the weeks following each session. The pattern matters more than the calendar, and the assessment will shape what to expect in your particular case.
Pigmentation can return, particularly with melasma and other hormonally driven types. Ongoing UV exposure, heat, and the underlying triggers do not disappear after a laser session. This is why sun protection, heat management, and a maintenance plan matter as much as the laser itself. Some pigmentation types are less likely to recur once their appearance has reduced. Others have a stronger tendency to return and benefit from ongoing maintenance.
Yes. Pico laser is one of the pigmentation lasers offered at Journey Aesthetics in Singapore, alongside Q-Switched Nd:YAG. Which laser is used depends on the type of pigmentation and what the assessment shows. Pico is often considered where minimal downtime matters and where the pigmentation pattern fits its profile. Dr Chia will recommend the laser, or combination, that suits your case at consultation.
Yes. Journey Aesthetics offers pigmentation laser treatment in Singapore as part of a doctor-led, personalised approach. Each plan is built around the actual pigmentation pattern and skin type rather than a standard protocol. Restraint and observation lead the work, and sessions are spaced and adjusted based on how your skin is responding. Progress over perfection is the operating principle.
Every pigmentation laser plan at Journey Aesthetics starts with an assessment by Dr Chia, who looks at your skin type, the pigmentation pattern, and likely contributing factors before recommending a laser, settings, and session schedule. The work is shaped around what your skin is actually doing, so no two plans will look the same.
We are available via phone, email and live chat.
Monday – Friday
10 am – 7 pm
Saturday
10 am – 3 pm
471 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427680
