Ladies, I want to help anyone I can because I know how devastating this can be. I had the most beautiful, flawless skin and always received compliments. Then one summer day ( June 2011), I went to the pool like I always do. When i went to the restroom, I noticed that my upper lip looked really dark, but thought it was the lighting. When my daughter asked why I looked like I had a moustache, I knew there was a problem.
Long story, short, I went to every dermatologist, researched everything I could only to keep hearing I had melasma and stay out of the sun. I was devastated, felt hideous, and sank into a depression. I tried bleaching creams, which worked on everything, except the stache. It got lighter, but it would not go away. I tried every concealer and make-up, which I never wore. Nothing worked.
HERE"S what did work: I did monthly glycolic peels for 6 months...30-50%. I also did two microdermabrasions, stopped the hydroquonine because it was turning it greyish blue. I used diaper cream(zinc 20%) on my upper lip when outside..it's only $4. I washed with organic apple cider/water mix.
By May of 2012, I had my mirena taken out convinced it was a factor(had it for four years). Summer 2012...braved the pool. Wore a titanium dioxide sunscreen and my upper lip started to bubble. After a week, the skin peeled off and the melasma was gone!!!! I don't know how or why, but it was gone! Maybe it was an allergic reaction; I am not sure. The biggest thing that helped was getting that damn mirena out. Yes, it causes melasma. I found a doctor who informed me that her daughter had it from the mirena as well.
My skin now...not perfect, but the stache is gone. I have some blotchiness and some lighter patches from loss of pigment due to hydroquonine. Daily, I still wash with apple cider vinegar/water mix...then aveeno scrub or cetaphyl. I use juice beauty tinted spf...it's all zinc and is awesome. I then use physician's formula bronzing powder. When I swim, I put on solar sense zinc stick on my upperlip. If at the beach, I dab zinka nosecoat flesh tone on melasma prone spots. Hope this helps. PS...when I had the dreaded stache physicians formula(yellow concealer stick) did help a great deal once it started to fade.