Yasmin

thx for this. I am 39 and we have done all the test and i am not going through the menopouse - thank god. I am not going to do the obagi peel but have been using the Obagi Nuderm.

I did use the priory cream and also try the idebenone product and peel but it made it worst. i did it at harley street and it was recommended by my beutician. I had 2 aha peel and they continue with the ideobenone after using their product for about 2 weeks.

I cannot see the the improvement on the obagi nuderm cream but from what i have been told that it will take time. I am not convince that this will work but i am just going to try it out for 6 months. This is my last hope as i have treid everything.

can you give me more detail about the cooling gel as i do get hot flush around 4pm in afternoon for about 2 hrs. Sometime it is very hot!

Thx again for you help

dmb789

my friend has melasma and the dark pigment is all over her face. She tried celacor and it faded at least 80%, also left her skin looking healthy, it was very dull before she started using the product.

EternallyBeautiful

Hi Yasmin

Thanks for getting back to me. Did you have a course of Omnilux also with the AHA and also partly Idebenone? There is also another side to Priori which works on the pigmentation side of things a little more. Between Idebenone and coffeeberry these ingredients can help improve the look of your pigmentation. I wouldn't advise any laser to these areas as this can stimulate the melanocyte cells and this has a knock on effect of this cell producing alot of melanin. If you think about each cell it has around 30 melanin protecting one cell so if this is over stimulated it can be very tricky to turn it off if you know what I mean.

The gel which is good for cooling down is called phytoestrogen gel it can be bought from my website under skincare log on to eternally-beautiful.co.uk and click on shop and you should see it there. This gel isn't available outside of the UK but if you order it from me I can send it over. The only restrictions I stipulate is that you cannot be lactating, breast feed, have cancer or breast cancer or be under any medication for cancer treatment. You apply a small drop of the gel on to the cheeks and neck and you will see and feel the difference.

I would like to know how long you tried the AHA and the Idebenone peels for and I'm wondering why that Harley street hadn't mentioned it would take time for the melasma to break up?... as I treat clients on a daily basis for this and I have had remarkable results. The only thing I stipulate to clients is that it it's a working progress and will take time more than 6-12 months. I try and explain that there's no need to go and do all the harsh treatments as this can make the melasma worse. So steer clear of any strong treatments.

Hope this helps
Eternally Beautiful

hzqh7p

I am 41 years of age and I too have melasma. It is the most frustrating problem I have ever had. I originally got it after I had my son at age 35, but then it completely faded. Then I noticed it only came out if I was in the sun (on vacation) or something like that. Then each time it would fade. NOW at this age, all of the sudden it has not faded.

I went to a derm and he suggested IPL treatments (Intense Pulse Light) treatments. I had 4 treatments. I DO NOT recommend this for dermal melasma! I really believe it made my condition worse! IPL works for sun damage (melasma is not the same) and age spots, not melasma. You also need to determine if you have dermal melasma (deeper in the skin or dermis) or epidermal (not as deep in the skin) and easier to treat and you can have a combination of the two. A wood's lamp test will determine which type you have or if you have the combo. My derm never gave me that test and I didn't know enough to ask. It was not until I did my homework later that I found that out.

Long story short, IPL's do not work. I tried the Hydroquinone, didn't work, Retin A, many other bleaching products to no avail. I have found that none of them worked. Right now I am trying a product called MELADERM. It is supposed to be all natural and no hydroquinone. You use it twice daily (morning and night) I have only been using it for about 3 weeks and I do see a slight improvement, but it does say that it works after several months. I found another forum that I posted a similar note and I had a dermatologist respond to me and they told me about MELANAGE. It is supposed to be some sort of mask that the derm puts on you and it is a combo of hydroquinone and Retin A (I believe, don't quote me) and you wear the mask (depending on your skin) for 5-10 hours (you have to leave the office with the mask) sounds scary! LOL I looked for photos online and I found several people that looked like they got really significant results. I am into looking into that next. It is expense though, but at this point, I want to cry with frustration when I look at my face!

Also I have read about SOY milk (unsweetened) and you put it on your face at night. Cheap and possibly worth a try. Mandelic Acid, Azealic acid, Kojic Acid are others that I have heard about. I am going to keep trying the meladerm for now and if that does not work look into the Melanage Peel.

