Laser toning for pigmentation and melasma in Korea: choosing pico or dual in Busan

What toning does to pigment

Pico toning uses the PicoWay, a picosecond laser that breaks melanin into fine particles the skin can clear over the following weeks. It targets sun spots, freckle-like marks and general dullness, and a session takes about ten to twenty minutes.

Dual toning adds a long-pulse Genesis pass in the same visit. That second pass is aimed at diffuse redness and rough texture, and it stretches the session to about twenty to thirty minutes.

Why melasma is handled differently

Melasma sits deeper and flares easily. Strong energy can provoke rebound darkening, and repeated low-energy toning has been reported to leave mottled pale spots, so both risks are managed by keeping settings conservative and spacing visits.

For melasma alone, a single pico pass is usually the tidier choice. Where melasma comes with persistent flushing, the redness pass in dual toning has something to work on. Either way, melasma is treated as ongoing management with daily sun protection.

How many sessions before tone evens out

Toning for pigment generally runs five to ten sessions spaced two to four weeks apart. Shallow sun spots often change within the first few visits, while melasma usually needs the longer end of that range and a slower pace.

Brief redness on the day is the common reaction. Shallow spots may look darker and form fine crusts for several days before flaking away, which is part of normal clearing.

Looking after skin between toning sessions

Pigment clearance is closely tied to sun exposure. Daily sunscreen and a hat on bright days protect the gains from each visit, and skipping them is the most common reason pigment creeps back.

Keep the skin hydrated and leave any fine crusts to shed on their own. If an area turns darker and stays that way for more than a couple of weeks, send a photo so the doctor can adjust energy or spacing at the next visit.

Pricing and when to hold off

First-visit trial rows are listed for pico toning at ₩39,000 and dual toning at ₩30,000. The September event board carries ten-session courses with hydration care from ₩390,000 for pico and ₩590,000 for pico plus Genesis, all excluding 10% VAT.

Toning is postponed after a recent tan, while taking light-sensitising medication, over active inflammation or during pregnancy. Anyone with a keloid tendency should raise it at the consultation.