Is Meladerm naturally good for skin lightening?
Skin lighteners which include hydroquinone occasionally have some negative reports about their long term effects, but Meladerm claims to be safer way to address a wide array of skin damage:
- Hyperpigmentation / Dark discolorations
- Age / Liver spots / Sun spots
- Freckles
- Tans / Sun damage
- Melasma / Chloasma
- Acne marks
- Old scars
- Birthmarks
- Dark elbows, knees, underarms, knuckles
- Uneven skin tones
Meladerm represents it's active ingredients of kojic acid and alpha-arbutin as a more natural means of addressing these skin conditions. But before you run out and buy a year's supply of Meladerm, note that Meladerm usage is not necessary over the long-term as a skin lightener. The company states that Meladerm efficacy "plateaus" after 3 or 4 months. Meladerm manufacturer Civant Skin Care stated in a note to RealSelf.com that "Rather than ‘milking’ customers as some companies will do, we are honest in stating that the product does not have to be purchased indefinitely."
It may be the case that Arbutin is not all that different from hydroquinone. Dermatologist Arnold Oppenheim, MD calls Arbutin "a swarmy, sweet first cousin of hydroquinone. This is my way of saying that Arbutin is glycosylated hydroquinone....hydroquinone with a glucose (sugar) molecule attached. It in fact turns into hydroquinonie as it is broken down. Like hydroquinone it supresses pigment prodcution by inhibiting the tyrosinase enzyme."
A Civant Skin Care representative counters that, while agreeing with Dr. Oppenheim's comments, "it refers to the normal form of Arbutin, otherwise known as Beta-Arbutin (hydroquinone-beta-D- glucopyranoside). Our product, Meladerm does not use this ingredient. Alternatively, we use a completely different form of Arbutin known as Alpha-Arbutin (4-Hydroxyphenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside). This form of Arbutin does not break down to hydroquinone and consequently does not pose the same side effects."
The Meladerm reviews and product feedback we've found on the web range from extreme happiness to disappointment in the results. Do you think Meladerm is safe and worth it when it comes to lightening and whitening skin?
Write a review about Meladerm Advanced Pigment Reducing Complex
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unregistered guest
26 Mar 2008
Well I have just begun to use Meladerm on one side of my cheek for the last 5 days I haven't really noticed any difference on the acne scar but my cheek does seem to be becoming lighter. It says I will notice results in 2 weeks so maybe over the next week or so the acne marks will fade. I will add another comment next week and tell my results.
unregistered guest
17 Apr 2008
Thanks for this tip. I ending up buying Meladerm and have been using it on my upper lip. Even though it has only been little over 3 weeks, I can see lots of improvement. The first few days my skin was getting kinda dry and itchy. But I guess my face started getting used to it and now its okay. Has anyone tried using this cream for more than 3 months like they say on their website?
2 posts
18 Apr 2008
Also keep in mind....some professional skin care lines, sold through physicians, have ingredients that can cause mild irritation (i.e., irritation, peeling, itchiness, etc.) Hence, why it is important to communicate any reactions to your physician. Some mild forms of irritation are not always a contraindication. Often, the end user tries a product for a few days, has a "normal" reaction of redness, for example, panics and ceases using the product. If you buy a product from your physician, the first few days are critical to communicate what you're experiencing, if you are concerned or dissatisfied, allowing your doctor to evaluate what is normal vs. what may be a true allergy. Secondly, hydroquinone is still widely used in the US to treat hyperpigmentation and melasma, however, many other countries have banned the use, preferring alternatives that are considered safer and as effective. Pure L-ascorbic acid (in stable form), kojic acid, azelaic acid, Arbutins, have been used since the bans, with much success in disrupting melanocyte activity (sun spots, photo damage). Full disclosure, I am citing various peer reviewed articles and I am in the industry, representing, MODUS, a professional skin care line developed and made in Italy. This message is intended to allow for some thoughtful dialogue on various options for skin tone balancing and to make end users more aware to discovering what a true allergy symptom "is" when introducing a new ingredient to any skin care regimen. Best wishes in seeking the best products for true anti-aging! Read, read, read. Pubmed is a great resource!
unregistered guest
3 May 2008
I have melasma on my forehead and cheek. So I purchased Meladerm since hq did not work for me at all but I have yet to see any type of improvement whatsoever and I have been using for 3 weeks now. I'm actually going to return it. Mona
unregistered guest
14 May 2008
well I finally bought Meladerm last month. I was on the fence about it for almost a year and had been trying dozens of different natural treatments for my melasma. I'm a 33 old Puerto Rican male (YES MALE) and I was diagnosed with Melasma after being on hormone therapy. Anyway in the last few weeks there has been significant improvement. There has been enough lightening of the dark patches, so much so that in some lighting it's not even noticeable unless you look closely. My doctor says that I shouldn't expect 100% fading, but even know I'm pretty happy with the results. I've read both positive and negative reviews of this product and it seems that it just works for some and others not so much. Anyway I'm glad I finally tried it and even my doctor is considering recommending it to his patients.
unregistered guest
23 Aug 2008
thank you for the help. I got my first tub of meladerm in June. im now using my second tub and my skin is getting very clear and evened out. its made me very happy. after 1 month my scars began to disapear and everyone in my family tells me im looking better and better.
unregistered guest
8 Sep 2008
It really does work. I read all the reviews on their website but didn't really believe them whole heartedly. I've only been using the cream for 3 weeks but already I can see improvement. I'm sure it doesn't work equally for everyone, but I am quite happy with the results. My only complaint is the price. They charge you $50 for just 1.7 ounces. The packaging is pretty nice and I really think that they could make the product more affordable if they just went with cheaper packaging.
2 posts
5 Nov 2008
Has anyone used meladerm who is African-American? What was your experience? I am. I really need a skin fading cream that does not have hydroquinone in it and is also affordable. I have bad acne scars, my face looks awful.
unregistered guest
4 Dec 2008
You should be skeptical of all reviews you read about products. Anyone can write anything they want whether it is true or not. Companies will sometimes hire people to go out on the Internet and write positive reviews of their products. (They may also hire people to write negative things about competitors). You should always be skeptical of any reviews or comments read on the Internet. Trying products yourself isn't always the best solution either. We are all easily fooled when we want a product to work. And if we've spent money on it, we'd rather say something works than admit we've been duped. Scientific studies demonstrate that the ingredients in Meladerm will work for some and not for others. It is worth trying but it's possible that it won't work for you.
1 post
28 Feb 2009
Hi. Has anyone who is black tried it for acne marks? I am trying to get rid of mine but can't seem to find a good lightener that won't cause me long term illness or make me breakout.