Just remember, Melasma is very very stubborn and very difficult to get rid of, just be patient, persistent and I am really hoping they keep coming up with new things to help those of us that suffer from this. Yes, I said suffer. LOL Your self-esteem takes a beating and yes we have makeup to cover it up and thank god. But the times I don't have it on and my son says "Mommy you look weird and I don't like your brown spots" well that is when you really want to crawl in a hole.

Good Luck and I will keep you posted on my results from Meladerm.
Thanks for listening!
Julie

hzqh7p

Also, they have GREAT sunscreens on dermadoctor.com! You really need to make sure you protect your skin every single day. Keeping your skin cool is important too, I was told it is the heat, not just the rays of the sun. I am going to check into various amino acids/vitamins to see if any of those are recommended for melasma. I am getting my masters in nutritional science, so I am always interested in that kind of thing anyway. I will let anyone know that is interested, but I am sad to say that although I do think a nutritional diet is extremely important in many areas, I am not sure if melasma can be helped from it. But I am willing to try! LOL

One last thing, I bought the clarisonic exfoliator and that really helps to exfoliate the skin to help the products absorb into the skin better.

I am not a doctor of course, these are just my opinions and I have had melasma for years now, so I feel like an expert as I have tried so many things. If I can help anyone, that is the goal here.
Thanks again!

EternallyBeautiful

Hi I've just read your trouble about IPL treatments to help melasma. That's a real shame that your dermatologist suggested these treatments. Melasma is a condition which is internal and is very hard to get rid of. Possible drugs/ anti biotics can help and using a combination of topical products which co inside with the oral intake can help. The problem with melasma is that you have to tread very carefully no to stimulate that area or areas. I would definitely not ever recommending IPL for this condition as you're stimulating the melanocyte cell and then that has a knock on effect to the melanin which 30:1 from each individual cell. This in turn switches on and it kinda goes crazy over producing melanin. Less is definitely more and if you use powerful products it can have the opposite effect which you're trying to achieve.

I use Coffeeberry and also idebenone even tones and smooth lines for and on my clients and they have seen a difference. Albeit it is slow but its much better than having adverse effects. Coffeeberry works on pigmentation and can help to control the melanocyte cells going crazy and you would really require a SPF and EPF on 30 and 95 idebenone Radical Defence. Coffeeberry is 99.2% natural and is one and the only one on the market today that is nearly all natural. If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me I run my business in Glasgow Scotland and I'm connected to the Courthouse clinics in Harley Street London so skin treatments are my speciality. I deal with all kinds of problems on a daily basis but ultimately it's the clients choice to either take my advice or do to the Doctor / GP for further advices. The problem in society now is that we live in the right now part where people just want to walk in get something to take their concern away and that's in kinda like people wanting to look young so they think instead of working for it just go to a botox clinic and then wham. Instant results (almost). It's not always the answer and this is the MOST difficult to get this point across to clients.

My business website is eternally-beautiful.co.uk any other info email me.

hzqh7p

I know, looking back I am very angry at him and myself for not checking into this more beforehand. I consider myself to be an informed and I am educated and they still took advantage. They showed me pictures of someone with freckles all over their face and yes the IPL looked like it really worked for them. I thought melasma was the same type of hyperpigmentation as freckles, sun spots/age spots and the like. But there are differences as you mentioned. I have a lot of patience and I was not looking for the quick fix either, I was just trying to try something that might help me. I had no idea it could make it worse and to add insult to injury, I paid 900.00.

They never even gave me a true diagnosis of melasma. I knew that is what it was in part, but I had been a sun worshipper (so to speak) in my teens and twenties and on the birth control pill for many years. I had had melasma after my son was born as I mentioned, but it faded. So I knew I was prone to it. I had not been "baking myself" in the sun in over 10 years and wear sun screen everyday. So I didn't know why I had it and that it would not fade.

