Cry when look in mirror due to Melasma - Help! - Page 2

DayDreamer · 02-04-2010, 07:24 PM

Hi fellow Melasma-ites. I have it as well. My dermatologist prescribed Triluma and it works somewhat. All supplements mentioned by everyone failed. I also just started the Glycol progressive packs, .01%, then .03% ending with .05%. Last year she recommended REMERGENT. That stuff really worked, but the company sold the patent to Estee or some company. AMAZING difference that made. I keep watching to see what the new company will use it in. It made my skin so soft and I didn't even use the Triluma with it for visible results with my dark spot w/i 30 days.

trico36 · 02-16-2010, 06:19 PM

Well i am 2 and a half weeks into using the Celacor Melasma kit and i couldn t be happier!! I have had noticable lightening especially on my upper lip!! My skin is looking better than it has in years.Its certainly not gone completely but at least now i can cover it with make up successfully,where as before even with a truckload of makeup it was still VERY obvious.I can finally look in the mirror now without my dark mo being the first thing that jumps out at me. Still have a good few weeks of product left and will let you all know how things go when i have finished.Still taking supplements religiously and trying to eat as healthy as possible too!! Have stopped wearing a hat all the time to hide my face(except when i am out in the sun of course).Looking better and feeling great!!!

cheetahgirl · 02-16-2010, 09:43 PM

So glad to know Celacor is working for you

Hasn't done so for me unfortunately. Not sure if I'll get my money back as I've used it religously for 30 days

. Would like to hear from you after 30 days please?

tans · 02-21-2010, 09:56 PM

Hi
From my research overall i think melasma is caused by three factors 1. yeast 2. copper overload and 3. hormonal - i think most of us fall into this category.
I found the below study very interesting and thought that finally scientists are on the right track when it comes to treating melasma. I have tried all the internal pills and syrups ie msm , DIM , grape fruit seed extract none of these worked for me hence mine is hormonal

Background and Objective: Melasma is a commonly acquired hypermelanosis of the skin due to various etiological factors, including pregnancy and oral contraceptives. Estrogen receptor expression in affected skin has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to compare estrogen receptor expression in hyperpigmented and normal facial skin of patients with melasma.

Methods: Biopsies of 3 mm were taken from affected and unaffected forehead skin of 2 female patients with melasma. Frozen sections of the tissues were obtained and mouse monoclonal antibody against human estrogen receptors was tested at various dilutions to determine the optimum concentrations required for reproducible immunostaining with minimal background staining. Fluorescence was evaluated and compared qualitatively.

Results: The immunohistochemical staining of tissue from both patients reflected a qualitative increase in estrogen receptor expression in melasma-affected skin compared to unaffected skin.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the increased expression of estrogen receptors in melasma-affected skin and may establish the basis for exploring topical anti-estrogen therapies in melasma.

There is a company that is producing a topical anti oestrogen gel that reaches to the skins dermis, so this maybe the key to resolving some peoples melasma. this gel has also been used to treat scarring of the skin. The gel is in its third phase of testing . But i finally feel there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am closely tracking this gel and as soon as it becomes available I am using myself as a guinea pig. Yes I am that desperate to rid myself of this disfiguring problem.

I will keep you all updated

cheetahgirl · 02-22-2010, 01:53 PM

Hi Tans!!
Thanks for your info and I look forward to your update. I hate melasma because it's caused me to become obsessed and highly depressed. I combine MSM, vit C, grapeseed and grapefruit seed extract and am seeing slight changes as my melasma is breaking up andn looking spotty. I have my days where i find it lighter, but then some days it's the usual dark dirty melasma. My foundation makes it look worse like, blueish. Unfortunatley I'm not confident enough to go bareface.
I hopw that gel works for you and you tell us all what it is!!!

mary27 · 02-23-2010, 03:06 PM

@nschemeczko dermablend carries a very good foundation for scars, it is long lasting, matte finish with great coverage, but it feels heavy

@tans be careful about HQ. If you use too much of HQ, it will adversely affect your skin in the long run. My doctor put me on HQ only for 4 months, now I am using Retin-A

LeisaWatkins · 02-23-2010, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by tans

Hi
From my research overall i think melasma is caused by three factors 1. yeast 2. copper overload and 3. hormonal - i think most of us fall into this category.

Very interesting. You're right most of us would fall into that category.

bean · 02-23-2010, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by janel600

I feel your pain! There are a lot of things out there that can help. If you have the money you can always look into laser facials combined with topical creams that lighten deep under the derma layers. Keep in mind, we are always at risk of the pigmentation coming back, but if you keep up with the regime that works for you and sunscreen you will be good.

Look up Laser facials under:
Photofacial
Laser rejuvenation
Fraxel <--This is new and is about $1000 per treatment. (Typically 5 treatments are needed)

Hang in there! There ARE ways to treat this.

