Treatment guide · Facials & Peels
Cosmelan Peel in Seoul
A clinic mask plus home cream programme for melasma and stubborn pigment.
Ask the clinic for: 코스멜란 필링
Quick answer
Cosmelan is a depigmentation treatment, not a traditional acid peel. A clinic applies a mask that stays on for several hours, then you use a maintenance cream at home. It targets melasma and dark spots. In Seoul it costs about ₩500,000–₩1,500,000, causes 1–2 weeks of redness and flaking, shows results in 4–6 weeks and usually needs one main session.
Estimated cost in Seoul
₩500,000–₩1,500,000
Treatment time
30 minutes in clinic; mask on for hours
Downtime
1–2 weeks of redness and flaking
Results show
4–6 weeks
Results last
Long-term with sun care and maintenance
Sessions
1 session plus months of home cream
Cosmelan Peel explained
Cosmelan is a branded depigmentation programme. It includes a clinic mask and a home maintenance cream. It is used for melasma, sun spots and post-inflammatory dark marks.
How Cosmelan Peel works
The mask contains ingredients that block tyrosinase, the enzyme that makes melanin, and exfoliate the surface. It stays on the skin for several hours, then you wash it off at home. Over the next weeks the home cream continues to slow pigment production. Melasma can return, so sun protection and maintenance are essential.
Who Cosmelan Peel is for
- Melasma that has not responded to creams alone
- Sun spots and uneven tone
- Dark marks after acne or irritation
- Expats or long-stay visitors who can follow up
- People who can avoid sun for several weeks
Who should avoid Cosmelan Peel
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Short trips with sunny travel straight after
- Very sensitive or eczema-prone skin
- Recent isotretinoin use, without doctor advice
- People who cannot commit to daily sunscreen and home cream
What happens at the appointment
- Doctor consultation and pigment assessment
- Skin cleansed and prepared
- Cosmelan mask applied in clinic
- Mask kept on at home for the time advised, then washed off
- Home cream started as instructed
- Follow-up visits to check progress
Aftercare and flying home
- Use high-SPF sunscreen every day and reapply outdoors
- Use the home cream exactly as directed
- Moisturise often to manage dryness
- Do not pick at flaking skin
- Avoid other acids and retinoids unless the doctor says otherwise
Side effects and risks
- Redness, burning, tightness and flaking for 1–2 weeks
- Itching or swelling in the first days
- Irritation that needs extra calming care
- Melasma returning without sun protection
How much does Cosmelan Peel cost in Seoul?
₩500,000–₩1,500,000 (about US$370–1,100) — Price usually includes the clinic mask and home cream, plus follow-up visits. Clinics may combine it with laser toning at extra cost. Prices are estimates and vary by clinic.
Why get Cosmelan Peel in Korea?
Seoul dermatologists treat melasma often and can combine Cosmelan with laser toning and pigment care in one plan. Total costs are often lower than in many Western clinics.
Prices are estimates gathered for Seoul clinics and change with brand, dose and promotions — confirm a quote with the clinic before booking. This page is general information, not medical advice; a doctor will assess whether a treatment suits you at consultation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Cosmelan cost in Seoul?
Expect about ₩500,000–₩1,500,000, usually including the home cream. Combination plans with laser cost more.
Does a Cosmelan peel hurt?
It usually causes itching, warmth or mild burning while the mask is on and for a few days after. Most people find it manageable.
How long do Cosmelan results last?
Results can last a long time with daily sunscreen and maintenance cream. Melasma can return with sun, heat or hormonal changes.
When can I fly after Cosmelan?
You can fly, but skin is red and flaky for 1–2 weeks and very sun-sensitive. Avoid going straight to a sunny holiday.
Is Cosmelan safe?
It is widely used under medical supervision. Side effects are mostly irritation and flaking. It is not used in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Can Cosmelan cure melasma?
No treatment cures melasma, but Cosmelan can lighten it significantly. Long-term sun protection and maintenance are needed.
Where to get it in Seoul
Foreigner-friendly clinics cluster around Gangnam, Sinsa–Apgujeong–Cheongdam and Myeongdong. Tap a number to zoom in, then tap a pin to ask the clinic on WhatsApp whether they offer this treatment and for a quote.
Pins show each clinic's neighbourhood or nearest station, not the exact door. Not every clinic offers every treatment — ask before you go.
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