POSTED UNDER Laser Resurfacing Reviews
Hydroquinone 10% + Kojic Acid 4% + Retinol 1% + Hydrocortisone Cream for Dermal Melasma - London, UK
UPDATED FROM mandybains
4 months post
Major diet overhaul along with ayurveda herbs and hydro therapy
$200
I have been following dr jack kruse's recommendations for melasma and have made following dietary n lifestyle changes.
1. I get up early morning at 6 and have heavy breakfast full of protein n fats. Then I go out in sun n sit n relax for half an hour outdoors.
2. I come back n take shower starting from warm to cold and then ending with warm.
3. My diet now includes oysters , fish for healthy dha, avacadoes n humous , mct oil , cocunut oil for healthy protein n fats. I only eat spinach n lentils n one peace of carb a day. So its high protein n high fat diet with no sugar at all.
4. I apply mct oil directly to my face too.
5. No use of indoor lights during the day.
This is in addition to my ayurveda treatment. That is basically providing me supplements in herbal form.
Dr kruse thinks this is the right way to cure melasma. I will try atleast till the end of this year. It's only few days on this routine now but I will stick to it till dec n then re-analyse. Hope it works for me.I want to fix this condition 100% and also become a healthier person. Great learning about eating right n staying close our natural self by sticking to circadian clock and nature.
UPDATED FROM mandybains
4 months post
Discontinued the cream for good
I have developed broken blood vessels during my last trial on the cream. That's why I have decided I won't use hydroquinone on my face ever again.
Currently, I am on Ayurveda treatment and will stick to it for the rest of this year. It may be taking time to show results but it has allowed me to improve various aspects of my life such as sleep, stress management and diet. I will stick to for the rest of this year. Giving melasma 1 year using this therapy is not a big price to pay if I get my normal face back. Hopefully, it does deliver results. Will update in few months how it's going. Thanks
Currently, I am on Ayurveda treatment and will stick to it for the rest of this year. It may be taking time to show results but it has allowed me to improve various aspects of my life such as sleep, stress management and diet. I will stick to for the rest of this year. Giving melasma 1 year using this therapy is not a big price to pay if I get my normal face back. Hopefully, it does deliver results. Will update in few months how it's going. Thanks
Replies (5)
April 20, 2016
Thanks for showing us your hard work. Please let us know if something does work for you.
DJ
DJ
April 20, 2016
Mandy,
You are so smart for making this decision. You will be thankful in the long run. It's so hard to say no to something that may offer a quicker fix but the long term effects aren't worth it. Your an inspiration for the good to all sufferers.
You are so smart for making this decision. You will be thankful in the long run. It's so hard to say no to something that may offer a quicker fix but the long term effects aren't worth it. Your an inspiration for the good to all sufferers.
April 20, 2016
Thanks. I only use Hyluronic acid and vitamin c on my face along with a nice moisturiser. I don't think even retin a is good for the skin. It's effects can also be damaging to the skin for the long term. My skin needs normal everyday products not our so called prescription products that damage the skin more and do nothing to help with melasma. I hope more dermatologists are honest with patients and tell them off if melasma can't be improved. So disheartening to find this out for myself after having spent £500 on the dermatologist consultation plus cream and 2 months of use which only gave me broken blood vessels!!
If I found a treatment that works, I am going to help every woman out there who wants to rid herself of this horrible skin condition.
Will update in two months time now. Thanks
If I found a treatment that works, I am going to help every woman out there who wants to rid herself of this horrible skin condition.
Will update in two months time now. Thanks
April 20, 2016
I also made dietary changes that are important for melasma. No sugars, less carbs, lots of greens, carrot juices, aloe vera juice, very mid spicy food, no sauces at all, no bread, diary , yogurt. This will help the body internally to reduce inflammation. Melasma is internal issue. If our skin's sensitivity can be reduced to normal then dark patches can also disappear. I am not giving up any time soon...yes, forgot to mention, I am using kesar face pack and sandalwood cream to calm down my skin , and also aloe vera for pigmentation. But major changes should come from within and will take time.
April 21, 2016
I know that for me Retin A did not agree with my skin. Some people benefit but many have adverse side effects.
I too made dietary changes much the same as yours. I know sugars and carbs definitely affect my skin, in addition lack of sleep. I try to sleep 7-8 hour every night and get to bed at the same time. It is odd how our bodies can become so sensitive and others aren't affected at all. I wish you the very best and look forward to your updates.