Don't do FRAXEL!! I had one treatment and it ruined my face. Check out realself.com and you will see all the unhappy fraxel victims. I have heard that the Obagi NuDerm system helps with Melasma. There's a lady on this site that had the same thing you have and had great results with NuDerm. I think her user name is something like "nomoremelasma". She even has pics posted.

bean · 02-23-2010, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by bean

Don't do FRAXEL!! I had one treatment and it ruined my face. Check out realself.com and you will see all the unhappy fraxel victims. I have heard that the Obagi NuDerm system helps with Melasma. There's a lady on this site that had the same thing you have and had great results with NuDerm. I think her user name is something like "nomoremelasma". She even has pics posted.

I made a mistake.

The pics I was referring to are on a different web-site: makeupalley.com and her username is nomomelsama. Check out the pics. I think you'll be impressed and eager to try Obagi. (It's pretty expensive, though.)

gettingthere · 02-24-2010, 08:24 AM

cheetagirl - i found a lot of foundations made the melasma patches look a horrible grey type colour. started using shiseido dual balancing foundation and it's fantastic - not a total coverage but evens out the skin tone nicely and feels like silk - i have sever melasma to the point where i can't look at pics of myself and this is the only foundation i have been happy with!

fane8872 · 03-01-2010, 01:01 PM

Hi,

This question is for LNL. I am responding to one of your earlier posts. You mentioned to take Pycnogenol 3x a day. Do you know the strength I should take 3X?

Thanks,

ColoradoLady · 03-01-2010, 02:07 PM

I'm not LNL, but I found the study re Pycnogenol. 25mg 3 times per day is what was used in the study.

Pycnogenol
Dr. Ni discovered that 75 mg Pycnogenol® per day for 1 month significantly reduced the size of the over-pigmented skin area. And, more importantly, the pigmentation of the skin was getting significantly lighter after treatment with Pycnogenol®. Dr. Ni concludes that Pycnogenol® is ideal for treatment of hyperpigmentation, particularly as Pycnogenol® is safe and no side-effects occured.

SkinCareDiva · 03-01-2010, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by LYDIASELLERS

is melasma deadly?

I'm not sure how to take this post. Was this meant to be sarcastic as if the OP is overreacting to something that isn't harmful or is the poster of this comment truly asking if melasma is deadly?

Melasma sucks and makes you wanna cry that's for sure. in the summer if I dare to go out without sunscreen I have a mustache of discoloration that lasts for MONTHS.

fane8872 · 03-01-2010, 10:46 PM

Thanks ColoradoLady. I have 100MG. So I will take that for now and see how I progress.

tans · 03-11-2010, 05:49 PM

Hi Everyone

I have been doing alot of research on melasma (reading of medical journals), and have come to the conclusion that melasma can be cured. All the medical journals point to the estrogen receptors on the skin as the culprits. Our facial skin contains the most estrogen receptors. Havent you ever wondered why we dont get melasma on any other part of our bodies even when sun baking (not that I do this). The key to curing our melasma is finding an antiestrogen that is selective in blocking these estrogen receptors. Research has shown that melasma lesions on our face when compared to non melasma regions of our faces are full of overly expressed estrogen receptors.
There are over six million women in the US alone who suffer from melasma. If each of us contributed one dollar that would equate to six million dollars we could pay researchers to concentrate on finding a cure for melasma. I hate to dampen your spirits, but there is very limited research happening to find a cure for melasma . Because melasma is not deadly most reseach is focused on cancer (as it should be) but melasma is killing our self esteem and social life. I am willing to donate my one dollar. I think all of us need to take a much more proactive role in finding a cure for this disease . It is possible. Talking about this disfiguring disease is helpful but i think it is about time we took action. In the past 10 years all that dermatologist have come up with in treating melasma is more hydroquinone I'm sorry but that is not good enough. We need to realise that melasma is an endocrinology disease . I am sick of try this and try that. I want answers!!! Sorry to vent but I know that if we as women stick together we can accomplish anythng. Let me know what you think. I am a scientist but unfortunately this is not my area of expertise otherwise i would be conducting experiments myself.

skinproblem · 03-12-2010, 02:48 PM

You are right Tans - I compeletly agree with you. I am also trying to find solutions almost 10 years now. I beeen usind hydroquinon and doesn't work anymore. I spent thousand dollars. I tried laser too. None of them the treatments work. I am really looking for something which can make my face even skin tone. I really hasitate to contact people. I hate when they say something about my face. I just hate myself.

brenchng · Yesterday, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by nschemeczko

I have Melasma and cannot look in the mirror without makeup without crying. I have seen a Dermatologist who said there is really no cure, and it is all over my face. i am 37 years old and too embarressed to go out.

I cannot even find makeup that covers it.

I have tried steriod creams, vit c, meloderm, zinc, silica, folic acid, bleeching creams with no success. I wear sunscreen religiously and am not-pregnant and never have been.

has anyone ever tried melseton tablets?

I am so confused by all the products out there that seem to be scams
that dont know what to try next.

Hi,

I would like to know about melseton tablets too. Whether it helps in pigments or melasma.
I have tried cosmelan kit 2 months ago and still using the cream till today.
It does helps to lighten my freckles or pigments tremendously.
I can understand how you feel . Google on cosmelan review and maybe you can try it.