nyc1458

Thanks Bevgry, I'll try it...I also have the upper lip melasma issue. I have also been experimenting with various coverup techniques. I haven't used lipstick but found that applying blush, in a light blending/feathering motion, after the foundation and setting powder, works relatively well in hiding the darkness. Since the blush is somewhat on the peachy/rose color side I think that's why it's working better then my other attempts at covering up. I will definitely try the lipstick. Thanks for the tip. BTW...try and stay away from the laser treatments if you can, I tried it and made the Melasma worse, at least for me it did. I've also been using a topical cream Meladerm, no good either....again, those were my results.

nyc1458

Glinda, I'm interested in your Grapefruit seed extract treatment. Is that something I can get at the supermarket? Can you elaborate on the application process and how long you used it before you saw results. Does it act more like a bleaching agent? I'd like to try it if you could give me more info. Thanks.

SkinCareDiva

Was at the beach for about 3 hours with SPF 40 and my "sun mustache" came right back after almost a year of it being almost gone. I give up.

hzqh7p

I had a Melanage Peel on June 12, 2009. It has been just over a month now and I could not be more pleased. I am currently using the Melanage Peel 2 as part of the treatment. The spots on my cheeks are almost completely gone; faded to the point you can't even see anything, but a few faint freckles. I know the battle isn't over and I will have to continue to use various products that will continue to help and avoid sun exposure and wear a sunscreen daily. I had also read that grapefruit seed extract is supposed to be great for the internal side of helping melasma. I bought some of it, but only tried it once (tastes terrible) but if you mix it with something, not so bad. Anyway just wanted to share my experience with Melanage Peel, it was outstanding experience for me and I would totally recommend it to anyone suffering from moderate to severe melasma. Thank you.

lettygarza

I have been suffering with melasma for the past 6 years and i can honestly say I have tried just about everything to resolve my problem. I went to two dermatologists and both told me that I had melasma and said the cause was probably sun damage. I have always refused to accept that because i had never had a problem with spending time out in the sun. I started to do my own research and realized that my melasma appeared soon after I started taking minocycline for my acne. I remember asking the doctor if it could be the minocyline that had caused it and he said no. Well time passed and I tried prescription ointments, microdermabrasion, laser treatments etc. and nothing worked. I just got back from the carribean and my melasma was the worst it has ever been. I decided to start researching on the net and came across this site. I am so glad i did because i finally know what has been causing my melasma-- copper! I have been drinking soy milk for the past 16 years and i now realize it is loaded with copper. I used minocycline and it is loaded with copper! Copper makes the brown color in the melanin that causes melasma! I had too much copper in my body. For the past week 1/2 I have stopped drinking soy milk, I am taking magnesium, vitamin c and grapefruit seed supplements (antagonists to copper) and for the first time my face is clearing up dramatically! I am so happy and blessed to have come across this site and I want everyone to know that if you do what i did you will certainly feel the relief and joy that i am experiencing today!

BeautyTrix

Are you suggesting this because of the Kojic Acid?

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BeautyTrix

Prettybow, you have received so many great suggestions already but I wanted to throw another out there. Mama Lotion was used by one of my friends and he found great results with the product. It has the Mandelic acid (10%) and the Malic acid (10%), it really helped to clear the sign of post acne skin damage for my friend. The only thing is that if you still treat your acne, you can not use this product with any other AHA product, retinol or bonzoyl peroxide. You also have to wear sunscreen, that sory of a given though anyway lol!

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salma

please any one help me for my melasma skin. My face is almost cover with melsma and i am really really dipress with my condition please help me'I have brown colur skin.thanks.

reez1972

Hi, I'm new to this forum but have been doing melasma research since the last consultation I had was at a cosmetic and laser surgery office and they told me that's what I had. I have lots of freckles and moderate acne but after 3 kids (i'm in mid 30's) my freckles appeared to have expanded into splotches of brown. The esthetician (sp?) said it's basically like my skin is tanning out of whack. But also, my acne has worsened where the marks go so deep, the mark remains long after the actual zit is gone.
I went there because I figured all my other options were exhausted. They recommended I try the Obagi skin program. It containes Retin-a but also has a whole regimen (cleansing, toning for PH balancing, etc.). Has anyone heard of it? They said it's a good program because it can be more aggressive than Tri-Luma or you can dial it down a bit too, depending on your lifestyle. It sounds promising. It also has hydroquinone but someone just said in a thread that causes cancer? Geez. They said that there really isn't an over the counter product anywhere that would be able to address true skin problems like melasma/scarring. You'll never get Retin-a over the counter because it's dangerous if not used properly. You could find Retinol, which is a derivative, in some over the counter products but its results are minimal at best. Just thought I'd share my experience. thanks.

