What are you doing to treat Melasma?

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Has anyone tried the Rodan and Fields Reverse skincare line for melasma? It is about the same price as some of the medi-grade skin care lines (maybe a little cheaper).  Would love to hear some feedback if anyone has tried it.

I have been combating my melasma for 4 years. The forehead blotch is gone (yay!) but my upper lip has been rather resistant to treatments . I am on year 2 of my Obagi and trentinoin treatment and early in the fall prior to starting back up I did 4 gycolic peels and 4 IPL treatments. For me they did nothing and I will be looking to try a new peel next fall, the MelaPeel sounds intriguing and I will ask my MD about it. So here is my question. I have gotten into the habit of not using my obagi treatment if I know that I will exposed to the sun the next day for fear that it will make me photo sensitive and my melasma will get worse. I wear the obagi SPF 50 and brimmed hat or baseball cap when I go out, I have even gotten into the habit of putting a bandage on my upper lip when I run. Is this bad practice to use the Obagi only 4 days a week and then switch to my Murad the other 3? I did just the Obagi for a solid 4 months during the winter months 2nd Question - Can I spot treat? One Dermatologist MD told me yes then a FACS MD told me no. 3rd Question - Each year I use the Obagi system for about 7 months, am I setting myself up for skin cancer? 4th Question - With the IPL, glycolic peels, and the last go around with the creams I no longer peel or have any skin irritation, is that normal, could it be that my skin has become resistant?

I treat my Melasma patients with Melarase creams twice daily and a MelaPeel once monthly. This seems to help epidermal melasma in a short period of time.

I am shocked that there is hardly any mention of the melanage peel on this forum. I have tried multiple treatments and products, and none of them came close to producing the results of this peel. I highly recommend it.

I have had Melasma since I was 32 and am now 48 and have latino heritage. Started with symmetrical round patches on cheeks which now cover entire cheeks (typical butterfly patches), then triangle patch on forehead between brows, and my chin. I have tried everything except lasers as my derm told me it would make it worse. I have become quite good at disguising melasma with a few cosmetic tricks. Since I'm older, using thick coverup, etc. only exaggerates my wrinkles I had to find cosmetics that were lightweight but would still cover up the melasma. My morning routine: Wash face using my clarisonic and good facial wash. Apply sunless tanner (I use Jergens Natural Glow Express for Medium/tan skin tones) to lighter areas (carefully not to touch dark areas) and over the counter skin lightener (Ambi) to darker area (carefully not to touch lighter areas). Use a brush if necessary. Let set for about 15 minutes. Apply sunscreen. Let set for 5 minutes. Apply tinted correcting primer (Pur Minerals). Apply DermaBlend Smooth indulgence Foundation with a brush to blend the lines between my darker area and lighter area. And Finally, use Pur Minerals After Glow bronzer on the lighter area to blend with darker areas. This drastically reduces the appearance of my melasma but doesn't make it go away. Like most, I've spent a lot of money trying to combat this problem, Obagi, HQ, tri-luma, dermabrasion, peels, everything except lasers. Just thought I'd share, if I can't beat the problem areas I joined them with sunless tanner!

My melasma is all over my face apart from nose and upper lip, ie very large areas all over cheeks and chin etc. I've had it for over two years. I stopped the pill; no change. I've tried everything, apple cider vinegar, azaelaic acid cream etc etc, the only thing that worked was 5% hydroquinone from the docter, as soon as I stopped using it, the melasma came back. BUT ....... I have found that 1000-2000mg of vitamin c every day for 5 weeks has made a massive difference ! with light make up it almost doesn't show ! I'd given up, and am so pleased ! it hasn't gone yet, but is so much better !! try it !!! Good luck everyone !!!

Buy ambi at Walgreens ,,,,it really works I've been using it for a few days and it's peeling right off and it's only 6 bucks

do you guys know if the Hydroquinone is in those products that you use?

I tried kojic acid face lotion its seemed to work a bit more than most other things (besides sunscreen)

Hi
Yet another girl who suffer!

I have never been on birth control pill, and I got it a couple of months after my second child birth. I got very dark spots on my skin. Im white but get easily tan.

I used Obagi Nu Derm and it faded quickly to me. It gave me a lot of side-effects so be aware of this! Redness, soreness, lots of flaking.

At the moment im using Pigmanorm, it is very nice and its cheap.I dont get this horrible side-effects like Obagi Nu Derm, ..well just a tiny. I can go to work with confidence using this cream, that wasnt the case on Obagi Nu Derm.

I have this problem too...what cover up works? Mine just seems to make it look worse/


*most important ingredient you need to watch out for when deciding on a skin bleaching cream is Hydroquinone. This is because Hydroquinone is extremely dangerous and may lead to the development of cancer. It has already been banned in countries like the U.K. and France, and Dr. Jacobs of the F.D.A. has concluded that Hydroquinone is mutagenic, clastogenic, and immunotoxic. After learning of this new research, our team concludes that you should avoid any product which containsHydroquinone and instead use products which include the safer lightening agent: Alpha Arbutin.

I'm 42 and have had melasma since getting pregnant 8 years ago. I have fair skin and very dark patches on my forehead,checks, and upper lip. I have tried almost everything from glycolic peel, hydroquinone, microdermabrasion and even many painful IPL sessions and nothing has worked. The IPL did work at first but then it came back. I can no longer use IPL because it damaged my skin so much that I my skin would bleed after I washed my face for several weeks following so be careful. I am now trying silk peels which infuse the skin with lumixyl. So far no success with that either. I agree that melasma seems to look worse in the heat. I have been under the care of a dermoatologist for years. I would try anything. Hope all of you have better success than I have. I would like to know if anyone could recommend a good make-up/cover-up that works well and stays on. If anything new is out there please let me know. :)

I have been batteling melasma for the past year. I get it between my eyebrows on my forehead and my checks. Also just started getting it on my upper lip. I have never been pregnant. I'm 29 and grew up in Florida. Sun was never my enemy. I tried microderm abrasion, light therapy, chemical peels. I agree with some of the prior posts...they are a waste of money. Although your dermatologist would tell you differently for obvious reasons. I do agree that exfoliating your skin is key. I bought a clarisonic and use it twice daily. If you don't own one purchase one! I also use a liguid Antioxidant treatment - Phloretin CF that works great with daily use. I also used a mask treatment called Cosmelan administereed through my dermatologist. The result was amazing!!! My face never looked so pure and radiant. All of my dark melasma was gone. Even the melasma caused by acne scars. Just like any other treatment the results aren't permanent. If you go in the sun the melasma will come back. However, it was a great jump start to my treatment. Pricey, but I was willing to pay anything. Obaji is also another great treatment...shouldn't be used during the summer months as sun increases melasma. I think the key is daily treatment to help the melasma issues. As well as uncovering what is causing it. I have read a lot of things about hormonal imbalances. This will be my next researching project to find out what imbalances I have. Bottom line is there doesn't seem to be a cure or lasting treatment.

I have just seen my naturopath who tells me she can fix my melasma by cleansing my liver. Sounds weird but I am willing to give anything a try! I'll let you all know if it works!