Harley Street Aesthetics
Interior of the Harley Street Aesthetics clinic, where Cosmelan peel consultations and treatments take place
Pigmentation and melasma treatment

Cosmelan Peel in Glasgow

A Cosmelan peel is a professional depigmentation treatment by mesoestetic that can help reduce the appearance of melasma, sun spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It combines one in-clinic mask, left on for several hours and washed off at home, with a structured home-care programme over the following months. At our Glasgow clinic, every Cosmelan treatment begins with a clinician-led skin assessment.

1
In-clinic session
6–8
Hours mask wear, as directed
1–2
Weeks of visible peeling
6
Month programme
Depigmentation treatment

A structured approach to stubborn pigmentation

Pigmentation is one of the most persistent skin concerns to treat. Melasma in particular tends to return with sun exposure and hormonal change, and aggressive treatments can make it worse. Cosmelan takes a structured, gradual approach: one carefully timed in-clinic mask, followed by months of home care designed to keep pigment production in check.

At our Glasgow clinic, your treatment is planned around a thorough skin assessment. Your clinician looks at the pattern and likely depth of your pigmentation, your skin type and your medical history, then explains honestly what Cosmelan can and cannot do before you commit. You leave with clear aftercare guidance and a plan for long-term maintenance.

  • Can help with melasma, sun spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
  • One in-clinic session followed by a structured home-care programme
  • Suitable for all Fitzpatrick skin types, subject to clinician assessment
  • Works on how pigment is produced, not only on visible surface marks
  • Cosmelan home-care programme included in the £995 price
  • Clinician-led assessment, aftercare and maintenance planning in Glasgow
Interior of the Harley Street Aesthetics clinic, where Cosmelan peel consultations and treatments take place

Clinician-led at 5th Floor, Ingram House, 227 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1DA.

What does a Cosmelan peel do?

A Cosmelan peel reduces the appearance of excess pigment by slowing the skin's melanin production and encouraging pigmented surface cells to shed. Cosmelan is made by mesoestetic and is described by the manufacturer as a depigmentation method rather than a conventional acid peel, because it acts on how pigment is produced as well as on pigment already visible at the surface.

A Cosmelan peel is most often chosen for melasma, the symmetrical brown patches that commonly appear on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. It is also used for sun spots and for marks left after acne or inflammation, known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The protocol is designed for the face only. Because melasma is influenced by sunlight, hormones and genetics, Cosmelan is best thought of as a way to manage pigmentation rather than remove it permanently. Your clinician will assess the type and likely depth of your pigment first, as deeper pigment typically responds less than surface pigment.

How does the Cosmelan treatment work, step by step?

The Cosmelan treatment works in two phases: a single in-clinic mask followed by a home-care programme that continues for several months. Before treatment, your clinician may ask you to prepare your skin with suitable home-care products for at least two weeks, as mesoestetic recommends, to help your skin tolerate the mask.

On treatment day, the Cosmelan mask is applied in clinic and you go home wearing it. The mask stays on for several hours. The manufacturer's current protocol specifies six to eight hours, and your clinician sets the exact time for your skin type and pigmentation. You then wash the mask off at home. Within about a week, once your skin has settled, you begin the Cosmelan home cream as directed, alongside a high-factor sunscreen every day. The complete Cosmelan method runs for around six months. Following the home phase closely matters: mesoestetic states that interrupting it means you will not obtain the expected results.

Cosmelan vs Dermamelan: what is the difference?

Cosmelan and Dermamelan are both depigmentation treatments made by mesoestetic, and both pair an in-clinic mask with a home-care phase. The main difference is how they are positioned. Cosmelan is the professional depigmentation method, applied by trained practitioners. Dermamelan is the medical depigmentation protocol, intended for use under medical supervision and generally positioned for more persistent pigmentation.

Neither treatment is automatically better. The right choice depends on your pigment type, how long it has been present, your skin type, your medical history and how well you can commit to months of home care. At Harley Street Aesthetics we offer Cosmelan. If your assessment suggests that a different approach would suit your skin better, your clinician will explain the alternatives, including other peels and light-based treatments, and the realistic trade-offs of each before you decide. The comparison below summarises how the two treatments are presented by the manufacturer.

Cosmelan vs Dermamelan at a glance
CosmelanDermamelan
Manufacturermesoesteticmesoestetic
Treatment typeProfessional depigmentation methodMedical depigmentation protocol
Who applies itTrained aesthetic practitionersUsed under medical supervision
StructureOne in-clinic mask, then home-care cream for several monthsIn-clinic mask, then a home-care phase
Typically chosen forMelasma, sun spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentationMore persistent or resistant pigmentation
Offered at our Glasgow clinicYesNo

Cosmelan before and after: what results can you expect?