I too made dietary changes much the same as yours. I know sugars and carbs definitely affect my skin, in addition lack of sleep. I try to sleep 7-8 hour every night and get to bed at the same time. It is odd how our bodies can become so sensitive and others aren't affected at all. I wish you the very best and look forward to your updates.
May 10, 2016
My melasma, like yours, is on my cheeks and upper lip. I can handle the cheeks because blush can camouflage those areas, but the herstache is relentless!! I have spent hundred of hundreds of dollars on dermatologists and dermatologists products and experienced all the side effects you have shared and was left with the same sadness and disappointment and embarrassment!! I've even had a little lightening and then spent one afternoon at a parade and it's back twice as dark....this is cruel for a woman. I am now using Mederma ($45) and Nerium (About $200 for 4 items: a day cream, night cream, eye serum, and a body firming cream). I started the Mederma a few weeks prior to stumbling upon Nerium--which I was only interested in their new eye serum, but decided to buy the night and day creams because I saw the positive effects it had on my friend's skin's texture and firmness in just 2 months--I've been on these products for less than a month now and this is the most lightening I have had in the 2 years I have been fighting this! I'm shocked and thrilled at the same time!!! I know what works for one person doesn't always work for another, but as I read your posts, it was as if you were writing my story. Please try these 2 inexpensive and non-abrasive lines, they just may work for you, too.
Wishing you the best!
Wishing you the best!
April 14, 2017
Hi I am so sorry to read all what you have been through you must be a very strong Lady.
I have only had melasma for 3 weeks but have seen dramatic lightening in those weeks. I got hyper pigmentation on my upper lip in Jamaica. (It was dark dark dark brown) and only got worse while I was there. I came back to London with a dark brown moustache. After reading 100s of reviews and academic commentary it came to my attention that melasma must be treated inside out. After all the horror stories I have read about bleaching creams and HQ my doctor thankfully refused to go down this route. Instead I was prescribed a fungal cream with 1% hydrocortisone and within a week my Melasma is starting to fade. I have also been using fresh aloe Vera, msm vitamin, vitamin C and grape fruit seed extract, vitamin E oil and I am starting Castrol oil today.
I am seeing a dramatic emprovement whether these remedies completely fade my melasma I don't know. I wish you all the best. Your beautiful.
I have only had melasma for 3 weeks but have seen dramatic lightening in those weeks. I got hyper pigmentation on my upper lip in Jamaica. (It was dark dark dark brown) and only got worse while I was there. I came back to London with a dark brown moustache. After reading 100s of reviews and academic commentary it came to my attention that melasma must be treated inside out. After all the horror stories I have read about bleaching creams and HQ my doctor thankfully refused to go down this route. Instead I was prescribed a fungal cream with 1% hydrocortisone and within a week my Melasma is starting to fade. I have also been using fresh aloe Vera, msm vitamin, vitamin C and grape fruit seed extract, vitamin E oil and I am starting Castrol oil today.
I am seeing a dramatic emprovement whether these remedies completely fade my melasma I don't know. I wish you all the best. Your beautiful.
UPDATED FROM mandybains
4 months post
Second round on this cream started yesterday i.e. 12/04/2016
I had used the cream for 6-7 weeks till 11 Feb 2016. I had persistent redness and sore skin. A dermatologist in Delhi gave me a diagnosis telangiectasia. I was scared of further damaging my skin so stopped using the cream. I also didn't notice any fading mainly because of persistent redness.
However, after stopping the cream within 1-2 weeks my skin recovered and I noticed that my pigmentation had lightened. That's why I have now decided to try it again for six weeks. Hopefully it's safe to do so since I have given a 2 months break already. Luckily my pigment is still lighter, hopefully I will maintain the improvements I have made and I will make in the future.
Looking to meet a new dermatologist in London too to ensure it's still safe to use the cream. On research I discovered , that telangiectasia develops mainly due to use of steriods in creams. However, this cream has very mild steriod. So, it's a good formulation.
It's important to note that I am also using ayurveda treatment + naturalpathy to help my skin from within. I take two medicines that contain high percentage of purified sulphur, calcium, iron, and very strong blood purifier with strong detoxifying effect. I also use hydropathy where I give steam to face for 5-10 mins, then sit in cold water for 12 mins, then wash face with cold water , and then work out by running for 15-20 minutes. I also take a medicine with it that's mainly made from plaster of paris( calcium). I have been very deficient in Calcium, Vitamin D and RBC count. That means that ayurveda doctor is doing the right treatment by giving me high dosages of these minerals. I have a lot of faith in this treatment. But, I want to help my skin externally too for faster results. I think ayurveda treatment will cure my melasma from inside and I may no longer have any sun sensitivity afterwards. I am looking at six months or longer on this treatment. But, I have lots of confidence in the treatment.
