Inside the Melanocyte · Chapter 4 of 4
The short answer
A pigment care protocol is a plan in two phases. First, a correction phase of about 16 weeks to fade the look of existing dark spots. Then a maintenance phase to keep your tone even while triggers like light, heat and hormones are still around. Daily sun protection runs through both. Oral support can complement this routine, never replace it.
- 01Correct, then maintain. Stopping as soon as the spot fades is the most common mistake.
- 02Sun protection is non-negotiable, in both phases and in every season.
- 03Supplements can support your skin's natural defenses. They do not erase spots.
- 04Planning a laser or a peel this fall? Build your plan with your practitioner.
Over three chapters, we met the melanocyte, its neighbors and the molecule Cyspera is built on. One lesson runs through all of it: pigment is a process, not a single event. So it deserves a plan, not a one-off product. Here is ours.
Why do you need a protocol, not just a product?
Because the triggers that wake up your melanocytes do not disappear when a spot fades. Pigment experts reflected this in their global consensus on hyperpigmentation, which emphasizes long-term management.[1] Studies have also seen pigment return in the months after people stopped treatment, even when they kept using sunscreen.[2] A protocol keeps your routine in step with your triggers.
Phase 1: Correct (weeks 1 to 16)
Apply CYSPERA INTENSIVE once a day on unwashed skin (or CYSPERA SENSITIVE if your skin is reactive). Start with 5 minutes of contact, then build up to 15 over the first weeks.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Apply a thin layer of CYSPERA AGELESS.
Every morning, finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, ideally tinted with iron oxides. Reapply when outdoors.
Optional: take CYSPERA TOTAL SKIN, 2 to 4 capsules a day with a glass of water, as part of your routine.*
Phase 2: Maintain (after week 16)
- Continue CYSPERA INTENSIVE twice a week.
- Keep CYSPERA AGELESS daily.
- Keep your tinted sunscreen every morning, all year.
- Check in with your skin at each change of season, especially before and after summer.
- If spots start to reappear, talk to your dermatologist about a new correction cycle.
Planning a laser or a peel this fall?
Fall is often called laser season: less sun, more time to heal. If you have medium to deep skin, procedures can sometimes leave dark marks behind, so preparation matters. Before you book, ask your practitioner:
- how to prepare your skin in the weeks before the procedure;
- when to pause actives such as cysteamine and retinol, and when to restart them;
- which sun protection to use during healing.
Bring your current routine to the appointment. And never apply short-contact actives to broken or freshly treated skin unless your practitioner tells you to.
What can oral support do, and what can't it?
Your skin is exposed to oxidative stress from the inside as well as the outside. A supplement can bring antioxidant-rich ingredients to support your skin's natural defenses.* What it cannot do: replace sunscreen, act as an "oral sunscreen" or erase a dark spot on its own.
| Ingredient in TOTAL SKIN | What research has looked at | Type of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Polypodium leucotomos extract | How skin responds to UV exposure[5] | Small human studies, including 9 healthy volunteers in a 2004 study; mixed results in pigment conditions[2] |
| Grape seed extract | Antioxidant activity (proanthocyanidins) | Laboratory data and small, uncontrolled human studies |
| L-glutathione | One of the body's main antioxidants | Limited human evidence; effects reported as modest[6] |
| Cuscuta chinensis seed extract | A traditional botanical studied for pigment-related processes | Mostly laboratory studies; small, uncontrolled human studies |
| Pantethine | A form of vitamin B5 | General nutritional role |
Studies on individual ingredients do not prove what a finished formula does. That is why we describe CYSPERA TOTAL SKIN as daily support for your routine, not as a treatment. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor first.
- Chapter 1Meet the melanocyteRead it
- Chapter 2What wakes it upRead it
- Chapter 3How cysteamine worksRead it
- Chapter 4The pigment care protocolYou are here
How Cyspera fits
| Your routine | What is in it | When |
|---|---|---|
| Correction routine | INTENSIVE or SENSITIVE, then AGELESS, plus daily tinted sunscreen. TOTAL SKIN optional.* | Every day for 16 weeks |
| Maintenance routine | INTENSIVE twice a week, AGELESS daily, daily tinted sunscreen. TOTAL SKIN optional.* | After week 16, all year |
Designed together to visibly reduce the appearance of dark spots and help keep the look of your skin tone even over time.
CYSPERA INTENSIVE
Short contact, then rinse. The core of the correction phase.
Discover
CYSPERA SENSITIVE
The same approach for sensitive or reactive skin.
Discover
CYSPERA AGELESS
The daily second step, in both phases.
Discover
CYSPERA TOTAL SKIN
Daily antioxidant support for your skin's natural defenses.*
DiscoverFrequently asked questions
How do I keep dark spots from coming back?
Keep the routine going after the spot fades. Use a tinted, broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, limit heat and irritation, and follow a maintenance routine such as a cysteamine cream twice a week. Check in with a dermatologist if spots reappear.
How long should a correction phase last?
Around 16 weeks. That is the length of Cyspera's correction phase and of the main clinical studies on its cysteamine complex. Visible changes often start earlier, but finishing the full phase gives your skin time to renew.
Do supplements for dark spots work?
No supplement erases dark spots on its own. Some ingredients, such as Polypodium leucotomos and grape seed extract, have been studied for their antioxidant role or for how skin responds to UV. Think of a supplement as support alongside topical care and daily sun protection.
Can I take TOTAL SKIN with cysteamine creams?
Yes, TOTAL SKIN is designed to be used alongside CYSPERA INTENSIVE or SENSITIVE and AGELESS. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor before starting any supplement.
When can I restart actives after a laser or peel?
Only when your practitioner says so. Healing skin is more reactive, and the timing depends on the procedure and your skin. Ask for a written plan for pausing and restarting actives before your appointment.
References
- Passeron T, et al. Global consensus on the management of melanin hyperpigmentation disorders. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2025. doi:10.1111/jdv.70185.
- Espósito ACC, et al. Update on melasma, Part II: treatments. Dermatology and Therapy (Heidelberg). 2022.
- Sachdev M, Grimes PE, Callender V, Hartman CL, Taylor SC, Elbuluk N, Badawi A, Funasaka Y, Lim J, Ng CY, Desai SR. Cysteamine isobionic-amide complex versus Kligman's formula for the treatment of melasma: equal efficacy and rapid onset of action. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2024;23(2):9-16. doi:10.36849/JDD.7428.
- DermNet. Cysteamine cream. Updated 2026.
- Middelkamp-Hup MA, et al. Oral Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases ultraviolet-induced damage of human skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2004. PMID 15583582.
- Persson et al. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in skin of color: emerging therapies and treatment algorithms. Cureus. 2026.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The Cyspera Science Team and the reviewer work for Scientis SA, the company behind Cyspera. The 2024 Sachdev study was sponsored by Scientis. This article is educational and is not medical advice. CYSPERA topical products are cosmetics and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Last updated November 5, 2026.