After a Cosmelan peel, most people notice their skin looking more even once the initial redness and peeling settle, with further gradual change over the following weeks and months of home care. Results vary with the type, depth and cause of pigmentation, and no clinic can promise how much any individual mark will fade.

Surface (epidermal) pigment typically responds more readily than pigment lying deeper in the skin. Melasma is a chronic condition: the Primary Care Dermatology Society notes that pigmentation will often reappear after sun exposure, even after successful treatment. That is why a Cosmelan peel is followed by maintenance, usually a daily home-care routine and year-round broad-spectrum sunscreen with high UVA protection. Some people also benefit from periodic maintenance treatments, which your clinician can plan at review. Taking photographs in consistent lighting before you start helps you judge your own before and after progress fairly over the months.

Is a Cosmelan peel suitable for darker skin and melasma?

A Cosmelan peel can be used across all Fitzpatrick skin types, according to mesoestetic, which is one reason it is often chosen as a melasma peel for medium and darker skin tones. Melasma itself predominantly affects skin types III and IV, and around 90% of cases occur in women, according to the Primary Care Dermatology Society.

Suitability for every skin type does not mean every person is suitable. Darker skin is more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, where irritation from any peel, laser or harsh product leaves new dark marks. Careful preparation, a mask time matched to your skin and strict sun protection all help reduce that risk. Some other pigmentation treatments, such as IPL, are not suitable for Fitzpatrick V–VI skin, so a depigmentation peel is sometimes the more appropriate option. Your clinician will examine your skin, ask about hormones, medications and sun habits, and only recommend Cosmelan if it is right for you.

Cosmelan Peel Prices in Glasgow

The £995 price covers the in-clinic Cosmelan mask and the Cosmelan home-care programme. A consultation and skin assessment is required before treatment, when your clinician will confirm suitability, preparation and aftercare.

  • Cosmelan Peel
    In-clinic mask plus Cosmelan home-care programme
    £995

Suitability is confirmed at consultation. See all treatment prices or 0% finance.

Are You a Good Candidate?

Cosmelan Peel is not suitable for everyone. During your consultation, our GMC-registered specialists will assess your suitability based on your medical history, skin condition, and aesthetic goals.

You have melasma or patchy brown pigmentation on the face
You have sun spots or uneven tone from past sun exposure
You have dark marks left after acne or inflammation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)
You have medium or darker skin and want a depigmentation option assessed for your skin type
You can commit to the months-long home-care phase and daily high-factor sunscreen
You are pregnant or breastfeeding
You have taken isotretinoin in the last six months
You have an active skin infection, cold sore, open wound or flare of an inflammatory skin condition on the face
You have a recent tan, recent intense sun exposure or a sunny holiday planned in the first months of treatment
You have had a previous reaction to Cosmelan or similar depigmentation products
You are under 18

Risks & Side Effects

All medical procedures carry some degree of risk. At Harley Street Aesthetics, our Consultant-led approach minimises complications. We believe in full transparency so you can make an informed decision.

Redness and peeling

Common

Expected after the mask. Skin usually looks red and peels like mild sunburn, most visibly for one to two weeks.

Tightness, dryness and itching

Common

Flaking, tightness and mild swelling can continue through the first month as the home phase begins.

Warmth or stinging

Common

A warm, prickling sensation is common while the mask is on and in the first days afterwards.

Irritation or contact dermatitis

Uncommon

Some skin reacts more strongly than expected. Your clinician may adjust the home-care routine if this happens.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Uncommon

Irritation can leave temporary darker patches, particularly in darker skin or if sun protection lapses.

Allergic reaction

Rare

A true allergy to an ingredient is rare. Tell your clinician about any previous reactions to skincare or peels.

Uneven lightening

Rare

Occasionally skin can lighten unevenly (hypopigmentation). Careful assessment and timing help reduce this risk.

Recovery Timeline

Recovery varies between individuals. Below is a general guide — your consultant will provide personalised aftercare instructions during your appointment.

Day 0

Mask day

The Cosmelan mask is applied in clinic and you go home wearing it. You wash it off at home at the time your clinician has set.

Days 1–7

Redness and peeling

Skin is typically red, tight and peeling, similar to mild sunburn. Use only the soothing products advised, avoid sun and wear high-factor sunscreen.

Weeks 2–4

Home-care phase begins

You start the Cosmelan home cream as directed. Some flaking and dryness can continue through the first month as tone gradually evens out.

