Melasma is one of the most common forms of hyperpigmentation, and it generates a significant amount of concern and distress due to its major aesthetic impact and the difficulty of treating it. It has a strong tendency to recur and even worsen with some of the usual aesthetic treatments. Alongside sunspots, it is the pigmentation disorder that generates the most consultations.

Melasma appears as an extensive patch with undefined borders. Most patients present with large patches on the cheeks or forehead, but occasionally thinner pigmentation patches may appear over the eyebrows, periocular area, the bridge of the nose, upper lip, and chin.

The pigment particles are very small and dense and can become highly problematic when damaged by heat. This is why most laser systems have traditionally been a risky option for treating melasma. Thanks to its ultra-short pulse durations, the Enlighten III produces a strong photoacoustic (pressure wave) effect rather than a photothermal effect, mechanically breaking down the targeted pigment without causing heat damage to the surrounding tissue. This makes the Enlighten III the ideal system for treating melasma.