Finally Something That Works! Obagi Nu Derm System - Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Hi Monica, I'm glad to hear your results are great too! Full applications in the summer? That's real commitment. I am doing the tretinoin/blender in the evening. And also the exfoderm in the am. I think I have steps 1-5 of the obagi line and using as recommended by dermatologist. Though, I have to admit sometimes it's really hard to follow to the tee because the peeling is so bad around the mouth. The first few weekends I didn't feel comfortable enough to leave the house. It feels like because of so much movement in that area the peeling is so much more than every where else. So while I do the clear all over the face 2x a day, I have scaled back a little on doing the exfoderm and blender/tret. around the mouth so I will do every other day and that seems to be working fine. Especially since my melasma is in top portion of face. I haven't asked the dermatologist though if that's a good idea...i'm afraid to ask which I know is risky. Anyway...thanks for reaching out Monica! :)

Try using a spin brush when you wash your face. It tends to take the flaking off of your face and keep it under control. The treatment 1-5 is working together to produce new skin so the old skin has to sluff off...hence all the peeling. Have you seen my before and after photos? Major difference. A lot of people have started using the spin brush and you may enjoy it. When I take a break here and there because it does tend to be a bit too much ar times. I wash, tone and then mix a dab if vaseline and couple squirts of oil of olay regenerist serum. I do this in the evening and in the morning I feel refteshed. : )

hmm, I actually do have the Clarisonic brush! But thought it would be too harsh on the face. I will def try it and see how it works. Yes, I have seen your pictures...1 word..AMAZING! Definitely a great transformation. Thanks so much for the tips, this is all so helpful. You're like a veteran at this! lol

