Korean term: 기미
What is melasma
Melasma causes flat patches darker than your natural skin tone, usually on the cheeks, forehead, chin and above the upper lip. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says it is not contagious and not a sign of skin cancer. It is most common in women, usually starting between ages 20 and 40, and in medium to dark skin tones. A doctor can confirm the diagnosis.
Common causes
- Sunlight. Ultraviolet and visible light promote melanin (skin pigment) production, says DermNet.
- Hormones. DermNet links pregnancy, hormonal contraception, hormone replacement therapy and thyroid disorders to melasma.
- Family history. Cleveland Clinic says about one third to one half of people with melasma report an affected relative.
- Products and medicines. DermNet says scented cosmetics and some cancer medicines can trigger it through a reaction to light.
Treatments clinics in Korea list for melasma
Each card below shows what the treatment is, its downtime as described in the sources, and the lowest regular price a clinic in this directory publishes for it. The sources also describe sun protection, prescription creams or medicines, peels and other lasers; the doctor decides.
Pico toning
A low-energy picosecond laser passed over the face to lighten pigment such as melasma.
Downtime (per the sources): Minimal in one Korean case series; post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation seen in some patients with 755 nm
From ₩20,000 (≈ US$15)JRYN Skin Clinic Seomyeon · PicoCare toning, 1 session · VAT excluded
11 clinics in this directory list a regular price
All prices and clinicsPotenza
A Korean radiofrequency (RF) microneedling device: needle tips pass RF energy into the skin, heating and coagulating tissue.
Downtime (per the sources): Temporary redness and tingling; mild, temporary side effects in published series
From ₩99,000 (≈ US$75)JRYN Skin Clinic Seomyeon · Potenza 1 session (tip charged separately) · VAT excluded
11 clinics in this directory list a regular price
All prices and clinicsWhat the sources say about results and limits
- No lasting clearance is promised. The AAD says treatments can fade melasma but cannot make it go away for good; with a plan, results usually take 3 to 12 months.
- Relapse. DermNet says pigment may reappear in summer sun even after a good result. It says microneedling, intense pulsed light and several lasers, including picosecond lasers, carry a high risk of relapse, and that peels and lasers can worsen melasma or cause darkening.
- Pico toning. In a Korean split-face trial of 20 adults, a 1064 nm picosecond laser was similar to conventional Q-switched laser toning, not better. A 2023 meta-analysis of six randomized trials supported the 1064 nm laser but found the 755 nm laser no better than lightening creams.
- Potenza. Two 2026 before-and-after studies had no control group. In Seoul (50 patients) the median melasma score fell 32%; in Japan (29 patients) it did not change significantly. Both call it an add-on option.
- Extra care. The AAD advises waiting until after delivery if you are pregnant, and says some treatments can worsen melasma in darker skin tones.
Published prices
The table shows, for each clinic that lists a regular price, its lowest regular price for each treatment above; items, amounts and VAT basis differ between clinics.
