Skin Concern · Montréal · Laval · Saint-Léonard · West Island
Hyperpigmentation &
Dark Spot Treatment.
Dark spots, melasma, sun damage and post-acne marks are some of the most common — and most treatable — skin concerns we see across Greater Montréal. At New Age Spa, our certified medical estheticians identify exactly what's driving your pigmentation, then build a personalized plan from laser, peels and microneedling. Safe for all skin types and tones, at four convenient clinics. Start with a free consultation.
Hyperpigmentation is what happens when your skin produces excess melanin in certain areas, leaving behind dark spots, patches, or an uneven tone that doesn't fade on its own. It can show up as melasma (hormonal brown patches), sun spots and age spots from years of UV exposure, or the post-inflammatory marks left behind after a breakout, a bug bite, or any skin trauma. It affects every skin tone — and tends to be more stubborn, and more visible, on medium-to-deep complexions.
The reassuring part: hyperpigmentation is one of the most treatable concerns in medical esthetics. At New Age Spa, every plan starts with a free skin analysis to identify exactly what's driving your spots — because the right treatment for sun damage isn't the same as the right treatment for melasma. From there, our certified estheticians match you to the proven solution below — laser, a brightening peel, or microneedling — with melanin-safe protocols across all four Greater Montréal clinics.
A complimentary skin analysis with a certified esthetician at any of our four Greater Montréal clinics. We pinpoint the type and depth of your pigmentation, then recommend the treatment most likely to clear it — no obligation, no pressure.
Because darker tones carry a higher risk of rebound pigmentation, we type your skin before any laser or medium-depth peel — so your treatment is both effective and safe at our Montréal, Laval, Saint-Léonard and West Island locations.
Hyperpigmentation is a melanin problem, not a hygiene one — and it has several distinct triggers, each calling for a different approach. UV exposure is the biggest driver, stamping out sun spots and age spots over the years; Montréal's bright summers and reflective winters add up faster than most people realize. Hormones — pregnancy, birth control, peri-menopause — drive melasma, those symmetrical brown patches across the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. Inflammation from acne, eczema, ingrown hairs, or even aggressive scrubbing leaves post-inflammatory marks behind. It can affect anyone, but is especially common, persistent, and prone to rebound on Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI — which is exactly why melanin-safe technique matters. Identifying your trigger is the whole game, and it's the first thing we do at your free consultation.
Solution 01
Pico LaserPigment Removal
For well-defined dark spots, sun spots and stubborn melasma, laser is the most targeted way to break pigment apart. Ultra-short picosecond pulses shatter clustered melanin into tiny particles your body then clears away naturally — without heating the surrounding skin the way older lasers did. That precision is what makes it suitable for delicate, recurring pigment, and safer across a wider range of tones when delivered by a trained technician. It treats the face, the backs of the hands, the chest and the body.
Most Targeted
Laser
from $185
Pico Laser Pigment Removal
Picosecond laser energy shatters melasma, sun spots and dark spots on the face, hands and body into micro-particles your skin flushes away — fading defined pigment that creams alone can't reach, with minimal downtime and melanin-conscious settings. Best for: hyperpigmentation.
The crisp brown spots left by years of UV — on the cheeks, hands and décolleté — are ideal laser targets. Because their pigment sits in a defined cluster, the laser can lift it precisely while leaving the clear skin around it untouched. Best for: defined sun spots and solar lentigines (age spots).
Melasma is notoriously prone to flaring, so we approach it with gentle, low-energy laser passes as part of a broader plan — never aggressive single sessions. Paired with strict sun protection, this measured approach softens patches while protecting against rebound. Best for: persistent melasma managed conservatively over time.
When pigment is more diffuse — overall dullness, blotchy tone, the brown marks acne leaves behind — a brightening peel is often the smartest first step. Medical-grade acids lift away the pigment-laden surface cells and interrupt excess melanin production, so brighter, more even skin surfaces over a planned series. Gentle, melanin-safe formulas like lactic and mandelic make this approachable for first-timers and deeper skin tones alike, with little to no downtime.
Brightening
Peel
from $155
Skin Brightening Chemical Peel
A medical-grade peel that fades uneven tone and post-acne marks by exfoliating pigment-laden cells and calming overactive melanin — revealing fresher, more luminous skin over a series. Tailored in acid and strength to your tone, with little to no downtime. Best for: hyperpigmentation.
The brown shadows a breakout leaves behind — post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — respond beautifully to gentle, repeated peels. Mandelic and lactic acids exfoliate evenly with a low risk of irritation, fading marks faster even on darker, mark-prone skin. Best for: lingering brown marks after acne, especially on deeper tones.
