Hyperpigmentation in Egyptian skin: what's different

Egyptian skin sits mostly between Fitzpatrick III and V — meaning more melanin and a faster reaction to heat. The consequence: most off-the-shelf laser protocols cause post-inflammatory pigmentation instead of treating it.

The first step is a Wood's lamp exam to read pigment depth. Superficial (epidermal) pigment responds quickly to peels; deep (dermal) pigment needs an entirely different approach.

Melanin absorbs laser energy and converts it to heat. On lighter skin that's safe, but on our skin that heat can trigger rebound pigment worse than the original. Hence: low energy across multiple sessions, never a single aggressive blast.

We begin with 14 days of gentle priming (Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide). Then six biweekly sessions combining low-strength TCA, vitamin C mesotherapy, and a low-energy Q-switched laser pass.

Drugstore quick-bleach creams. Many contain hydroquinone at very high concentration, or even banned mercury compounds. They give a fast two-week result, then the skin rebounds worse than baseline.

Any pigment protocol without disciplined sun protection is wasted time and money. SPF 50+ mineral, reapplied every two hours outdoors, plus a hat in peak hours. Non-negotiable.

After six months of disciplined treatment, we only need one maintenance session every three months to hold the result.