My mom had horrible melasma, so when I started to get it, I researched as much as possible.
I spent $$$$$ on dermatologists products, name brand 'whiteners', foundation (which I never used before), sunscreens of all kinds (which I never used before because I was allergic to them)...
but along with my melasma, I had more food allergies, less immunity, fatigue...signs of 'estrogen dominance' (bloating, weight gain etc).
I started taking DIM (ActivaMune) for 'estrogen dominance' and that stopped the melasma I had from spreading. I thought I found the answer. DIM, tons of sunscreen, foundation, hats...but I still had blotches on my face...'You're getting really tanned", I was hearing a lot.
Then I went to a very good endocrinologist, because I was feeling so crappy, who found I needed Armour Thyroid, as I had low thyroid function.
I started that..and the melasma faded a bit!. I told the doctor, as I was very happy about that, but he wasn't too interested.
Then we found I had low testosterone, low cortisol, low adrenal function, possible perimenopause coming up...
So I started on 2mg DHEA (very low dose, to bring up the testosterone), calcium d-glucarate and the DIM (just to offset any estrogen), along with thyroid medication (T3 and T4 which is Armour Thyroid)..
and 2 months later, my melasma is really fading, where I look like I have some freckles, I don't even wear sunscreen anymore, or foundation, my digestion is better, I can eat more variety of foods again, I feel better, I'm losing the weight I gained (slowly), I can exercise again, etc etc etc...
I still have a ways to go...in terms of feeling like I used to, before the melasma started showing up...but I'm starting to climb up that mountain, instead of rolling down.
So...I am just suggesting, before getting laser treatments, or if you have spent hundreds of dollars on creams, bleaches, foundations, sunscreens...
think of how you are feeling..in your body...and try to find a good endocrinologist, if needed.
Maybe melasma is a symptom...and if it is..doctors should be trying to find the cause, instead of just bleaching the symptom over and over...of course there is more money in treatments than cures.
It was a symptom of major hormonal imbalance for me..I would read it was a symptom of too much estrogen circulating around in the body..and I feel that is what my mom had...
but doctors seemed to just stare at me when I talked of DIM and 'estrogen dominance'.
I tested low testosterone twice. That would mean there was nothing to balance out the estrogen I had/have. But I also have adrenal issues too, that will have to be addressed.
I just want to share this because I wasted SO much money on stuff to fade it, stop it, peel it...
when I just needed to go to the endocrinologist..and even that took a while to find a good one!
I hope this helps.
I spent $$$$$ on dermatologists products, name brand 'whiteners', foundation (which I never used before), sunscreens of all kinds (which I never used before because I was allergic to them)...
but along with my melasma, I had more food allergies, less immunity, fatigue...signs of 'estrogen dominance' (bloating, weight gain etc).
I started taking DIM (ActivaMune) for 'estrogen dominance' and that stopped the melasma I had from spreading. I thought I found the answer. DIM, tons of sunscreen, foundation, hats...but I still had blotches on my face...'You're getting really tanned", I was hearing a lot.
Then I went to a very good endocrinologist, because I was feeling so crappy, who found I needed Armour Thyroid, as I had low thyroid function.
I started that..and the melasma faded a bit!. I told the doctor, as I was very happy about that, but he wasn't too interested.
Then we found I had low testosterone, low cortisol, low adrenal function, possible perimenopause coming up...
So I started on 2mg DHEA (very low dose, to bring up the testosterone), calcium d-glucarate and the DIM (just to offset any estrogen), along with thyroid medication (T3 and T4 which is Armour Thyroid)..
and 2 months later, my melasma is really fading, where I look like I have some freckles, I don't even wear sunscreen anymore, or foundation, my digestion is better, I can eat more variety of foods again, I feel better, I'm losing the weight I gained (slowly), I can exercise again, etc etc etc...
I still have a ways to go...in terms of feeling like I used to, before the melasma started showing up...but I'm starting to climb up that mountain, instead of rolling down.
So...I am just suggesting, before getting laser treatments, or if you have spent hundreds of dollars on creams, bleaches, foundations, sunscreens...
think of how you are feeling..in your body...and try to find a good endocrinologist, if needed.
Maybe melasma is a symptom...and if it is..doctors should be trying to find the cause, instead of just bleaching the symptom over and over...of course there is more money in treatments than cures.
It was a symptom of major hormonal imbalance for me..I would read it was a symptom of too much estrogen circulating around in the body..and I feel that is what my mom had...
but doctors seemed to just stare at me when I talked of DIM and 'estrogen dominance'.
I tested low testosterone twice. That would mean there was nothing to balance out the estrogen I had/have. But I also have adrenal issues too, that will have to be addressed.
I just want to share this because I wasted SO much money on stuff to fade it, stop it, peel it...
when I just needed to go to the endocrinologist..and even that took a while to find a good one!
I hope this helps.