Darker skin tones are beautiful, diverse, and uniquely complex. Melanin-rich skin (Fitzpatrick types IV–VI) requires specialised knowledge, careful technology selection, and a deep understanding of pigmentation behaviour, scarring tendencies, and laser safety.
At The Skin Doctor, we provide a dedicated service for patients with African, Afro-Caribbean, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Pacific Islander skin. Our approach combines:
This allows us to offer safe, effective and personalised care for all shades of melanin.
Melanin-rich skin has several important characteristics that influence treatment planning:
Even minor irritation can trigger darker marks lasting months to years.
This requires careful assessment and preventative strategies.
Incorrect devices or settings may lead to burns, pigment loss or scarring.
Melasma and deeper dermal pigmentation need long-term, gentle management.
Post-inflammatory pigmentation is more visible and frequently the main concern.
These factors make medically supervised, carefully selected treatments essential.
Dr Chris Irwin is one of the few Melbourne doctors who routinely uses medical-grade lasers both for aesthetic concerns and in the treatment of skin cancer. This provides a deep understanding of laser–tissue interaction, risk minimisation and safe laser settings for darker skin tones.
With Zimbabwean heritage and lived experience managing melanin-rich skin, Kim Irwin offers perspective, guidance and a culturally sensitive environment. Her background helps patients feel understood, respected and represented.
Our dermal therapists have extensive experience in treating pigmentation, melasma, acne, scarring and texture concerns in darker skin. Her approach prioritises safety, skin-barrier support and long-term pigment stability.
Our use of state of the art Fotona including qswitch allows safe and effective treatment for higher Fitzpatrick skin types. All care is tailored, conservative and medically overseen.
We provide tailored protocols using non-ablative Nd:YAG laser, pigment-stabilising skincare, peels suitable for skin of colour and long-term pigment control strategies.
We treat inflammatory acne, hormonal patterns, pigmentation from previous acne, and selected scarring with safe, gradual treatment pathways.
We assess keloid risk before treatment and provide medically supervised scar-prevention strategies, including corticosteroid therapy when appropriate.
We use long-pulse Nd:YAG laser, the global standard for safe hair removal in melanin-rich skin. This minimises burn risk and provides effective results for coarse, dark hair.
We offer gentle, non-ablative laser treatments and dermal therapies suitable for improving tone, luminosity, hydration and overall skin health without compromising safety.
Your consultation includes:
This ensures your results are achieved safely, gradually and with long-term skin health in mind.
Our treatment philosophy combines medical assessment, laser physics, dermatologic science and culturally aware care. We favour conservative, stepwise plans that prioritise skin integrity, pigment stability and minimal downtime.
This approach creates natural, healthy and reliable outcomes for melanin-rich skin.
If you have concerns about pigmentation, acne, scarring, or safe laser options for darker skin tones, we welcome you to book a consultation to discuss suitable treatment pathways.
The Skin Doctor is a leading centre for cosmetic and medical skin treatments, including the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers.