My upper lip was turning into a melasma mustache! I received the first of two halo laser treatments on Thursday 11/16/17. I have a very high pain threshold, but in my opinion the pain was tolerable. The most painful area was the upper lip. My Dermatologist, Dr. Thomas Griffin, recommended I have the halo treatment because I had areas of melasma mixed with freckles and wanted to avoid rebound melasma. He prescribed a melasma emulsion with 8% hydroquinone (among other ingredients like Konica acid) to use for a month prior to my first laser treatment along with alastin skin nectar. I’ve posted photos of my journey so far. I am now on day 4 (Sunday) and am starting to see the MENDS (Microscopic Epithelial Necrotic Debris) loosen and fall off. I’m assuming the next two days I will begin to see the skin underneath (and maybe go out in public again!). Photos have descriptions of each day.
Updated on 19 Nov 2017:
Mid-day Sunday photo update- still waiting for the scaly skin to slough off. At least my face is back to its normal shape. Silver linings. I may wash my face and re-lotion.
Updated on 20 Nov 2017:
My melasma stache fell off ????????. The areas where the milia came out are clearing up quickly. My cheeks really shed today but my forehead and nose are still rough and gritty and not shedding much. I expect tomorrow morning to be a different story. I still see some freckles (which I don’t mind) but I assume they will disappear in the second session. I should have taken photos when it was light.
Updated on 20 Nov 2017:
Pretty much all the gunk came off in the shower. Still a few spots hanging on for dear life on my nose, jaw and forehead but they will be gone tomorrow. My skin is incredibly soft. I’m excited for the two ares on my in to clear up so I can see my face without them! I still have some freckles on my cheeks and nose but I liked them. Will be sad to see them go in round two. But the lip is a huge improvement. Might add a dab of coverup on those two spots on the chin and go foundationless to work. Nice to leave the house again.
Updated on 25 Nov 2017:
I am wearing zero foundation and zero coverup. I found a really good micro- zinc based sunscreen that I plan to use daily. I see hints if melasma left in my lip which Dr. Griffin told me from day one wold require a second laser session. It is barely noticeable and I’m incredibly happy with the results. I have some freckles left on my cheeks and nose, which I LOVE and will be sad if they disappear in the second treatment. I haven’t worn foundation since I had the treatment.
Updated on 2 Jan 2018:
I went back for my second laser session this morning. It was much more painful this time but it was also a deeper session to try to get to the dermal melasma in my upper lip. This time my face felt like it was on fire afterward and I have lots of small white dots on my face. The sunburn-like pain is beginning to subside and I’m excited to watch the results unfold over the next few days. New year, new face...amiright?
Updated on 3 Jan 2018:
I tried sleeping upright so I think I’m a teeny bit less swollen than last time, but I still don’t recognize myself. I just put sunscreen on since I have to drop my sun off at school, and that hurttttt. Going out looking like Quasimodo again.
Updated on 5 Jan 2018:
I’m definitely more red and the swelling took longer to subside this time around, but tonight so the first time I can look at myself without cringing. I feel like I had way more MENDS on my upper lip and sides of my face this time and the little hole marks from the laser are still very visible, especially on my chin area. My skin feels like reptile skin still. Hopeful that tomorrow will be a major difference so I can leave the house. I’m most eager to see what m upper lip looks like, but right now it just looks like a crusty mustache.
Updated on 6 Jan 2018:
My last shower removed a bunch of gunk by there is still quite a bit to go. I still have a bit of swelling as well. I’m very eager to see what my upper lip looks like but I still have too much redness and you can still see the hole patterns (especially in my chin and upper lip). Have to go out today to take the kid to Lego Land, but I feel like I’m less scary today.
Updated on 7 Jan 2018:
I can still see the red pinpoint laser marks in my upper lip and chin, so it’s still impossible to see how the melasma looks today. I’m assuming they re taking longer to fade since it’s was a deeper session. Otherwise 98% of the MENDS have sloughed off. Still a bit of crust hanging onto my nose and hairline. Looks like I still have freckles on my nose and cheeks under my eyes (right where I enjoy them) but hey are light. I assume they will darken. My skin is very soft and I didn’t have any pimples or milia since that was resolved in the last laser session.
Updated on 18 Jan 2018:
I still see dermal melasma now that the redness has faded. It doesn’t appear to be noticeable to others but of course I can see it because I’m looking for it. I use a bit of bronzer (minimal) and no other masking makeup on my face (like coverup, concealer or foundation). My skin glows, so I highly recommend to those not suffering from melasma. I would say this treats epidermal melasma safely and dermal melasma needs to be treated form within. Regulate hormones. Take zinc and MSM, etc. I plan to update after continuing vitamin therapy and topical hydroquinone combined with physical sunscreen.
Updated on 23 Jan 2018:
Wasn’t able to attach the photos I took in my last update. I have a bit of dermal melasma left in my lip and have been using hydroquinone and taking MSM daily to attempt to fade it. The laser removed all epidermal melasma. I will be diligent in summer to prevent sun exposure to my face. I have a little it of bronzer on, but no concealer or foundation.
Updated on 23 Jan 2018:
No foundation, no concealer. I still have a bit of dermal melasma left in my upper lip which I will continue to treat with topical hydroquinone and oral MSM.
Updated on 8 Jul 2018:
After spending time in the sun, my freckles are getting darker but not in a melasma-y way. I’ve been using zinc sunscreen every day and I try to wear hats when possible. I have light bronzer and highlighter on my skin in the photo.
Updated on 8 Aug 2018:
Hi all- After 4 nights in Mexico, I was horrified to see that my melasma returned full force despite my best efforts. I wore hats and applied sunscreen every 1-2 hours. That's the bad news. Here is the good news. I spent hours of my life researching medical studies and journals to see what I could do to get rid of my melasma and finally found something that worked for me WITHIN ONE WEEK. And compared to the cost of the laser, it is incredibly cheap. I will say that the laser is amazing to initially remove melasma, but sunscreen is not enough to prevent it from coming back after sun exposure. Combined with the steps I took below, you can choose to combine the laser with these products, or just use the products by themselves and be incredibly diligent about it. To remove my melasma after this recent trip to mexico, I did not use any laser or hydroquinone.
The first thing to do is to read up on the effects of Silymarin (Milk Thistle extract) and how beautifully it has cured melasma in double blind studies. Here are two examples.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3519762/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23031632
After reading this, I also read about preventing UV damage from the inside, and discovered the benefits of Polypodium Leucotomos.Polypodium leucotomos is a fern from Central America. The underground “runners” (rhizomes) are used for medicine. Polypodium leucotomos is used to prevent certain skin problems including sunburn, eczema (atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, vitiligo, and skin cancer. It is also used for other cancers and Alzheimer’s disease.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5868779/
1. I went to whole foods and purchased Milk Thistle (Silymarin) extract in dropper bottles. I got one with low alcohol (they make them with no alcohol) for topical use and one that contained alcohol (higher dose) for internal use.
2. I take the full dose (two droppers) of the higher concentrate milk thistle three times a day.
Every morning and night after my shower or washing my face, I apply a mix of the low-alcohol Milk thistle and the Be Shiny oil all over my face and let it sit for a few minutes before applying any other oils,lotions or makeup. I do apply my makeup right on top of this.
3. Every morning a take one daily capsule of Polypodium Leucotomos 350mg.
4. Every morning I apply Rejuvelle Sunscreen For Face SPF 45 before I put any makeup on.
I have done this for a straight week and my melasma is almost gone. And I have dermal and epidermal melasma. I have suffered zero side effects. Best of luck to all of you!