Guide · Pigmentation
Pigmentation treatment in Singapore name the pigment first, then choose the treatment
Brown marks on the face are not one condition. Sun spots, freckles, melasma, post-acne marks, Hori's naevus and seborrhoeic keratoses sit at different depths and respond to different things, so the first step is knowing which one you have.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 17 October 2026
Quick answer
- Match the treatment to the type. Sun spots and freckles usually respond to pigment lasers; melasma needs a doctor's long-term plan; post-acne marks fade with time, sun protection and gentle care; Hori's naevus needs specific lasers; raised seborrhoeic keratoses need removal.
- Pigment lasers, including Pico Laser, Laser Toning, R2 Glow and Alexandrite Laser, are performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic, Pacific Plaza, once he has confirmed what each mark is. They are priced at consultation by the clinic.
- At SkinRev Lab, a non-invasive aesthetic centre at CityLink Mall, facials help dullness and mild uneven tone: HydraFacial Syndeo S$288 to S$438, Needleless SkinBooster S$288 per region, Rejuran® PDRN Facial S$128 to S$348, all before GST. They do not remove defined spots or treat melasma.
- Any spot that is new, changing, bleeding or irregular should be examined by a doctor first. Daily sunscreen is part of every plan: Singapore's UV is strongest between 11am and 3pm all year.
Start here
Why the type of pigmentation decides the treatment
Pigmentation means extra melanin, the brown pigment made by cells called melanocytes. Where it sits matters more than how dark it looks. Pigment in the epidermis, the outer layer, tends to look brown with defined edges and responds faster. Pigment in the dermis, the deeper layer, looks grey-brown or blue-grey and needs a slower, different approach.
A review of pigment disorders in Asian patients notes that freckles, sun spots and melasma are common epidermal problems, that Hori's naevus is a common dermal one, and that darkening after any skin injury is a hallmark of skin of colour. Q-switched lasers clear epidermal pigment well but carry a high risk of that darkening; gentler settings need more sessions.
So the honest sequence is: identify the pigment, choose the treatment, then protect the result.
Types
Six common kinds of facial pigmentation
Many people have more than one, such as sun spots on the cheekbones with melasma underneath.
- Sun spots (solar lentigines): flat, well-defined brown marks on the cheeks, temples, forearms and backs of the hands, built up by years of UV. Harmless, but some skin cancers look similar.
- Freckles (ephelides): smaller and lighter, often from childhood, darker after sun and paler indoors. They run in families.
- Melasma: symmetrical, soft-edged patches on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip or nose bridge, driven by UV, heat and hormones. It is managed rather than cured, and heavy heat can darken it.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): flat brown marks exactly where a pimple, eczema patch or injury was. It is pigment, not a scar, and is especially common in Asian skin.
- Hori's naevus, or acquired bilateral naevus of Ota-like macules (ABNOM): blue-grey to grey-brown spots on the cheekbones, less often the temples, nose, eyelids or forehead. It appears in adulthood, is most common in middle-aged Asian women, and is often mistaken for melasma or sits alongside it.
- Seborrhoeic keratosis: a raised, waxy, stuck-on brown spot that becomes more common with age. It is a benign growth, so brightening treatments will not flatten it.
Check first
Why some pigment needs a doctor to look at it
Most brown spots are harmless, but a few that look like sun spots are not. Dermatology guidance uses the ABCDE checklist: Asymmetry, an uneven Border, several Colours, a Diameter wider than a pencil eraser, and Evolving, meaning a spot that looks different from the rest or is changing. A spot that is changing, itching or bleeding should be seen by a doctor promptly.
Our Aesthetic Specialist can tell you what your pigment looks like and which route it probably needs, but only a doctor can diagnose it. Enquiries about moles, raised spots or anything changing are passed to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong examines them first.
Be careful with creams bought online. In 2019 Singapore's Health Sciences Authority warned about pigmentation and lightening creams containing mercury, one at more than 40,000 times the permitted limit, and hydroquinone, which is prescription-only here.
