Zayda Yeoh, NP
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Zayda leads aesthetic care at Radiance East Bay Aesthetics and performs the laser treatments herself.
Meet ZaydaSkin concerns
Hyperpigmentation treatment in Pleasanton, CA, starting with which kind you have
Hyperpigmentation is any area of skin darker than the skin around it, caused by extra melanin settling in one place. It is a description, not a diagnosis: sunspots, melasma and the marks left after a breakout are all hyperpigmentation, and they are not treated the same way. At Radiance East Bay Aesthetics in Pleasanton, a complimentary skin consultation with Darinka Morfin, LE, or Zayda Yeoh, NP, identifies which kind you have before any treatment is recommended. This page explains the types and causes, then sends you to the right page for yours.
What we treat
The kinds of hyperpigmentation
Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its colour. When the skin makes too much of it in one place, a dark patch forms. Hyperpigmentation shows up as brown, black or grey patches, and it ranges from a few small spots to widespread discolouration. It can affect anyone, and it is more common in darker skin tones because they carry more melanin to begin with.
The four kinds we see most:
- i
Freckles and sunspots
Small, dark, flat spots on sun-exposed skin. A single spot on the hand or cheek is the age spots question; spots across the whole face with redness and rough texture are sun damage.
View treatment - ii
Melasma
Larger brown patches, usually symmetrical, on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip, driven by hormones.
View treatment - iii
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Dark marks that appear after acne, eczema or another skin injury heals. If breakouts are still active, treat those first.
View treatment - iv
Uneven tone
Patchy differences in colour across the face that do not fit one of the three above, often a mix of them.
Sunspots scattered across the whole face, with redness and rough texture alongside them, are covered on the sunspots and sun damage page.
What causes hyperpigmentation
- Sun. Prolonged UV exposure is one of the leading causes. The sun stimulates melanin production, which shows as freckles and dark spots.
- Hormones. Pregnancy, birth control pills and other hormonal changes trigger melasma.
- Acne and skin trauma. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation follows breakouts, eczema and other irritation.
- Aging. The skin's ability to heal diminishes with age, so discolouration lingers longer.
- Genetics. Some people are predisposed, especially where it runs in the family.
Knowing the cause matters because it changes the plan. A sun spot and a hormonal patch can look similar and respond to different treatments, and one of them comes back if the trigger is ignored.
What we treat
Treatments for hyperpigmentation at Radiance
- i
LaseMD Ultra
A non-ablative fractional laser that breaks down excess melanin, lightening dark spots and evening out skin tone. It is customizable to your skin and safe for various skin tones, including darker complexions, which makes it the option for post-inflammatory marks and for melasma.
View treatment - ii
Chemical peels
A peel removes the pigmented top layer of skin to lighten brown spots and even tone. Light peels need no downtime; a medium-depth peel treats melasma and deeper pigmentation with visible results after one treatment.
View treatment - iii
IPL photofacial
A bright, cooled light that targets brown spots and freckles on the face, neck, chest, hands and arms with no downtime. It is not suitable for very dark skin tones or recently tanned skin.
View treatment - iv
HydraFacial
A gentler place to start or a way to maintain results: exfoliation and a brightening booster that help minimize dark spots, with no downtime.
View treatment
The appointment
What to expect
- i
Consultation
Darinka or Zayda examines the pigmentation, asks about sun, hormones, medications and any history of acne or skin injury, and names the type. You leave knowing the recommended treatment, the number of sessions and the cost. Skin consultations are complimentary.
- ii
Treatment
Laser and IPL sessions feel like mild warmth or tingling; a peel tingles while it works; a HydraFacial is relaxing. None needs numbing.
- iii
Aftercare
Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen from the first session onward. Without it, treated pigment returns.
- iv
Results
Dark spots lighten gradually over the weeks after each session. Lasers and peels usually run as a short series, and maintenance visits and sun protection hold the result.
Candidacy
Is hyperpigmentation treatment right for you?
You are likely a good candidate if you:
- have dark spots, patches or uneven tone that skincare has not shifted
- want a non-surgical option with little or no downtime
- will wear sunscreen every day, since every pigment treatment depends on it
- have a darker skin tone and want a plan that is safe for it, which rules some options in and some out
Cost
What affects the cost of hyperpigmentation treatment in Pleasanton
The cost depends on the type of pigmentation, the treatment that suits it, the number of sessions and the size of the area. Darinka or Zayda quotes the exact cost at the consultation, before anything is booked. Members receive a discount on aesthetic treatments. Payment plans are available.
Your providers
Who treats you
Darinka Morfin, LE
Licensed esthetician
Darinka has 7 years of hands-on skincare experience and performs the peels and facials under Zayda's direction.
Meet Darinka
Client reviews
Hyperpigmentation treatment reviews
4.9
Google rating, 93+ reviews
Patients rate Radiance East Bay Aesthetics 4.9 out of 5 across more than 93 Google reviews.
Questions
Hyperpigmentation questions, answered
Still unsure? The skin consultation is complimentary, and Darinka or Zayda will answer anything this page does not.
What is hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a patch of skin that is darker than the skin around it because extra melanin has formed deposits there. It ranges from small spots to widespread discolouration and can affect anyone, though it is more common in darker skin tones. Sunspots, melasma and post-acne marks are all forms of it.
What is the difference between melasma and hyperpigmentation?
Melasma is one type of hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is the umbrella term for any dark patch; melasma is the specific kind driven by hormones, showing as symmetrical brown patches on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. Sunspots and post-inflammatory marks are other types with other causes.
Can hyperpigmentation be treated on dark skin?
Yes, with the right treatment. LaseMD Ultra is safe for various skin tones including darker complexions, and peels are chosen to suit all skin types. IPL is not suitable for very dark skin tones, which is why the consultation comes before the booking.
Does hyperpigmentation come back after treatment?
It can, if the trigger continues. Sun exposure restarts melanin production, so daily sunscreen is part of every plan, and periodic maintenance treatments help sustain results. Hormonal pigmentation can return while the hormonal trigger is still present.
Which treatment is best for hyperpigmentation?
It depends on the type. LaseMD Ultra and chemical peels cover most kinds, including melasma and post-inflammatory marks; IPL suits sunspots and freckles on lighter skin; HydraFacial helps maintain a result. Darinka or Zayda recommends one at a complimentary consultation after identifying which kind you have.
How much does hyperpigmentation treatment cost in Pleasanton?
It depends on which kind of pigmentation you have, the treatment that suits it, the number of sessions and the size of the area. Darinka or Zayda names the figure at the consultation. Members receive a discount on aesthetic treatments; payment plans are also available.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
Performed at the studio in Pleasanton, for clients across Pleasanton, Danville, Dublin, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, San Leandro, San Lorenzo and San Ramon.
Your next step
Find out which kind you have
The name matters more than the treatment at this stage, and that takes a trained eye. Darinka or Zayda will tell you what your pigmentation is, what will lighten it safely and what it costs.
- 1475 Cedarwood Ln, Ste B, Pleasanton, CA 94566 · Directions
- Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Closed Sunday and Monday.
- Prefer to talk? Call (925) 694-0935
Request your consultation
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