I will check out the coffeeberry (I think that is what you said) I am willing to give anything a try that I know can help and not a waste of my time and money. I had been doing the IPL treatments over the course of almost a year's time, so I was trying to be very patient. I could have been doing other things and that is very frustrating. I think the key point is that everyone has flaws and a lot of us have flaws on our skin. That is why there is a multi-million dollar makeup industry. This is a common problem among many many people. The biggest problem that I see if that we have people taking advantage of our condition and that is my MAJOR issue. I am trying to help others to avoid this by letting them know about IPL.
Thanks for the info!

Yasmin

Tessa,

do you know anyone who use the obagi nu derm product. I have been using this for 6 weeks now but could not see any improvement. I was told that it would take a while. The dermatologist told me that he will combine the obagi treatment with Pixel laser treatment but this treatment cost £500 at a time. Shall i just carry one with Obagi for now as i am a bit scare to do the laser...

nyc1458

hzqh7p, how is the MELADERM working for you so far? I too am looking for a treatment that will at least fade the melasma. I've tried so many things, including laser, and nothing has worked. After reading several posts regarding HQ, I'm afraid to continue that too for fear that the melasma will get darker, which I think may already be happening. Let me know about your exp. with MELADERM. Thanks.

hzqh7p

Hi NYC1458,

I have been using the Meladerm since January 4 and today is February 23 and I have to say I have seen SIGNIFICANT improvements in my skin. It is the best thing I have tried so far!!! I am truly very happy with what I see and I feel very hopeful. I highly recommend this product! I have medium/olive tone (sensitive and oily skin). The other part of my regimen is Dr. Murad's cleanser with salicylic acid and I use that with the Clarisonic exfoliating brush. I follow that up with a toner from Proactiv. I have been told that the Clarisonic helps any product you put onto your skin absorb 65% more than if you do not use it. And it is important to use a toner to help any product you use absorb better into the skin. I really agree with that as well. At least for my own experience! I believe all of this combined together has helped my skin tremendously!!

Of course I am trying to "undo" the mess that the dermatologist and the IPL treatments did to me. My melasma was much less noticeable BEFORE the IPL and of course the derm swears it can not be from IPL, but I have only spoken to them by phone. They have not seen me yet and I plan to go in there and show them! LOL
My main purpose for writing on this forum was to warn other melasma sufferers about IPL and also to advise them about the Meladerm. It's the best thing that I have tried in years.

I hope it can help you too. Just do a google search and it will bring up the company, which I believe is Civantis.

One more thing, if you do get the Meladerm, when you apply it--it is very important to make sure you wait 10 minutes before applying makeup. I was not doing that and I noticed once I did, I got much better results. I just never have the extra time in the morning, so I just didn't follow the directions properly.

I will keep you posted as I continue using the product. So far, I love it!

Good Luck!

Julie

Karenvenice

I'm 42 years old and I have been battling melasma (stage three) for 6 years. It started small, as a little freckling over my cheeks, then spread to my nose, upper lip, then forehead, and now my chin of course. I know that there are worse things in life and so many people have serious illnesses to battle, but still, it does upset me that it's there on my face and I just cannot get rid of it. This summer I visited my grandmother and she took long hard look at me and then came out with: "what happened to your face, you used to have such nice skin..." or how about this guy I bumped into after not having seen him for years: "Wow, what happened to you? I hardly recognized you with all that freckle action going on" (he was being polite cause it doesn't look like freckles but rather more like ugly dark stains) I too have practically tried it all! A word of warning about Triluma, this cream actually is the reason that my melasma has turned grayish in color and in fact nowadays dermatologists have stopped prescribing the cream. I did the latest Vi Peel, which is supposedly the most delicate of the peels and therefore will not further irritate the melasma, causing it to spread; although it's true that my skin looked absolutely beautiful after the peel and the melasma got much brighter, it nevertheless returned in full force two weeks later. I have also learned about the hydroquinone being cancerous and have stopped using it as a method of lightening the melasma that has spread all over my face. I am sick and tired of spending money on dermatologists and feel as though I have been a guinea pig of sorts. I too cover my face with sun block and wear a hat everywhere I go, but the truth is that melasma is triggered both by hormones and any source of light--it's a losing battle. NOW though I have come across a possible solution, albeit not from a dermatologist but rather created from the citrus fruit, and it is manufactured in a Kibbutz in Israel. I am awaiting a relative who will bring it over to me next month and I am eager to try it out on my face. It's made out of natural ingredients and let's face it, I have nothing to lose! Will keep you posted on whether it's helped me.

