Is Meladerm naturally good for skin lightening?
NancyM on 12 Feb 2008 at 12:00am
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?
Comments (63)
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i have a major problem of dry skin and melasma on face. and i wanted to know weather meladerm does work for such problem, as i have been using so many product to get rid from such problem but still not able to get rid from that problem. i will be very much thankful if your product would effectively work on my skin and i hope it would work.please suggest.
waaak,
I won't suggest people, do not just follow people feedback/comments
Waste of time and waste of money...
I've used Meladerm since setember 2009 to january 2010. I found at the begining few improvement in my skin that too just 5-10% in second and third week but not more than that. I thought it may take time to show improvement in my skin and used till three or four months. I've used all, 4 - 100 - Meladerm Creams. To my surprize I didn't find any improvement in my skin. I'm 28 yrs Old an Indian Origin. However, In short, I found a website and read lots of stories, I don't know whether it is true or I just got trapped through websites. When civiantskincare website displays that it improved the skin of many cutomers then why it didn't effect to me? Money Spent got nothing. Waste of money,Hopes,Time & etc.