This is a good question!  Despite prior small studies indicating that the Fraxel laser might improve melasma, that has not always been true.  Unfortunately, the Fraxel laser like all other laser treatments improves some a patients, leaves some patients with no change, and makes some patients worse. I have not yet seen a large,controlled trial on this issue which would help doctors figure out exactly what the percentages are and how to identify which patients fall in each group.   At this point, I'm either not recommending the Fraxel laser for melasma or recommending it very cautiously, and only in lighter skin types.  I hope this helps.  Dr. Irwin