Comprehensive Guide to Pigmented Spots & Melasma Treatment in Tokyo (Ueno)

This page is supervised and written by specialist physicians at IC Clinic Ueno, a 1-minute walk from JR Ueno Station.

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📚 Causes of Pigmented Spots & 6 Treatment Options: Treatment Process and Pricing Explained

😊 This article covers everything you need to know about pigmented spot treatments! We explain the types of pigmented spots, the most suitable treatment options, what to expect during treatment, and pricing in detail. A complete guide to pigmented spot treatment you won’t want to miss.

✅ Leaving pigmented spots untreated can cause them to become darker over time!

✅ Over-the-counter products cannot fade existing pigmented spots (Learn more about the effectiveness of spot-fading creams)

✅ Pigmented spots can be effectively treated at a medical institution

✅ Start with a skin analysis consultation today!

💭 Do Any of These Concerns Apply to You?

• 😢 More pigmented spots and dullness appearing across the face
• 😰 Freckles becoming more pronounced
• 😔 Brownish spots or uneven skin tone developing
• 😣 Brown discoloration spreading around and below the eyes
• 😖 Concerned about darkened or clogged pores

If any of these concerns sound familiar, check out the treatment options by type of pigmented spot to find the approach that suits you best.

✨ Why Patients Choose Our Pigmented Spot Treatments

Our board-certified plastic surgeons and senior instructors are committed to delivering results-focused treatment while minimising the burden on each patient.

Rooted in a practice that began with insurance-covered medicine, we are committed to straightforward and easy-to-understand pricing (Learn more about typical pigmented spot laser pricing).

To provide comprehensive specialist care for pigmented spots and melasma, our clinic offers a variety of treatment approaches — including laser toning, Photofacial (IPL), iontophoresis, and chemical peeling — to help address each patient’s concerns. We offer treatment plans that can be tailored to your individual needs. For those wishing to treat multiple spots at once, we also offer an unlimited pigmented spot removal plan.

We have created a clinic environment where patients of all ages and backgrounds feel comfortable walking in and discussing their concerns.

Our clinic is within easy walking distance of the nearest station, making it accessible not only from Tokyo but also from Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, and surrounding areas. The clinic is also conveniently accessible from the Akihabara area.

👉 Looking for a pigmented spot clinic in the Ueno area? Click here

⚠️ Important: Choosing the Right Clinic Is Up to You

These treatments are an important step toward resolving your concerns, so we encourage you to consider multiple clinics and make a calm, informed decision — choosing a physician and clinic you feel truly confident in, so you have no regrets (Read reviews of pigmented spot clinics in the Ueno area).

🚨 Watch Out for These Red Flags!

• ❌ The clinic pressures you into same-day treatment or signing a contract on your very first visit.
• ❌ During the consultation, risks such as swelling or discomfort are not adequately explained.
• ❌ Due to claimed treatment limitations, you are pushed toward multi-session packages at non-standard pricing instead of a single treatment.
• ❌ You visit expecting affordable prices, only to be steered during the consultation toward a range of plans and high-cost procedures — and what you thought would cost tens of thousands of yen turns into hundreds of thousands.

To avoid regrets with pigmented spot treatment, it is also worth checking in advance about cases where pigmented spot removal may not be advisable.

🔍 Causes of Pigmented Spots and How to Address Them

Melanin is a pigment produced when the skin is exposed to external stimuli such as UV radiation, and it is widely considered to be the primary cause of pigmented spots. Melanin is naturally generated by melanocytes — the skin’s defense mechanism — in response to damage, and it plays a protective role by absorbing UV rays before they penetrate deeper layers of the skin. The melanin produced blocks UV-induced damage from reaching deeper layers of the skin. Under normal circumstances, melanin is gradually expelled through the skin’s natural turnover (cell renewal cycle), but as we age, this turnover slows down, causing melanin to be expelled more slowly. Over time, the accumulated melanin that is not shed leads to the formation of pigmented spots.

We provide a detailed explanation of the mechanisms of pigmentation and how to address it. You may also find it helpful to read about how to address red and brown pigmented spots, a topic also featured on the NHK programme “Tameshite Gatten.”

While the active ingredients in over-the-counter products can help suppress new melanin production, they are unable to eliminate the melanin already present in the skin that causes existing spots — meaning they have limited effect on pigmented spots that have already formed. For more information on the effectiveness and limitations of over-the-counter spot-fading creams, please read the linked article.

✨ Existing pigmented spots can be treated at a medical institution, where they can be addressed effectively. ✨

By directing laser energy at pigmented spots, it is possible to break down and disperse the melanin pigment responsible for them. The fragmented melanin forms a scab that naturally flakes away, resulting in a clearer appearance. We also provide a detailed explanation with photographs of the progress of pigmented spot laser treatment — please take a look if you would like to know what to expect after treatment.

📋 Types of Pigmented Spots

👉 There are many different types of pigmented spots, and the most suitable treatment varies for each!