So, I will use both of these treatments till mid June now. And, will update everyone with results. My skin is already better with lighter pigment, and nice glow.
I am praying to God that I will maintain these changes ( which i should since I used no lighteners in two months still pigment stayed the same), and get much clearer skin soon.
Will keep you updated on monthly basis now.
However, after stopping the cream within 1-2 weeks my skin recovered and I noticed that my pigmentation had lightened. That's why I have now decided to try it again for six weeks. Hopefully it's safe to do so since I have given a 2 months break already. Luckily my pigment is still lighter, hopefully I will maintain the improvements I have made and I will make in the future.
Looking to meet a new dermatologist in London too to ensure it's still safe to use the cream. On research I discovered , that telangiectasia develops mainly due to use of steriods in creams. However, this cream has very mild steriod. So, it's a good formulation.
It's important to note that I am also using ayurveda treatment + naturalpathy to help my skin from within. I take two medicines that contain high percentage of purified sulphur, calcium, iron, and very strong blood purifier with strong detoxifying effect. I also use hydropathy where I give steam to face for 5-10 mins, then sit in cold water for 12 mins, then wash face with cold water , and then work out by running for 15-20 minutes. I also take a medicine with it that's mainly made from plaster of paris( calcium). I have been very deficient in Calcium, Vitamin D and RBC count. That means that ayurveda doctor is doing the right treatment by giving me high dosages of these minerals. I have a lot of faith in this treatment. But, I want to help my skin externally too for faster results. I think ayurveda treatment will cure my melasma from inside and I may no longer have any sun sensitivity afterwards. I am looking at six months or longer on this treatment. But, I have lots of confidence in the treatment.
So, I will use both of these treatments till mid June now. And, will update everyone with results. My skin is already better with lighter pigment, and nice glow.
I am praying to God that I will maintain these changes ( which i should since I used no lighteners in two months still pigment stayed the same), and get much clearer skin soon.
Will keep you updated on monthly basis now.
Replies (5)
April 13, 2016
Thanks for sharing. Could you please upload some newer pictures? Thanks in advance!!! And keep on going!!!
April 13, 2016
Look forward to seeing updated pictures. I struggle with the same problem in my face
April 23, 2016
My aunt used a cream from dr Schlessinger in Hawaii. It worked very well for her. Think she paid about $100/tube.
I am not sure if I spelled his name right, but it's Larry Schlessinger or something like that.
I am not sure if I spelled his name right, but it's Larry Schlessinger or something like that.
July 11, 2016
Are you using a sunblock. If not you will return to original condition. I had it post a facelift and with 3 tca peels it went away ( over) one year as dermal is deep. Topical reaction is not a big worry as you shed the epidermis naturally.
July 11, 2016
In addition to the tca peels, once heeled, I just use a sun lock. I feel they expedited ridding the top layer and treatment penetrated further to the dermal area. But. Keep a sunblock on and wear a hat when outside or driving.
July 18, 2016
Hypert,
Was your melasma caused by the facelift? Did you have it prior to your facelift?
Was your melasma caused by the facelift? Did you have it prior to your facelift?
July 19, 2016
Yes I had freckling along my jaw which tca helped lighten but was a 25% first time but after the lift it was back so Dr did a 35% at 3 mos I did a 35% and another 3 mos later. It continues to work after peeling and now discoloration is gone but 2nd time I definitely used sunblock and was not as pleased until I faithfully got the 2nd and 3 rd was the best and final. It's all gone now. Also use a foundation with sunblock in it such as Loreal.
July 19, 2016
To directly answer you yes I had some discoloration prior to all peelings and it came back with lift. The one after worked but it works slowly after peeling to taking 3 full mos. I need nothing any more . I'm very happy with all work but it's the waiting no one can expedite. Our skin replaces itself every 6 weeks naturally and peels speed that up.
July 15, 2016
How are you tracking on the above treatment? Any more lightening? Are you maintaining results?
Replies (5)
I also wonder how creams could penetrate the dermis...
I tried already all the treatment package of Obagui. It worked to peel my skin and dimished the patches for a couple of months. As soon as the sun was close to my face... patches back.... :(