| Clinic | Pico toning | Potenza |
|---|---|---|
| Art of Shine Skin Clinic | ₩110,000 (≈ US$83) VAT excluded · Pico toning, 1 session | — |
| Beauty Park Skin Clinic Beomeo | ₩75,000 (≈ US$57) VAT excluded · PicoSure toning | — |
| Bellis Skin Clinic | ₩165,000 (≈ US$125) VAT included · Pico toning | — |
| DAMI Skin Clinic | ₩150,000 (≈ US$113) VAT excluded · Pico toning, 1 session | — |
| DayBeau Skin Clinic Myeongdong Premium | ₩150,000 (≈ US$113) VAT excluded · Fotona pico toning, 1 session | ₩250,000 (≈ US$189) VAT excluded · Potenza, 1 session (full face, 1 disposable tip included) |
| EU:GENES Skin Clinic | — | ₩250,000 (≈ US$189) VAT excluded · Potenza pumping tip |
| JRYN Skin Clinic Seomyeon | ₩20,000 (≈ US$15) VAT excluded · PicoCare toning, 1 session | ₩99,000 (≈ US$75) VAT excluded · Potenza 1 session (tip charged separately) |
| Kleam Skin Clinic Myeongdong | — | ₩300,000 (≈ US$227) VAT excluded · Potenza (Pore/Redness/Acne) 500 shots |
| MIN Skin Clinic | — | ₩400,000 (≈ US$302) VAT excluded · Potenza Full Face 1 session |
| Newline Plastic Surgery | — | ₩200,000 (≈ US$151) VAT excluded · Potenza N Tip, one session (tip included) |
| Oaro Skin Clinic Cheongdam | ₩440,000 (≈ US$332) VAT not stated · Helios pico laser (fee notice range, pigment category) | — |
| Obliv Seoul Origin Skin Clinic | — | ₩374,000 (≈ US$282) VAT not stated · Potenza RF microneedling |
| Re:Berry Skin Clinic Yeongjong | ₩300,000 (≈ US$227) VAT excluded · Pico toning | ₩600,000 (≈ US$453) VAT excluded · Potenza · 300 shots |
| The Walts Clinic | ₩590,000 (≈ US$445) VAT excluded · Pico toning, basic, 10 sessions | ₩190,000 (≈ US$143) VAT excluded · Potenza, 1 session (tip fee ₩55,000 extra) |
| YAAN Skin Clinic | ₩150,000 (≈ US$113) VAT not stated · Pico toning · 1 session | ₩400,000 (≈ US$302) VAT not stated · Potenza pore tip treatment |
| Youngjong Central Skin Clinic | ₩440,000 (≈ US$332) VAT excluded · Whitening · PICO PLUS · full face | ₩1,000,000 (≈ US$755) VAT excluded · Potenza · full face (scar section; treatment care not included) |
Lowest regular price each clinic lists, with its own item and VAT basis.
Questions to ask the clinic
- Is it melasma, or another pigment such as sun spots?
- Which laser or device, and at what wavelength?
- How many sessions and how far apart? Does the price cover one session or a package?
- What sun protection is needed, and what if the pigment darkens or turns patchy?
- What is the plan if melasma returns?
- Is the written quote with VAT, and is it a regular or an event price?
FAQ
Does melasma go away for good after treatment?
Not according to the sources. The AAD says treatments can fade the discoloration but cannot make melasma go away for good, and it can come back with unprotected sun. DermNet says pigment may reappear in summer sun even after a good result.
How long does melasma treatment take?
The AAD says that with a treatment plan, results usually take 3 to 12 months, and longer for long-standing melasma. A Korean trial of picosecond toning used five sessions two weeks apart. Your doctor decides the number of sessions after an examination.
Is pico toning better than laser toning for melasma?
In the Korean trial we found, no. It found 1064 nm picosecond toning similar to conventional Q-switched laser toning in effect and side effects. A 2023 meta-analysis supported the 1064 nm picosecond laser but found the 755 nm laser no better than lightening creams.
Can melasma be treated during pregnancy?
The AAD advises waiting until you have your baby to treat melasma, and says it may fade after delivery or after stopping birth control pills. If you are pregnant, tell the clinic and ask your doctor before any laser or injection.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology: Melasma: Overview
- American Academy of Dermatology: Melasma: Diagnosis and treatment
- Cleveland Clinic: Melasma: Treatment, Causes & Prevention
- DermNet: Melasma (facial pigmentation)
- Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022: A prospective, split-face study comparing 1,064-nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser toning with 1,064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser toning in the treatment of melasma (Hong JK et al.)
- Lasers in Medical Science, 2023: Efficacy and safety of picosecond laser for the treatment of melasma: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Feng J et al.)
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2026: A Retrospective Analysis of Radiofrequency Microneedling for Melasma Management in the Japanese Population (Imaizumi A et al.)
- Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 2026: Clinical Effects and Safety of Radiofrequency Microneedling for the Management of Melasma: A Retrospective Study (Kim HB et al.)