Yasmin

Karen,

I know how you feel. I have tried everything and i feel exactly the same. Peeling, creams and accupunture, chinese herbal... i am just fed up of it all. I hate looking at myself in the mirror. Mine started from my neck and spreak all over my face in patches but more on the neck,under eye and around the mouth. My brother in law was visiting and he also could not recognise me. I feel that wherever i go people look at me.. which is probably not the case but i cannot help feeling like that.

Recently i tried Obagi Nu Derm product and show a slight improvement but like you said it did come back once you stop using the cream which is very expensive. I went back to the dermatologist and he told me that he will try pixel laser... to be honest i feel that everyone is just in it for the money!!! To self their product.

Please let me know how you get on this new product!

Karenvenice

Yasmin, are you sure about the laser treatment? I was under the impression that anything like that could potentially be harmful for melasma, and trigger it to further spread...In any event I will keep you posted about my citrus treatment but again, it's going to take a while because I will only be receiving it in mid April and then will need to wait a couple of weeks after using it to see whether there's been any improvement.

ms stacia7

i like mandelic acid which i have researched and found it is one of the main ingredients that is responsive to dermal melasma. ms stacia7

Yasmin

Karen, i am not sure.. the doctor at Harley street convince me that it would not make it worse but it cost £500 per treatment and i may need at least 4 session. He also said that the Obagi Product would show an improvmeent and that cost £350. I have used the Obgia Nuderm and there is not improvmeent. I am really at a lost here and i just don't know who to trust. I am so unhappy with my look and my neck... Anyone out there that can help as this is really not doing my health any good.

Karenvenice

Yasmin,

Hang in there, I will be getting my new treatment this week. I actually made a mistake, the cream and pills that I will using are made out of the citron fruit (which is a citrus). In any event, I will wait for ten days before I report to you guys whether there has been some dramatic improvement or not, or whether I have just wasted another 150+ bucks. A girlfriend of mine gave me a cream last week that she picked up in France. I don't know anything about it, and I'm not going to use it until I try the citron treatment--her cream is called Mela-D. I guess in France there is a lot of melasma floating around because there are a lot of French who are from Middle Eastern descent...olive skinned people. Her melasma it under control but she on the other hand gets a special peel done to her once a month, all covered by her insurance. I saw her last weekend and the melasma was a bit visible on parts of her face, and she tells me that she's been using this cream to control it. In any event I can't remember whether any of you have had experience with the cream that she gave me but if you want to look it up then it's Mela-D by LA Roche-Posay.
I will report back in two weeks

nyc1458

Hi hzqh7p,

Thanks for your reply. I bought the Meladerm in late Feb and started using it immediately. So I guess it's been about a month and a half now. I use it every morning and night, haven't missed a day. I think I've seen a little improvement but I have to wait and see. My melasma is dermal so it's going to be a long time before I will see any significant change but I'm patient and hope to see positive results at some point.

I also have medium/olive tone (combination/mostly oily skin). I use a natural exfoliating scrub by Origin about 2 - 3 times a week and the Aveeno cleanser with salicylic acid. I don't use a toner but maybe I'll try it.

I'm in the same boat, trying to "undo" the mess that the dermatologist and the laser treatments did to me. My melasma was also much less noticeable BEFORE the laser.

I'll let you know how I do on the Meladerm. Thanks for your info, it's very helpful.

nyc1458

seema

hello everybody, i have melasma for 5 yrs, the last mnth i have done laser treatments, after that my melasma becomes worse, i stopped laser after doing 2nd treatments, now i know i did a big mistake, but now i am looking for the next treatment for my worst melasma, pls give me some advice, thanks

seema

hi i have also dermal melasma, the mistake i did was i done the laser treatment for melsma before one mnth, after that my melasma becomes more dark, now i am looking for the other treatment, plz help me

seema

hello NYC1458, I REALLY WANT TO KNOW ABT THE MELADERM CREAM, WHAT IS THE RESULT OF YOUR MELASMA, AFTER USING MELADERM CREAM????