Months 2–6 and beyond

Maintenance

Continue the home programme and daily broad-spectrum sunscreen. Your clinician reviews progress and plans maintenance, as pigmentation can recur.

Important Medical Information

All cosmelan peel treatments at Harley Street Aesthetics are performed exclusively by GMC-registered Consultant Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons. Our practitioners hold FRCS, MRCP, and equivalent specialist qualifications.

Individual results may vary. The information provided on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. A full medical consultation is required before any treatment to assess your suitability, discuss risks, and set realistic expectations.

All before-and-after images shown are of real patients who have given consent for their images to be used. Results depicted are individual outcomes and are not guaranteed.

Melasma is a chronic condition that can be managed but not cured. Pigmentation may return, particularly with sun exposure or hormonal change, so ongoing sun protection and maintenance are needed. Individual results vary.

Harley Street Aesthetics — 10 Harley Street, London W1G 9PF · 5th Floor, Ingram House, 227 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1DA

Cosmelan Peel FAQs

What does Cosmelan treatment do?

Cosmelan treatment can help reduce the appearance of melasma, sun spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The in-clinic mask helps slow melanin production and encourages pigmented surface cells to shed, and the home-care phase that follows helps keep pigment production in check over the following months. Results vary, and melasma needs ongoing sun protection and maintenance.

How much does a Cosmelan peel cost in the UK?

A Cosmelan peel costs £995 at Harley Street Aesthetics in Glasgow. That price includes the in-clinic Cosmelan mask and the Cosmelan home-care programme. UK prices vary between clinics, so when comparing Cosmelan cost it is worth checking whether the home-care products are included. A consultation is required first to confirm Cosmelan is suitable for your skin.

Is Cosmelan available in the UK?

Yes, Cosmelan is available in the UK. It is made by the Spanish skincare company mesoestetic, and the in-clinic Cosmelan mask is supplied for use by trained professionals rather than for self-treatment at home. We offer the Cosmelan peel at our clinic at 5th Floor, Ingram House, 227 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1DA, following a consultation and skin assessment with a clinician.

What are the downsides of Cosmelan?

The main downsides of Cosmelan are the downtime and the commitment. Expect redness and peeling, most visible for one to two weeks, with possible flaking through the first month. The home-care phase lasts several months and must be followed closely, alongside strict daily sunscreen. Irritation can occasionally cause temporary darker patches, and melasma can recur.

How long does Cosmelan last?

Cosmelan results can last well when maintained, but they are not permanent. Melasma is a chronic condition, and pigmentation often returns with sun exposure or hormonal change. The full Cosmelan method runs for around six months, after which daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, a maintenance home-care routine and, for some people, periodic maintenance treatments help keep results.

Does Cosmelan remove all pigmentation?

No, Cosmelan does not reliably remove all pigmentation. It can help fade melasma, sun spots and post-inflammatory marks, and surface pigment typically responds better than deeper pigment. Some pigmentation may lighten rather than clear, and melasma can return. Your clinician will assess your pigment first and give you a realistic picture of what to expect.

What is the strongest peel for hyperpigmentation?

There is no single best or strongest peel for hyperpigmentation, and stronger is not always safer. Deeper peels carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, especially in darker skin. Cosmelan is a depigmentation treatment rather than a deep resurfacing peel, which is why it is often considered for melasma. Your clinician will recommend the option that suits your skin.

How long do you leave the Cosmelan mask on?

The Cosmelan mask is left on for several hours. The manufacturer's current protocol specifies six to eight hours, and your clinician sets the exact time for your skin type and pigmentation. The mask is applied in clinic, you go home wearing it, and you wash it off yourself at the agreed time using the instructions provided.

Is Cosmelan safe for darker skin?

Cosmelan is suitable for all Fitzpatrick skin types according to mesoestetic, and it is often chosen for melasma in medium and darker skin. Darker skin is, however, more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after any irritation, so careful assessment, skin preparation, a mask time matched to your skin and strict sun protection are all essential.

How much downtime is there after a Cosmelan peel?

Most people have noticeable redness and peeling for about one to two weeks after a Cosmelan peel, similar to mild sunburn. Dryness, flaking and tightness can continue through the first month as the home-care phase begins. Many people plan the first week around fewer social commitments and must avoid sun exposure throughout.

Book your Cosmelan consultation in Glasgow

Start with a clinician-led skin assessment at 5th Floor, Ingram House, 227 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1DA. We will look at your pigmentation, explain whether Cosmelan is right for you, and plan preparation, aftercare and maintenance before any treatment.

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5th Floor, Ingram House
227 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1DA

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