Matching
Pigmentation type and the usual route
A starting point, not a diagnosis. SkinRev Lab prices are per session, before GST. Medical treatments at IN Eternity Clinic are performed by Dr Sin Yong and priced at consultation by the clinic.
| Type | What it looks like | Usual route | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun spots | Flat, defined brown marks where the sun hits | Pigment laser once confirmed: Pico Laser, Alexandrite Laser or R2 Glow | IN Eternity Clinic |
| Freckles | Small, light, scattered; darker after sun | Pico Laser or R2 Glow; facials only soften overall tone | IN Eternity Clinic |
| Melasma | Symmetrical patches on cheeks, forehead, upper lip | Prescription treatment, low-energy laser, strict sun protection | IN Eternity Clinic |
| Post-acne marks (PIH) | Flat brown marks where breakouts were | Control acne, sunscreen, gentle brightening; Laser Toning or Pico Laser if stubborn | SkinRev Lab for mild, recent marks; IN Eternity Clinic if grey-brown or long-standing |
| Hori's naevus (ABNOM) | Blue-grey or grey-brown spots on the cheekbones | Q-switched or picosecond laser over several sessions | A doctor only |
| Seborrhoeic keratosis | Raised, waxy, stuck-on spots | Removal after examination: shave, freezing, electrosurgery or ablative laser | IN Eternity Clinic |
| Dullness, mild uneven tone | Sallow, slightly patchy | HydraFacial Syndeo, Needleless SkinBooster or Rejuran® PDRN Facial | SkinRev Lab, from S$128 |
| Underarms, inner thighs, bikini line | Darkening from friction, shaving or hormones | SKINPINK topical brightening | SkinRev Lab, S$288 per region |
IN Eternity Clinic
Pigment lasers performed by Dr Sin Yong
At IN Eternity Clinic, the clinic SkinRev Lab is affiliated with, Dr Sin Yong (MBBS Singapore, MRCS Edinburgh, MSc Practical Dermatology Cardiff) chooses the laser and settings after examining the pigment and asking how your skin has reacted to past treatments.
- Pico Laser (T2 Frax Radiance): picosecond pulses on the DEKA TORO break pigment into fine particles mainly by pressure rather than heat. For sun spots, freckles, uneven tone and post-acne marks; redness for a few hours, possible flaking for a few days.
- Laser Toning: low-energy 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG passes fade scattered pigment gradually over a course. Settings stay conservative, because over-treatment can leave pale, mottled patches.
- R2 Glow Laser: a gentle brightening course on the Fotona StarWalker for dull, uneven tone and scattered sun-related pigment, about 30 minutes a session.
- Alexandrite Laser: 755 nm long-pulsed, for flat, defined sun spots and freckles, which darken and flake off over one to two weeks. Not used for melasma, which heat can darken.
SkinRev Lab · Facials
What facials can and cannot do for pigmentation
Can brightening facials help? For dullness, dehydration and mild, superficial unevenness, yes. Dermatology guidance lists vitamin C, kojic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid and retinoids as able to fade dark spots gradually, alongside sunscreen. A facial does not remove a defined sun spot, flatten a seborrhoeic keratosis, clear Hori's naevus or treat melasma, and we say so at the first visit.
- HydraFacial Syndeo: a mild glycolic and salicylic cleanse and peel, vortex extraction, then a serum blend that can include brightening actives such as vitamin C and kojic acid. About 45 minutes. S$288 to S$438; first-timer rate at the counter.
- Needleless SkinBooster: a pigmentation-and-tone or hydration booster delivered through a specialised applicator tip, without needles. Tone builds over a course. S$288 per region, first region from S$98.
- Rejuran® PDRN Facial: cosmetic-grade c-PDRN delivered with Meso Touch transdermal technology, for skin quality and calmer post-acne or sensitised skin. S$128 to S$348.
Body
Underarms, inner thighs and bikini line
Darkening in skin folds usually comes from friction, shaving or waxing, and hormonal change. SKINPINK is SkinRev Lab's needle-free topical brightening session for these areas, using a brightening complex that includes kojic acid, glutathione and rucinol. Sessions take 30 to 60 minutes, 7 to 10 days apart, at S$288 per region, first region S$88, before GST. Sudden, spreading or velvety darkening should be checked by a doctor first.
