Hi guys,
I am glad to find this forum for men. I am an Asian guy,49 y/o with melasma on both cheeks for many years. First the brown spots was small, so I decided to go with laser treatments. Unfortunately, the laser made it worse. The spots were darker and bigger. I think because the laser had burned my skin so deep and damaged the cell. I stopped the laser treatment and started to use Ambi (Hydroquinone 2%) after a little over 2 months, the spots disappeared. I was so happy to see my clear skin again so I decided to stop using the Ambi. Then the brown spots came back and even darker than before right after I stopped using it. I read online and found out that the downside of using the Hydroquinone is once you stop using it or using it too long, the brown spots will get worse. I felt so embarrass every time I was in the public. I then used many other topical products with no Hydroquinone such as Louis Varlana, Shiseido, Clinique, Enrose Enrose, and some other Chinese products. In the end, none of them worked.
Recently, I made friends with a dermatologist in Vietnam and he suggested to use Obagi or Neova. I first tried the Obagi number 3 which was basically 4% Hydroquinone. (by the way, I use sunblock every day with 45, or 50 or 60 sph). My friend (the derma) told me the way to use Hydroquinone is:
1/ first 2 weeks, apply one time every 2 nights, sunblock every day
2/ after 2 week, apply every night until the spots get lighten up to 79, 80%
3/ start applying one very 2 nights again for one month and using any moisturizer with peptide to prevent the brown spots coming back.
After 4 weeks, I noticed the improvement. The spots got lighten. Unfortunately, I took a cruise to Asia during my treatment. When I came back, the brown spots came back with me so I have to start over with Obagi 2 times a day again. Right now, the brown spots are still on my cheeks but they are not super dark. I am afraid of the moment I stop using the Obagi, my skin will get worse again. I am alternating between Obagi number 3 and Neova every night now in hoping that once I stop using Obagi (probably the end of May), I can use Neova instead. I am also using the Korean BB cream with a very light powder on top (for men) to cover the spots a little bit when I go out. The good thing about the Korean BB cream is it covers the skin very naturally (you can watch on youtube how to use Korean BB cream on men) Of course, there is nothing can cover my brown spots perfectly unless I put on a make up like a clown, but at least, my face looks a little better.
I thought about trying the Nonalative laser treatment but my friend (derma) said, laser does not treat Asian skin very well and the brown spots are easy to come back. I will update you guys on June, once I stop using Obagi.
Meanwhile, please share with the rest if you found a way to get rid of this melasma problem.