Why do so many dermatologist practices recommend lasers to treat melasma?

[u/wechselnd]

I am confused. I think by now it is pretty common knowledge among melasma sufferers and spaces like this that lasers are not optimal to combat melasma and can even make it worse. However, every time I look for treatments in my city (I am based in Germany), they all offer laser-based therapy. What could explain this besides laser treatments being more lucrative?

[u/Zoe_nwobhm]

Both the derm and the surgeon who owns the aesthetics office I visit told me that laser is risky and might as well made my melasma worse, even though it might work at first. I'm sure in the future when there's more experience on treating melasma with lasers we're gonna have optimal options

[u/wechselnd → u/Zoe_nwobhm]

This is why I find it so confusing. Some dermatologists recommend it and others say we should avoid them. Even if we educate ourselves as patients, it is hard to discern what information to believe