Cosmelan Peel  

Uncovering the Power of Cosmelan Peel

Cosmelan is an advanced, two-stage chemical peel treatment used to treat various types of hyperpigmentation, such as melasma, age spots, acne scars, brown patches, brown spots, and other blemishes.

However, its effects aren’t limited to superficially darkened areas: it also directly addresses melanin production and can reduce the appearance of future dark spots or areas. Cosmelan accelerates cellular turnover to remove dead skin cells, lift pigment, soften texture, smooth the skin, and reduce pores and fine lines.

Designed by mesoestetic®, the Cosmelan depigmentation treatment is now considered one of the most effective skin-lightening treatments available for all skin types and complexions. More than one million patients around the world have used Cosmelan.

What is Cosmelan suitable for?

Cosmelan is a professional-grade, effective treatment that is indicated for a wide array of hyperpigmentation conditions.

The term “hyperpigmentation” refers to any skin condition that makes some areas of the skin darker than others. This usually stems from the overproduction of melanin in specific areas, and can affect people of all skin tones, but is more common among people with darker skin tones.

Some of the most common types of hyperpigmentation include:

• Melasma — or irregular brown–gray patches of skin, often triggered by pregnancy or chronic sun exposure.
• Sunspots and liver spots — smaller patches of darkened skin similar to large freckles.
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — a darkening or discoloration left behind by a scar or other superficial skin damage.

Hyperpigmentation by itself is not dangerous and will not produce any pain, itching, or discomfort. However, the skin’s uneven appearance can make people feel self-conscious, especially when the darker patches appear on the face.

How does the Cosmelan depigmentation peel work?

Cosmelan works by directly eliminating the deposits of melanin (dark skin pigments) that are responsible for hyperpigmentation. In addition, it also regulates the production of the enzyme tyrosinase, which is used by the body for melanin production. In this way, Cosmelan can help reduce melanin production well beyond the initial effects of the peel.

From start to finish, the complete topical Cosmelan treatment can take from two to six months and consists of two steps:

Step one: Cosmelan 1 — This is an initial intense depigmentation, done at our office.

Step two: Cosmelan 2 — A home-care maintenance course to keep dark spots from reappearing.

What ingredients are in the Cosmelan treatment?

Altogether, both stages of the Cosmelan peel use 51 active ingredients, including:

Arbutin

Arbutin is a natural variant of hydroquinone that lightens skin.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

Vitamin C evens skin tone and protects against future sun damage.

Azelaic acid

Azelaic acid kills bacteria and boosts new skin cell production.

Kojic acid

Kojic acid inhibits the skin’s melanin production.

Phytic acid

Phytic acid is a healing and protecting antioxidant.

Retinol

Retinol facilitates anti-aging action and increases the production of collagen and elastin.

Titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide protects the skin from harmful UV rays.

The concentrations of each ingredient vary according to the stage. Cosmelan 1, which must be professionally applied in-office, has much higher concentrations of kojic and phytic acids, which help reverse skin discoloration almost immediately.

Cosmelan 2 is your at-home skin treatment, which uses milder ingredients, along with larger amounts of titanium dioxide. These ingredients will help continue to lower your production of melanin and protect your skin from UV rays, preventing further sun damage. 

What to expect during Cosmelan treatment, step by step

The Cosmelan depigmenting system goes beyond the immediate effects of regular chemical peels. However, the process is also a bit more complex than an at-home mask.

Getting started with Cosmelan 1

Before starting Cosmelan, it’s best to have a consultation with one of our doctors, who will examine the treatment area, spot any lesions, and tweak the treatment regimen for the best possible results.

In addition, for the ingredients to take hold properly, the skin will need to be prepped ahead of time. This will involve:

• Stopping any hair removal treatments at least one month before treatment.
• Avoiding injectables (e.g., Botox, fillers, microneedling) at least one month before treatment.
• Not using any hair dyes or brow tints within two weeks before the procedure.
• Nourishing your skin with our doctor’s recommended moisturizing regimen, at least two weeks in advance.
• Discontinuing any medicated creams, especially vitamin A, seven days before and hydroquinone cream, 1 month before.

Using the Cosmelan 1 mask

On the day of your appointment, and immediately before applying the Cosmelan mask, our technician will use a professional cleanser to remove any excess oil from your face.

