If you have been living with melasma, sun spots or stubborn dark marks, you may have noticed they look worse after every summer. The good news is that late autumn and winter are the ideal months to treat them. At SkinVitál Clinic in Banstead, this is when we see the most people starting their Cosmelan® journey, and there are good reasons why.
Cosmelan® is a professional depigmentation treatment by mesoestetic. It works by reducing excess melanin production at its source, so it fades existing pigmentation and helps stop new patches forming, rather than just lightening the surface.
The treatment has two parts:
It is used for melasma, sun damage, post-acne marks and uneven skin tone.
Sunlight is the biggest trigger for pigmentation. While your skin is renewing after Cosmelan®, it is more sensitive, and too much sun exposure can bring pigment back. Between November and February, UV levels in the UK are at their lowest and most of us spend more time indoors, so it is far easier to protect the skin while it heals.
Expect around 5–10 days of redness, dryness and peeling as the skin renews, with most people back at work within 3–5 days. Darker evenings, scarves and quieter weeks between social plans make this much easier to manage in winter than during summer holidays and barbecues.
You will usually see a first improvement within 2–3 weeks, with the best results at 30–60 days. Start in November or December and your skin is brighter and more even by the New Year, with plenty of time to build your maintenance routine before the sun comes back.
If you have Christmas events in your diary, book your in-clinic session in early November. That gives the peeling phase time to settle so you can enjoy December with fresher, more even skin.
Cosmelan® suits many skin types and tones, including darker skin, but pigmentation has different causes and not every patch needs the same treatment. That is why every Cosmelan® journey at SkinVitál starts with a consultation. Jo, a Registered Nurse and Independent Nurse Prescriber, will look at the type and depth of your pigmentation, your skin history and any medication, and check that Cosmelan® is safe for you (for example, it is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding).
If Cosmelan® is not the best fit, we may suggest an alternative such as Dermamelan®, a chemical peel or IPL.
Your homecare routine is what keeps pigmentation away for the long term. Jo will give you a personalised plan, which usually includes:
Prefer to have everything together? The Cosmelan® Home Pack is available in our online shop.
For more on why pigmentation returns and how to keep it under control, read our guide: Pigmentation: why it comes back and how to keep skin clear.
SkinVitál Clinic is at 11 Woodmansterne Street, Banstead, SM7 3NW, a short drive from Epsom, Sutton, Cheam, Reigate and Coulsdon.
Cosmelan® is usually one in-clinic mask application, followed by your home programme. Jo will review your skin at follow-up and advise if anything else is needed.
Most people feel warmth, tingling or some itching while the mask is on. Redness and peeling over the following days are expected and temporary.
Yes, Cosmelan® is one of the most widely used professional treatments for melasma. Because melasma can be triggered by hormones and heat as well as sunlight, ongoing maintenance and daily SPF are especially important.
With your 12-month home maintenance programme and daily sun protection, results can last 12 months or more.
Winter is the window to treat pigmentation properly. Book a consultation with Jo online, or call the clinic on 07503 818961 to find out whether Cosmelan® is right for you.
Speak with Jolanta about the treatments covered in this article and find out what's right for you.
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