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saniakhan

The condition that you are facing is called melasma. Melasma is a result of a hormone in your body that causes the pigment producing cells to over secrete causing a hyperpigmented zone. While brown patches in themselves are not dangerous.
Melasma is caused by a thyroid problem or an excessive amount of stress that causes the secretion of Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone or MSH.
Stress reduction requires that you change your work ethic to a form that takes a lesser toll on your body. Treating melasma requires that you treat the underlying problem as well but fundamentally, all one can really do is bleach the skin to remove the temporary brown path.
Skin bleaching can be done with the help of nature’s bleaching agent called vitamin C. This can be acquired from sources like onion juice and lemon juice. Apply this to the face or the region of hyper-pigmentation daily.

Bevgry

I'm very interested in the posts re:copper because in the past year my copper intake has increased dramatically.

I developed melasma on in the Summer after using hair removal cream on my upper lip and then sunbathing.
I was diagnosed coeliac a few months prior and as a result of the damage to my gut intollerant to dairy and I was already vegetarian. This means I have been using soy milk and tofu as replacements and eating copious amounts of nuts etc.

Following my initial outbreak my melasma did improve after a few months of wearing sunscreen ( I hadn't changed my diet though ? ). But it then returned in December, it is winter over here and I have still been applying my sunscreen daily but it just keeps getting worse. I have been a little stressed at work but now I this has come back I am incredibly stressed and would do anything to reduce it. I am currently changing my diet to reduce the amount of copper and have completely given up all nuts and soy.

It hasn't had any immediate affect but I will persevere.

As a topical treatment I have been using ultraquin with 4% hydroquinone as well as tretinoin 0.01%. As well as glycolic acid (home treatment) occassionally. I started using this when I first developed the problem back in the summer and used for 3 months but as I was concerned it may make things worse and I wanted to know if it worked I only applied to one side of my melasma moustache. It made very minimal difference. Both sides lightened and I can only put this down to sunscreen ?

I have no idea what has caused the flare up again as although my diet is high in copper it has been this way for some time.

I have researched lasers and IPL and it seems the Ruby Q switched laser seems to have the best results.

If so would love to hear. If I do get it done I will only get one half o the moustache treated so I can objectively see if it works or makes things worse as others have reported.

Has anyone else tried the Ruby Q ?

saniakhan

Dark spots and discolorations on the skin can be a difficult and embarrassing problem. Skin pigmentation, age spots and melasma are hard to treat. There is no shortage of fading creams on the market - many of which are unsafe and do more harm than good, such as those containing hydroquinone. Others are simply ineffective and a waste of time and money. However, there is the possibility that a simple, natural home remedy may be just the solution you’re looking for.

• Vinegar: Dilute vinegar equally with water, and use to cleanse and rinse your face. Allow to air dry to seal in moisture. Or, use the vinegar/water mixture in place of an astringent or toner. Vinegar is chemically acetic acid, and is capable of whitening and brightening, as well as making skin smoother and more radiant. It has also long been used for a skin softener. Apple cider or other natural vinegars are recommended, though some people use distilled white vinegar.
• Onion Juice: To get onion juice, you can finely chop up an onion, or blend it, and squeeze the juice through a cheesecloth. Mix with equal part apple cider vinegar, apply twice daily with a cotton ball and watch for results over the next several weeks. Alternatively, you can cut a slice of onion, dip it in vinegar, and apply it to the pigmentation.

LAG11

I also suffer from mild cystic acne and melasma. I believe my melasma started several years ago when I used prescription acne spot cream on my forehead and went in the sun..dont think ALL of the dermetologists agree with my assessment I sometimes feel as though I know more about melasma then they do from reading these forums.

I have tried microdermobrasion, laser, peels, hydoquinone, any top lightening agents known to mankind. I feel that all of these have made my melasma worse. They have made me HYPERSENSITIVE to the sun or heat. I do not ever leave the house without high spf. Never in full sun exposure w/o a hat. If I am in a warm climate or vacationing, the dark patches come back immediately, with a vengence!

Now I have been using the supplements vit c/msm/cod liver oil combinations daily. I truly believe this helps. And nivea cream. Again, I live with the secondary problem of acne, so i only use on my forehead, afraid of breaking out..I will try all natural/homeopathic remedies now only. I have been on Solydyn past few years for my acne..its the only thing that ever helped me. Although do not like being on an oral antibiotic so long, I do it because it works!

It is an everyday battle, i long for the days of waking up and not needing to apply makeup to my face before i leave the house, or not feel embarrassed of the way I look! I do notice sometimes the patches are lighter than other days, obviously hormonal..and i truly believe in cleansing from the inside out..want to learn more on ppl who have done some cleanses, and noticed a difference. Also, I believe in copper theory..I will start cutting nuts/soy out of diet..

But more importantly, it would be fantastic to come up with something to KEEP it away. We can get rid of it...But how do we keep it away???

We CANNOT live in a bubble...