The Cosmelan 1 mask will need to stay on your face for at least eight hours. But don’t worry, you don’t have to stay at our office for the entire time. After an hour, when we can confirm you haven’t had any adverse reactions, you can go home. However, you will need to remain indoors and away from direct sunlight while the mask is on. After 8 to 12 hours, you simply wash the mask off with water.

During the first week post-Cosmelan 1 mask application, you can expect the following skin changes:

• Redness
• A constant “heat” sensation
• Mild swelling
• Peeling and flaking (especially after day 3)

During this time, sun protection is of paramount importance with SPF 30 or higher. You’ll also start using the Melan Recovery, which will reduce irritation during this time.

Around six weeks after the first Cosmelan 1 mask application, you will return for an additional mask application to extract the remaining hyperpigmentation.

The home protocol with Cosmelan 2

Seven days after the Cosmelan 1 mask application, treatment with the Cosmelan 2 home kit begins. This milder cream will help preserve results from the initial peel and minimize the reappearance of sunspots.

Cosmelan 2 is applied twice a day, morning and night. In the mornings, it should be followed by strong sunscreen — SPF 30 or higher.

Depending on your skin type and individual goals, Cosmelan 2 may need to be combined with other skincare products, especially a deep moisturizer. Our doctor will advise on which products you should be using at home.

After a month or so, it will be time to review the “final” results. At this point, the full rejuvenation effects should be visible. Many patients will find that in addition to visible skin depigmentation, they also enjoy a smoother skin texture with minimal downtime.

Why choose Assil Gaur Aesthetics for your eye and facial aesthetic rejuvenation?

Your eyes and face are among the most delicate structures in your body. That’s why, when you’re looking for a Los Angeles-area surgeon to correct the appearance and function of your eyelids and surrounding areas or perform anti-aging treatments for your face, you want to seek out someone with extensive experience. That would be an oculoplastic surgeon and an ophthalmologist.

In contrast to a med spa or a plastic surgeon, an oculoplastic surgeon is an ophthalmologist with extensive training in microsurgery followed by highly specialized training in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the eye and delicate skin structures surrounding the eyes and face.

The health and safety of your eyes and surrounding delicate facial areas are the number one priority in all surgical planning, which is not found at medical spas.

Among the aesthetic services we offer for the eyes and face, surgical eye conditions that we treat include excess eyelid skin or fat, drooping eyelids, wrinkles around the eyes, eyelid reconstruction after tumor removal, excessive tearing, revising prior unsatisfactory eye lifts, abnormally turned in (entropion) or turned out (ectropion) lid margins, and traumatic eye injuries. AGEI is the answer to your question as to where to find a Cosmelan peel near me.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with us in our Beverly Hills or Santa Monica offices to discuss your concerns about the appearance or function of your eyes, eyelids, or skin and to learn what treatments might be right for you.

We are conveniently located for patients throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area in or near Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, and Downtown Los Angeles.

Written by The AGEI Educational Team

The Assil Gaur Eye Institute Education Team is dedicated to providing accurate, accessible, and patient-centered eye health information to support not only our patients, but the broader community as well. Working closely with our physicians and specialists, the team helps develop educational content designed to empower patients to better understand their vision, eye conditions, treatment options, and advances in ophthalmology. Our goal is to make complex medical topics easier to understand while upholding the highest standards of clinical accuracy, trust, and patient care.

The Assil Gaur Eye Institute Education Team is dedicated to providing accurate, accessible, and patient-centered eye health information to support not only our patients, but the broader community as well. Working closely with our physicians and specialists, the team helps develop educational content designed to empower patients to better understand their vision, eye conditions, treatment options, and advances in ophthalmology. Our goal is to make complex medical topics easier to understand while upholding the highest standards of clinical accuracy, trust, and patient care.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Avneet Sodhi Gaur

Dr. Gaur's training and work experience at renowned ophthalmic institutions, including Tufts Medical Center and Boston-Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary, have given her extensive experience in state-of-the-art medical, laser and surgical management of glaucoma and cataracts. It is no exaggeration to report that she has performed thousands of sucessful cataract, glaucoma and LASIK surgeries.

The Assil Gaur Eye Institute Education Team is dedicated to providing accurate, accessible, and patient-centered eye health information to support not only our patients, but the broader community as well. Working closely with our physicians and specialists, the team helps develop educational content designed to empower patients to better understand their vision, eye conditions, treatment options, and advances in ophthalmology. Our goal is to make complex medical topics easier to understand while upholding the highest standards of clinical accuracy, trust, and patient care.