Sun protection
Sun protection in Singapore
The sun that created the pigment keeps prompting more. Singapore's National Environment Agency advises, especially between 11am and 3pm: sunscreen of at least SPF 30, an umbrella or shade, a broad-brimmed hat, and sunglasses that block UVA and UVB. For melasma and dark spots, dermatology guidance also suggests a tinted sunscreen containing iron oxide, which helps against visible light. Plan laser sessions away from beach holidays where possible.
Costs
What pigmentation treatment costs
SkinRev Lab prices are fixed per session. Medical pigment treatments are priced by IN Eternity Clinic at consultation, because the laser, settings and number of sessions depend on the type and depth of your pigment. Be cautious of any package sold before anyone has identified the pigment.
- SkinRev Lab: #B1-28 CityLink Mall, 1 Raffles Link, Singapore 039393, between City Hall MRT and Esplanade MRT. Daily, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp +65 8266 9585.
- IN Eternity Clinic: 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210, beside Orchard MRT. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008.
| Treatment | Where | Price (before GST) |
|---|---|---|
| HydraFacial Syndeo, Signature / Deluxe / Platinum | SkinRev Lab | S$288 / S$388 / S$438; first-timer rate at the counter |
| Needleless SkinBooster, face or neck | SkinRev Lab | S$288 per region; first region from S$98 |
| Rejuran® PDRN Facial, nine tiers | SkinRev Lab | S$128 to S$348 |
| SKINPINK, per body region | SkinRev Lab | S$288; first region S$88 |
| Pigment lasers; removal of keratoses or moles | IN Eternity Clinic | Priced at consultation by the clinic |
Sources
References & sources
- Ho SG, Chan HH. The Asian dermatologic patient: review of common pigmentary disorders and cutaneous diseases. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2009;10(3):153-168. doi:10.2165/00128071-200910030-00002. PMID 19354330.
- Australasian College of Dermatologists. Hori's naevus. A-Z of Skin, 2020.
- Cleveland Clinic. Liver spots (solar lentigines): causes, symptoms and treatment. Last updated 17 August 2021.
- American Academy of Dermatology. What to look for: ABCDEs of melanoma.
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Melasma: diagnosis and treatment.
- Health Sciences Authority, Singapore. HSA Alert: Five cosmetic creams found to contain potent undeclared ingredients and very high levels of mercury. 31 January 2019.
- National Environment Agency, Singapore. Ultraviolet index and Advisory on Sun Protection Measures.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
Can brightening facials help with pigmentation in Singapore?
They help dullness and mild, superficial unevenness, and can support a doctor's plan. They do not remove defined sun spots, Hori's naevus or seborrhoeic keratoses, and do not treat melasma.
Is there a non-invasive pigmentation treatment?
Facials, needle-free boosters and topical brightening such as SKINPINK do not break the skin and suit mild, superficial pigment. Pigment lasers involve no cutting either, but they are medical treatments, performed at IN Eternity Clinic by Dr Sin Yong, and can cause temporary darkening in Asian skin if settings are too strong.
How many sessions does pigmentation removal take?
It depends on type, depth and response, and is set at assessment. For reference, the Australasian College of Dermatologists notes that Hori's naevus usually needs at least four laser sessions, and the American Academy of Dermatology notes that a mark a few shades darker than your skin usually fades within 6 to 12 months.
Will pigmentation come back?
Sun spots and post-acne marks are less likely to return with daily sun protection, though new sun spots can form. Melasma is chronic and tends to relapse with sun, heat or hormones, so it needs maintenance.
Do I need a pigmentation specialist?
Pigment lasers are medical treatments, so start with a doctor. At IN Eternity Clinic, Dr Sin Yong assesses and treats pigmentation, and refers to a dermatologist or hospital specialist when a lesion needs it.
How much does pigmentation treatment cost?
At SkinRev Lab, from S$128 for a Rejuran® PDRN Facial to S$438 for a Platinum HydraFacial Syndeo, before GST. Lasers and spot removal at IN Eternity Clinic are priced at consultation by the clinic.