Zayda Yeoh, NP
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Zayda leads aesthetic care and hormone optimization at Radiance East Bay Aesthetics, performs the laser treatments, and can look at melasma and hormones in the same conversation.
Meet ZaydaSkin concerns
Melasma treatment in Pleasanton, CA, planned for skin that pigments easily
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation that shows as flat, symmetrical brown patches on the cheeks, forehead, nose and upper lip, most often in women, and it is triggered by hormones and sun. At Radiance East Bay Aesthetics in Pleasanton, it is treated with LaseMD Ultra or a medium-depth chemical peel, chosen at a complimentary skin consultation with Darinka Morfin, LE, or Zayda Yeoh, NP. Because melasma darkens with sun exposure, the plan covers protecting the result as carefully as producing it.
What causes melasma
Melasma happens when the skin makes too much melanin in patches, and four things drive it.
- Sun. UV light stimulates melanin production, so patches darken every summer and fade a little every winter.
- Hormones. Pregnancy is the classic trigger, which is why melasma is called the mask of pregnancy. Birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy and thyroid problems can start it too.
- Genetics. A family history of melasma raises your likelihood of developing it.
- Skin type. Darker skin tones carry more melanin and are more prone to it. Men can get melasma as well, though far less often.
The patches are usually flat, not raised, with irregular borders, and they tend to appear on both sides of the face at once. Melasma is harmless, but it is often persistent even with careful sun protection, which is why creams alone frequently stall.
One thing worth saying at the consultation: if you are on hormone therapy, mention it. Zayda prescribes it here and can weigh the two together.
What we treat
Treatments for melasma at Radiance
- i
LaseMD Ultra
A non-ablative fractional laser that reaches into the skin to break up excess melanin at its source without damaging the surrounding tissue. It is safe for all skin types and designed to minimize the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation, which is what makes it suitable for melasma when many lasers are not. Sessions take 20 to 30 minutes, with minimal downtime.
View treatment - ii
Chemical peels
The Perfect Derma Peel is a medium-depth peel built for melasma, sun damage and deeper pigmentation, with a glutathione blend that brightens as it exfoliates. Full results are typically visible within one to two weeks, and the peel is suitable for all skin types.
View treatment
IPL is the treatment for age spots and sun damage, not melasma, and it is not used on very dark skin tones. The consultation is where the safe choice for your skin gets made.
The appointment
What to expect
- i
Consultation
Darinka or Zayda examines the patches, asks about pregnancy, contraception, hormone therapy and sun habits, and confirms that what you have is melasma rather than another kind of pigmentation. You leave with a recommended treatment, a session count and the cost. Skin consultations are complimentary.
- ii
Treatment
LaseMD Ultra feels like mild tingling or warmth. A peel tingles while it works and is neutralized and cleansed off at the end of the visit.
- iii
Aftercare
Mild redness for a day or two after the laser, a few days of flaking after a peel. Broad-spectrum sunscreen every day is not optional with melasma; it is half the treatment.
- iv
Results
Pigment lightens over the weeks after each session as the skin renews. LaseMD Ultra is usually a series of three to four sessions spaced four to six weeks apart, and maintenance visits keep the patches from returning.
Candidacy
Is melasma treatment right for you?
You are likely a good candidate if you:
- have symmetrical brown patches on the cheeks, forehead, nose or upper lip
- noticed them during or after pregnancy, on birth control or on hormone therapy
- have tried topical products without lasting change
- will commit to daily sunscreen, because without it melasma comes back
If your dark spots are single and on sun-exposed skin rather than patches, they are more likely age spots. Not sure which kind of pigmentation you have?
Cost
What affects the cost of melasma treatment in Pleasanton
The cost depends on the treatment chosen, how many sessions the plan calls for, and how much of the face is affected. A peel and a laser series are different numbers. The exact cost comes from Darinka or Zayda at the consultation, with nothing booked until you have it. Members receive a discount on aesthetic treatments. Payment plans are available.
Your providers
Who treats you
Darinka Morfin, LE
Licensed esthetician
A licensed esthetician with 7 years of hands-on skincare experience, Darinka applies the chemical peels under Zayda's direction.
Meet Darinka
Client reviews
Melasma 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
Melasma questions, answered
Still unsure? The skin consultation is complimentary, and Darinka or Zayda will answer anything this page does not.
What does melasma look like?
Melasma appears as flat, blotchy brown patches, light to dark brown, usually on the cheeks, forehead, nose and upper lip. The patches have irregular borders and tend to show up symmetrically on both sides of the face. They are not raised and they are harmless.
What causes melasma?
Sun exposure and hormonal changes are the two main triggers. UV light stimulates melanin, and pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy and thyroid problems can all start the patches. A family history and a darker skin tone raise the likelihood.
Does melasma go away on its own?
Often not. Melasma is persistent even with careful sun protection, which is why treatment exists. It is harmless, so treating it is a choice, but it is a choice with good options.
Is laser treatment safe for melasma on darker skin?
LaseMD Ultra is. It is safe for all skin types and designed to minimize the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation, which is the risk that makes some other lasers unsuitable for melasma. The consultation confirms it is the right choice for your skin.
Which treatment is best for melasma?
At Radiance East Bay Aesthetics it is LaseMD Ultra or a medium-depth chemical peel. The laser breaks up melanin below the surface; the peel removes the pigmented top layer and brightens. Darinka or Zayda recommends one at a complimentary consultation, based on how deep and how widespread your melasma is.
How long does a melasma treatment session take?
A LaseMD Ultra session takes 20 to 30 minutes, with only mild tingling or warmth and minimal downtime. A peel visit is similar in length. Both fit into a workday.
Keep exploring
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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
Bring the patches in
Melasma is one of the few skin concerns where the wrong treatment can make things worse, so the consultation is not a formality. Darinka or Zayda will confirm what you have, choose the safe option for your skin and tell you 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
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