It seems like the freckles on my face are getting darker. What kind of treatment would be effective?

Lately, melasma has become noticeably prominent on my cheeks and around my cheekbones, so I am considering getting a dermatological procedure. In the past, it appeared light and could be covered to some extent with makeup, but lately, perhaps due to a lot of sun exposure, the color seems to have darkened, and my overall skin tone looks dull, so I am very concerned.

I have heard that unlike regular blemishes, melasma can actually become darker if treated incorrectly, so I am concerned about which procedure to receive. I have found various treatments such as laser toning and pico lasers, and I am curious which method is most commonly used for melasma. I would also like to know if the treatment method varies depending on whether the melasma is light or dark.

I have also heard that it is difficult to see significant results with just one or two treatments. I am curious to know how many sessions are typically required to notice a change and how often they should be spaced apart. I would also appreciate it if you could let me know if there is any downtime, such as redness or scabbing, after the procedure, and if using sunscreen or whitening products regularly would be helpful.