Cosmelan is a professional depigmentation treatment for melasma and stubborn pigmentation that has not responded to other approaches. It is one of the few options that works across all skin tones, including deeper skin where light-based treatments such as laser and IPL are not appropriate.
It is a four-phase protocol by mesoestetic: an intensive mask applied in clinic, followed by a home-care regimen you continue for around six months. The home care is not optional — it is what holds the result.
Cosmelan at a glance
| Treats | Melasma, sun spots, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, uneven tone |
| Skin types | All phototypes, including deeper skin tones |
| In-clinic time | About 30 minutes to apply the mask |
| Mask worn for | 8–12 hours, removed at home |
| Visible peeling | Roughly 5–7 days |
| Sensitivity / redness | Can continue for 2–4 weeks |
| Full course | Around 6 months, mostly at home |
| Results last | Up to about 18 months with maintenance |
| Anaesthetic | Not required |
| Price | €895, including consultation, the mask and your home-care kit |
What Cosmelan treats
Cosmelan is designed for melasma — the symmetrical brown patches across the cheeks, forehead and upper lip driven by hormones as well as sun. It is also used for solar lentigines (sun spots), stubborn post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and general uneven tone.
It works by interrupting melanin production rather than destroying existing pigment with heat or light. That difference is why it can be used on skin tones that cannot safely have laser, and why it suits melasma, which frequently worsens when treated with heat.
If your pigmentation is discrete brown spots and sun damage rather than diffuse patches, IPL laser skin rejuvenation is usually the more direct route. Our pigmentation treatment page explains how we choose between them.
Why Cosmelan suits skin that cannot have laser
Light-based treatments carry a real risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in deeper skin tones — the treatment itself can cause the darkening it was meant to correct. Cosmelan avoids that mechanism entirely, which is why it is used across Fitzpatrick phototypes I to VI.
It is also the more sensible option where melasma has already been treated with laser and returned, which is a common history by the time people reach us.
How the treatment works, phase by phase
Before — assessment and preparation. We confirm the type of pigmentation first, because melasma and sun damage look similar and respond very differently. A VISIA skin analysis photographs and measures pigment below the surface as well as on it. Most people then prepare the skin for around two weeks beforehand, which improves how evenly the mask works.
Phase 1 — the mask, in clinic. The cosmelan 1 mask is applied in about thirty minutes. You go home wearing it and remove it yourself after the time we specify, typically between 8 and 12 hours depending on your skin and the depth of pigmentation.
Phase 2 — home care begins. Between 48 and 72 hours after the mask comes off, you start cosmelan 2, applied three times daily, alongside a recovery cream and a pigment-control SPF.
Phases 3 and 4 — maintenance. Application reduces over the following months as the skin stabilises. The full course runs about six months, and the great majority of it happens at home.
Downtime and what to expect
This is a genuine peel, not a facial. Expect redness and tightness first, then noticeable peeling for roughly five to seven days after the mask comes off. Skin can stay sensitive, dry and a little pink for two to four weeks.
Plan it around your commitments rather than before an event, and expect to be somewhat out of circulation for the first week.
Most people begin to see a clear change in tone within two to four weeks, with continued improvement over the following months as the home care takes effect. Results vary between individuals and with the type and depth of pigmentation.
Who it is not for
Cosmelan is not suitable during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It is also not appropriate for active skin infections, broken skin in the treatment area, or a known allergy to any component of the protocol. Isotretinoin use needs a gap before treatment.
We assess all of this at consultation. For some patterns of pigmentation Cosmelan is not the right answer, and we would rather tell you that at the outset than sell you a course that will not work.
Aftercare, and being honest about recurrence
Melasma is managed rather than cured. It is driven by hormones and sunlight, and both continue after treatment. Daily high-factor SPF is non-negotiable, and pigmentation can return with sun exposure, pregnancy or hormonal changes.
Anyone promising permanent removal of melasma is overselling it. What Cosmelan does well is clear the pigment that is there and give you a regimen that keeps it at bay.
Cosmelan price in Ireland
Cosmelan at Amara: €895, including your consultation, the in-clinic mask and the home-care kit that carries the result.
A consultation is required before treatment so we can confirm Cosmelan is right for your skin and your pigmentation type.
Common questions
Is Cosmelan safe for darker skin? Yes, and it is one of the main reasons the protocol is used so widely. It does not rely on heat or light, so it avoids the risk that makes laser unsuitable for deeper phototypes.
Is it permanent? No. It clears existing pigment and suppresses melanin production, but melasma in particular can recur with sun or hormonal changes. Maintenance and daily SPF are what protect the result.
How long before I look normal again? Most people are presentable after about a week, though dryness and sensitivity can continue for a few weeks.
Can I have it in summer? Autumn and winter are better. Strong sun during the treatment phase undermines the result and raises the chance the pigmentation returns.
Does it hurt? The mask causes warmth and tingling rather than pain. No anaesthetic is needed.
Will one course be enough? For most people the mask plus the home-care phase is the full treatment. Some pigmentation needs a further round, and we will tell you that at review rather than at the point of sale.
Start with a skin analysis
Every Cosmelan course at Amara begins with a VISIA skin analysis. It photographs and measures pigment beneath the surface as well as on it, which is how we confirm whether you have melasma, sun damage or a mixture of both — they look similar and respond very differently.
That assessment is what tells us whether Cosmelan is the right treatment for your skin, and what your course should look like. Book a VISIA skin analysis to get started, or read more about melasma treatment in Dublin.