One type that requires particular attention is melasma. Because melasma closely resembles common pigmented spots in appearance, it is easily misdiagnosed, and there is a risk that standard laser treatment may worsen the condition. It is important to check the differences between melasma and pigmented spots in advance and receive a diagnosis from a specialist physician.

For an in-depth explanation of the causes and characteristics of each type of pigmented spot, please refer to How to Fade Facial Pigmented Spots | Causes and Treatments by Type, Explained in Full.

💉 Treatment Options for Pigmented Spots

Pigmented spots come in many different forms, and selecting an inappropriate treatment can sometimes worsen the condition. For this reason, an accurate diagnosis by a specialist physician and the selection of an appropriate treatment approach are essential. The following treatment options are commonly considered for pigmented spot treatment.

📌 At our clinic, we will propose the most suitable plan for you from 6 available treatment options!

Laser toning and pico toning are treatment options that can also address melasma. We provide a detailed explanation of the effects and features of pico toning. Please also check the effects of pico fractional treatment, which may also support improvements in overall skin quality.

Oral medication is also an important treatment option. In particular, tranexamic acid is widely used as a first-line treatment for melasma. We also provide a detailed explanation of the cosmetic benefits of tranexamic acid — please take a look if you are interested in oral medication treatment. Cinal, a vitamin C preparation, is also commonly prescribed for pigmented spot treatment.

Many patients also want to know about the downtime period and how to manage recovery after treatment. We provide a detailed breakdown of downtime by treatment type — please check this in advance.

If you are considering at-home skincare, please also refer to our guides on how to choose a serum for pigmented spots and the effects of skin-brightening active ingredients. We also explain the skin-brightening effects of niacinamide, which has been attracting increasing attention in recent years.

📸 Skin Analysis Device for Accurate Diagnosis

Before beginning treatment for pigmented spots, it is important to first assess the condition of your skin. VISIA EVOLUTION, a skin analysis device used by research institutions and medical facilities around the world, combines advanced camera technology, analytical capabilities, and AI to analyse and simulate a range of skin concerns, including pigmented spots, skin texture, wrinkles, pores, redness, porphyrins (metabolic by-products of acne-causing bacteria), and estimated skin age.

🎯 AI technology quantifies the condition of your skin, enabling us to propose the most suitable treatment based on objective data.

🏥 Features of IC Clinic’s Pigmented Spot Treatments

📝 Our Treatment Process

🔽 From your initial consultation through to the completion of treatment, we support you every step of the way!

For post-treatment aftercare, medications such as Azunol ointment may be prescribed.

💰 Treatment Pricing

💴 Transparent pricing you can trust — we offer a range of plans to suit different session numbers and quantities.

Pricing for our Pigmented Spots & Melasma treatments varies depending on the number of sessions and spots treated. We offer a range of plans at different price points — please refer to the Pigmented Spots & Melasma Price List for full pricing details.

For more information on typical pricing for pigmented spot laser treatment and insurance coverage eligibility, please refer to the respective articles. For those with multiple pigmented spots, we also recommend the unlimited pigmented spot removal plan available in Ueno.

🌟 Case Studies

✨ 【Case Study】 Woman in Her 50s — Q-Switched YAG Laser Treatment for Pigmented Spots on the Back (Updated 3 August 2025)

This patient is a woman in her 50s who visited IC Clinic Ueno with concerns about pigmented spots (senile lentigines) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation spread across her back that had been bothering her for many years. Following examination, the condition was diagnosed as benign pigmented lesions caused by UV exposure, and Q-switched YAG laser treatment was carried out. The procedure was completed in a short time, and with multiple sessions, the pigmentation gradually faded. The skin now shows a more even overall tone and a noticeably clearer appearance. The patient has shared that she no longer feels self-conscious about showing her back.

If you have concerns about pigmented spots in areas other than the face, please feel free to consult us about pigmented spot removal on the legs and feet or pigmented spot removal on the eyelids.

📖 Articles on Pigmented Spot Treatment

For further information on pigmented spot treatments, please refer to the articles below.

• 📌 How to Tell Melasma Apart from Pigmented Spots | Getting the Right Diagnosis for the Right Treatment
• 📌 How to Fade Facial Pigmented Spots | Causes and Treatments by Type, Explained in Full
• 📌 A Full Guide to What to Expect After Pigmented Spot Laser Treatment
• 📌 How Long Is the Downtime for Pigmented Spot Removal? A Treatment-by-Treatment Guide
• 📌 A Full Guide to Typical Pricing for Pigmented Spot Laser Treatment
• 📌 The Effects of Tranexamic Acid Explained | Skin Brightening, Pigmented Spots, and Melasma Treatment
• 📌 Who Should Avoid Pigmented Spot Removal? Cases Where Treatment May Not Be Advisable
• 📌 Pigmented Spot Treatments Among Celebrities | Secrets to Maintaining Beautiful Skin