When skin looks grey, blotchy, or tired all over rather than spotted, a superficial peel sweeps away the build-up of dead, pigment-holding cells that dull the surface — instantly restoring clarity and a more even, radiant tone across the whole face. Best for: overall dullness and blotchy, uneven complexion.
Some pigmentation comes bundled with texture — acne scarring, enlarged pores, an overall lack of smoothness — and that's where microneedling shines. Fine, controlled micro-channels trigger your skin's own renewal and collagen response, helping disperse trapped pigment while remodelling the surface. Because it works with your skin rather than ablating it, microneedling is a gentle, melanin-friendly option for stubborn marks on tones that don't tolerate aggressive resurfacing — and it pairs powerfully with a brightening peel.
Skin Renewal
Microneedling
from $235
Microneedling
Controlled micro-channels accelerate skin renewal to improve stubborn pigment and texture at once — dispersing trapped melanin while remodelling acne scars and rough surface. A gentle, melanin-friendly choice for marks that resist other approaches. Best for: hyperpigmentation.
When dark marks sit alongside indented acne scars, microneedling treats both in one pass — encouraging even pigment turnover while rebuilding collagen to smooth the scar. A favourite for clients whose acne left behind colour and texture together. Best for: post-acne marks combined with rolling or boxcar scars.
For Fitzpatrick types IV–VI, where heat-based lasers carry a higher rebound risk, microneedling offers a non-ablative way to improve uneven tone and texture. It works with your skin's renewal cycle, making it a measured, lower-risk path to clearer, more even skin. Best for: medium-to-deep tones seeking gentle, even improvement.
The best treatment depends on the type, depth and cause of your pigmentation — and on your skin tone. Many clients see the fastest results from a combination. Your esthetician maps the plan at your free consultation.
Defined Spots — Pico Laser
Targeted
When pigment is concentrated in clear, distinct spots — sun spots, age spots, freckled clusters — laser is the most precise tool to lift it, treating the spot while sparing the skin around it. Best for crisp, well-defined pigment on the face, hands and body, with melasma managed conservatively at low energy.
Minimal downtime · Series of sessions · Strict SPF after
Diffuse Tone & Texture — Peel + Microneedling
Resurfacing
When pigment is spread out — overall dullness, blotchy tone, post-acne marks, or colour bundled with scarring — brightening peels and microneedling resurface and renew the whole canvas. They are gentle, melanin-friendly, and especially well suited to deeper skin tones and first-timers building results gradually.
Little to no downtime · Build in a series · Pairs beautifully
Frequently Asked Questions
Pigmentation is easy to make worse with the wrong device, so we match the method to the cause - sun spots, melasma, post-acne marks, or uneven tone. We use PicoSure laser for stubborn pigment, plus brightening chemical peels and Bela MD facials, and we screen carefully for melasma and darker skin tones where aggressive lasers can backfire. The same certified technicians, transparent pricing, and free consultation apply across our four Montreal and Laval clinics (Downtown, Saint-Leonard, West Island/DDO, and Laval). That safety-first, cause-matched approach is why clients rate us among the best dark-spot and pigmentation clinics in Montreal and Laval.
Dark spots form when skin overproduces melanin in certain areas. The three main triggers are UV exposure (sun spots and age spots that build up over years), hormones (melasma from pregnancy, birth control, or peri-menopause), and inflammation (post-inflammatory marks left after acne, eczema, ingrown hairs, or harsh scrubbing). Friction, heat, and certain medical treatments can contribute too. Because each cause behaves differently, identifying yours is the first step we take at your free consultation — it's what lets us choose between laser, a brightening peel, or microneedling with confidence.
There's no single best treatment — the right choice depends on the type of pigment and your skin tone. Defined sun spots and age spots respond best to Pico laser, which lifts concentrated pigment precisely. Diffuse, blotchy tone and post-acne marks usually start with a brightening chemical peel. When pigment comes with acne scarring or texture, microneedling treats both at once. Melasma is managed gently and gradually. Many clients get the best result from a combination — which we map out for you at no charge.
Pigmentation almost always improves best over a series rather than a single session. Brightening peels are typically done as a course of 4 to 6 treatments spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. Laser pigment removal usually needs 3 to 6 sessions depending on spot depth, while microneedling is commonly planned as 3 to 4 sessions about a month apart. Melasma is treated conservatively over a longer horizon. You'll often notice gradual brightening within the first few sessions, with full results building over the plan. We give you an exact session count at your consultation.
