Sun Spots vs Freckles vs Melasma: Three Pigments, Three Treatment Logics
Clients call every dark spot a \”sun spot\” — and treating all three common pigment types with one protocol is the fastest route to disappointment. Differential thinking at consultation is the entire game.
The Three-Way Split
| Type | What it is | Device logic | Realistic arc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar lentigines (sun spots) | Localized UV-driven pigment pockets | Direct clearance: picosecond or IPL single spots | 1-3 sessions, high clearance |
| Freckles (ephelides) | Genetic UV-reactive pigment, uniform | Full-face light passes, IPL/picosecond | 2-4 sessions, fades with sun discipline |
| Melasma | Chromatic disorder, vascular-hormonal driven | Conservative toning only — never spot blasting | Ongoing management, relapse-prone |
The Consultation Test
- Sharp-edged, raised-time, single spots: clearance plan with picosecond
- Uniform tiny dots since childhood: full-face fade plan, sun discipline is the treatment
- Diffuse patches, symmetrical, hormonal history: conservative melasma protocol — over-promising here creates the worst reviews in aesthetics
Why the Split Matters Commercially
Clearance clients become before/after testimonials; melasma clients become decade-long management relationships. Mixing the two — treating melasma like lentigines — loses both.