But we can learn to live and deal with this as best we can, because we are all beautiful no matter what !!

nyc1458

Dear Lag11,

Thanks for sharing. It's good to hear from others going through the same ordeal. I haven't found anything yet that works and like you have tried quite a bit of everything, lasers, topical creams both prescription and OTC stuff. Nothing has worked. I'm tired of the makeup everyday too but I have to cover the brown patches. Anyway, welcome to the forum, it was good to hear from a new member.

ethosspa

There is a cream that is FDA approved for melasma. It is important to realize there are different types of melasma. It may be difficult to differentiate from post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Epidermal melasma is much easier to treat than dermal melasma, which has a more bluish, gray quality to it. It is possible to differentiate the two with the use of a light from a wood lamps. You need to be careful as the treatments for melasma can make its appearance worse.
Salicylic peels are on option. They are self neutralizing, and can be used safetly on all skin types. A proper history and physical may also be needed to rule out any medication related cause for the hyperpigmentation. Use an appropriate SPF is sun avoidance is integral to the treatment of melasma and other conditions resulting in hyperpigmentation.
triluma is a cream composed of retinoic acid, hydroquinone, and fluocinolone which is a steroid. While it may not be right for everyone, it has been shown to be effective in the treatment of epidermal melasma.

Intense pulsed light and other light based therapies such as fractional resurfacing can also be utilized in the treatment of melasma. However these same treatments can potentially make the symptoms worse so it is important to go to a person, hopefully a physician, who is versed in the treatment of this difficult to treat conditions.

Monika Soni, MD
Cosmetic Spa NJ | Aesthetic Spa Summit NJ | Cosmetic Plastic Procedures NJ
Laser Hair Removal NJ NY PA - Home

hzqh7p

I appreciate your information, however I just want to CAUTION anyone who will listen about IPL's. I had epidermal melasma and it was about the size of a pencil eraser on my left cheek and I had nothing on my right cheek. It was very light and hardly noticeable (even without makeup). I had 4 sessions of the IPL and I noticed after the second treatment my left side got worse and my right side had spots I never had before. They (Dermatologist) kept reassuring me I just needed more treatments. I had already paid upfront, so it wasn't like they wouldn't be paid if I stopped the treatment. Bottom line, it made my face a million times worse, I have had to spend thousands (yes thousands) of dollars to try to UNDO what they idiots did to me. I was so distraught I thought of suing and am still considering it. They never properly treated me with melasma, I was the one that told them that I thought that is what it was. I never had a wood lamp test, nothing and didn't know enough to ask. That is what you pay the professionals for right? So just a word of GREAT caution on IPL's, they are not worth the risk. I could completely go without makeup before this IPL treatment, now not so much. I am angry and I just don't want to see someone else go through it. Stick to a lot of the remedies that help at this forum. That is the ONLY thing that has helped me. I have shared many posts here, but this is the one that I really want to get out to people. Don't let someone talk you into IPL, it doesn't work for most people and I am the best example.

Something new I am using that I swear works miracles is Miracle worker by PHILOSOPHY. The moisturizing lotion is amazing and the vitamin A pad at night are unbelievable. I've been using the no makeup/makeup foundation from Dr. Perricone on my whole face and then use spot concealer for the darker melasma spots for the day. I am convinced your skin responds best to natural products. The miracle worker cream does NOT have sunscreen in it, but my makeup does, so I think so far so good, but as summer approaches, I will have to change up my routine and get a better sunscreen. I have been a human guinea pig and I can tell you, internal work (must be done) as well as the outer work and treatments and I have been doing this for 2 years. My skin is the most improved that it has been. I may be permanently scarred in some areas on my face from the IPL's that is why I feel so passionately about it and strongly caution against it. Melasma responds better to peels. On top of that, IPL's are expensive, painful and you look like crap for at least a week.

I hope that helps anyone considering it, not worth the risks. Thanks for listening!

nyc1458

Amen to that hzqh7p! Your story is my story. No need for me to even reiterate. I have been through the same ordeal with laser treatments; a small spot on my forehead has turned into the map of China, I kid you not. A similar spot on my upper lip is now a brown mustache; it is horrifying, depressing, and a downright continuous sadness-provoking angst. Sometimes I just want to stay in the house forever, unfortunately that is not an option. Makeup doesn't cover it, it just masks it and I look like "Baby Jane" in the thriller, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane." Anyway, thanks for sharing again and I guess we will continue the fight.

Doctors need to stop trying to make money off of us and start learning their profession and trade. If you don't know what you're doing to your patients, who by the way trust you, then don't do it, simple right?

Thanks for reading.

bellelionne7

FIND AN ESTHETICIAN IN YOUR AREA THAT CAN PERFORM A "VIVANT PRO PEEL"....YOU WILL see MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN 6 DAYS....promise.....
It's the BEST...

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