For most of our pigment treatments, downtime is minimal. Superficial brightening peels cause only light flaking or none at all, so most clients return to normal life the same day. Laser may leave the treated spots looking temporarily darker as the pigment lifts and flakes off over a week or so — a normal, expected part of the process. Microneedling typically causes redness similar to a mild sunburn for a day or two. In every case, freshly treated skin is sun-sensitive, so daily SPF is essential while it heals.
Prevention is most of the battle with pigmentation. Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30+ is non-negotiable — UV is the number-one trigger and it reactivates melasma and re-darkens treated spots faster than anything. Reapply through the day, wear a hat outdoors, and don't pick at acne or skin trauma, which seeds post-inflammatory marks. Brightening and antioxidant skincare maintains results between visits, and we'll recommend a simple, melanin-safe home routine. Treating the spots without protecting your skin afterward is the most common reason pigmentation returns.
Yes — when done correctly. Medium-to-deep skin tones (Fitzpatrick IV–VI) are more prone to both hyperpigmentation and to rebound pigment if a treatment is too aggressive, so technique is everything. Our certified estheticians type your skin, patch test before laser or medium-depth peels, favour gentle melanin-safe acids and conservative laser settings, and lean on microneedling where appropriate because it's non-ablative. We have extensive experience treating the diverse skin tones across Montréal, Laval, Saint-Léonard, and the West Island safely and effectively.
Before & After Your Treatment
Avoid Sun & Tanning
Keep the area out of direct sun and avoid tanning for at least a week beforehand. Tanned or sun-stressed skin cannot be treated safely and raises the risk of rebound pigment.
Pause Strong Actives
Stop retinoids, AHAs/BHAs, and strong exfoliating actives for 5 to 7 days before, so your skin is calm and responds evenly.
Skip Waxing & Hair Removal
No waxing, threading, or laser hair removal on the area for several days before, to prevent irritation and uneven results.
Tell Us Your History
Let us know about melasma, pregnancy, cold sores, recent procedures, or any treatments a doctor has you on — this guides which treatment is safest for you.
Apply SPF 30+ Every Day
This is the single most important step. Freshly treated skin pigments easily, and UV reactivates dark spots — wear broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily and reapply, all year round.
Do Not Pick or Scrub
Let darkened laser spots and any flaking shed on their own. Picking can cause new post-inflammatory marks, especially on deeper tones.
Keep It Gentle & Hydrated
Use only the soothing, brightening products we recommend. Avoid retinoids, acids, and scrubs until your skin has fully recovered.
No Heat or Sweat
Skip saunas, steam, hot yoga, and intense workouts for 48 to 72 hours so the skin stays calm while it renews.
Most adults with sun spots, age spots, melasma, post-acne marks, or general uneven tone are excellent candidates — and with the right treatment matched to the right tone, all skin types and colours can be treated safely. Treatment may be postponed for active cold sores, broken or sunburned skin, recent oral acne therapy, or pregnancy and breastfeeding for certain options (melasma especially is approached cautiously during pregnancy). Your esthetician confirms what's safe and most effective for you during your free consultation.
Yes — and they often work best together. Brightening peels brighten overall tone, Pico laser lifts the defined spots, and microneedling handles pigment bundled with scarring and texture. Your esthetician will sequence treatments safely so they complement rather than over-stress your skin, often alternating modalities across a plan. A custom combination — supported by daily sun protection — is frequently the fastest route to clear, even skin.
Why Choose New Age Spa
Greater Montréal's trusted medical esthetics clinic & CIDESCO-recognized academy.
Pigmentation is unforgiving of the wrong technique — the wrong laser, the wrong acid, or too aggressive an approach can make dark spots worse, especially on deeper skin tones. At New Age Spa, every plan is built by certified medical estheticians who first identify what's actually causing your pigment, then match it to laser, a brightening peel, or microneedling with melanin-safe protocols. All skin types, all tones, all triggers — handled conservatively and correctly. No guesswork. No rebound. Just clearer, more even skin, at whichever of our four clinics is closest to you.
New Age Spa · Montréal · Laval · Saint-Léonard · West Island
Clearer, more even skin — across Greater Montréal.
Certified medical estheticians. Laser, brightening peels & microneedling. The right treatment matched to the cause of your pigmentation and your skin tone — safely.
Not sure which dark-spot treatment is right for you?
Our specialists will analyze your skin, identify the cause of your pigmentation, and recommend the right treatment for your goals — complimentary, no commitment required.
✓ Safe for all skin types and tones
✓ Four clinics: Montréal, Laval, Saint-Léonard & West Island
✓ Sun spots, melasma, post-acne marks & uneven tone
Free virtual consultation · No obligation
🎁 First-time visitors receive an exclusive welcome gift