Hi Cheryl! I've been on this for 4 weeks now and the peeling/flakey process has yet to stop. My dermatologist said that the skin would get used to the creams and stop flaking that much. It may be true but I have also altered the intensity of it as well, so it's hard to say for sure if it's that the product is taking it's course or I have slowed down the process. - First 2 weeks, I followed instructions carefully. Using steps 1-5, an inch of each product as instructed by my derm dr. The peeling was actually very ugly. It took a few days for my face to start peeling once I started the program and then it was non stop. In the morning the face was fine but as the day went on it got tighter and tighter. Which meant I couldn't move my mouth too much if I was at work b/c it would start peeling. And in the first two weeks, the peeling was not that of a sunburn where the skin is thinner with longer layers. This peeling was mostly around the mouth area and it was thick small layers of skin so once I started moving my mouth too much the skin would start to break up. For those first 2 weeks, my co-workers thought I was seriously disgruntled about something! lol When I got home I would then start moving my face around and all that skin loosened up. Then I washed it and applied the night portion of it (since I did not plan on leaving the house). At that point, it did burn a little b/c the skin was so raw. (I did not try the spin brush at that point, just started using it a few days ago. But back in those first 2 weeks, I would've been a lil weary about it or at least been extra careful using it b/c the face was much more "raw") - After the first 2 weeks, I took a few days off b/c I was going to have a super busy long weekend and planned to be outside a bit more, so I did not want to be flaking with people around me (I did not feel comfortable at all for anyone other than my husband to see me like that) and I did not want my skin to be so sensitive either since it was going to be more exposed to the sun light and heat (which my derm dr. also told me that heat alone can get the melasma to start up again). So once I got back on the medication steps 1-5, I decided to not apply as much of the medication to the mouth area b/c it's been the only part that was consistently peeling for me. So now I have started focusing on the actual melasma areas of my face and continuing the aggressive way in that area and doing a lighter version in the mouth area. I simply do not apply as much of the medication there so I will do a light layer of it around the mouth and do a heavier layer on the cheek area. I've now started to see significant peeling in that area which I am happy about. - So that is basically how my first 4 weeks have been. Please don't be scared by my comments on the peeling. It is not pretty, it is not easy...but it is worth it! I would recommend just not making too many face movements if you feel your face tight and you're in public (if you care about how it looks) and then when you're able to wash your face, loosen the skin up little by little. - The process also entails having non-comedogenic makeup and sunblock as the derm dr. said I need to use products that do not block the pores. So, I bought several types of sun blocks trying to see which worked best, which left the least white residue on my face, did not block pores and had at least SPF 30. So I found 2. Both leave a little bit of white residue but they don't block pores and I think have worked the best for me. - CeraVe SPF 30 (has zinc which is supposed to be a strongly suggested ingredient). i found this one at Walmart. It says "oil free" so I think that would be good for not blocking pores. - Solar Protection formula (SPF 65 UVA/UVB, non-comedogenic). This one I found on Amazon. It wasn't exactly cheap, I know I spent $45 on it but I just saw it on amazon for $30! So not sure if that depended on the seller. In any case, it met all the requirements so I decided that I would use the SPF 30 one when I went to work (spending all day in the office) and I would use the SPF 65 if I had any intentions of spending any time out in the sun, I apply the Solar sun block. - MAC Studio moisture tint SPF 15 MEDIUM DARK, My last tip for you, which I found to be a life savor and would greatly suggest is this tinted moisturizer from Mac. I just ordered a re-supply from Macy's and it's $30. If you get the right color for you, it can be the best thing ever. Right now, both the sun blocks I use leave a little bit of the white residue which can make you look pale. So when I apply this moisturizer (which also has SPF 15, so a double layer of sunblock!) it covers up all the white residue and gives you a little bit of color. For me, it gives me a very natural look, hides the sun block very well. I researched and read that MAC is on-acnegenic (which seems to vary slightly from non-comedogenic but the same principle) from what I understood. You may be asking how it works when you're peeling...well, it is very hard to hide peeling buuuut...if you have minimal peeling, what I have done is dab the moisturizer onto the skin instead of rubbing/spreading it in. That doesn't make the peeling worse and kinda camouflages it . I hope that my very LONG response lol can help you in making decisions based on what works for your skin. We are all different and I know it's true that what works for me, may not be the best for you and vice versa. Good luck with this!! I hope it can transform you as it did me. I am not 100% there, I think I still have a lot to work on with my melasma to make sure it stays away but it's made my self -esteem that much better. I no longer have to pack on the makeup to hide my marks, I apply the medication, apply the sunblock, a layer of the tinted moisturizer and my face looks young, healthy...and nearly spot free! All the best Cheryl :)

Hi Cheryl, For me personally I am still peeling and I've been using the NuDerm since last November. Not like it did those first few weeks but our skin cells are turning over quicker b/c of the products. I started using the spin brush I believe about a week or two into the process. I couldn't stand all the flaking and found it helped taking that layer off. Yes my face felt raw so I wasn't scrubbing it I gently used the brush. When drying my face I gently patted never rubbing. Your being given new baby skin . You will get use to the way each step works for your skin and adjust accordingly. I do suggest to avoid as much sun as possible during the first month. Your skin layer will be extremely thin and even with the sunblock my dermatologist told me you are more exposed than ever to those harmful rays. Wear a big hat. Good luck and have fu on your trip. -Monica

Thanks so much for your replies! All the information is very helpful. I am as prepared as I can be for the peeling stage, not pretty, but worth it in the long run. I wear sunscreen rain or shine & have found a few that I really like. (Skin Ceuticals SPF 50 tinted; LaRoche-Posay SPF 60; and Total Block Face SPF 60 - this one is heavier like a foundation due to the zinc in it.) My melasma is "mild" on cheeks & forehead so I want to address it before it gets any worse. My older sister also has melasma & it is considerably darker than mine, but she is on NuDerm & I can see it lightening already. The confidence boost is amazing. Thank you again for your feedback!

Hi Peanut6, I've never heard of Roden and Fields...that would be interesting to know about! My dermatologist said spot treatmeant was not good b/c it can cuase blotchiness. Which worries me too b/c on weekends (like this one) where I have a lot of stuff going on socially I prefer not to use the products on my entire face. i use it only on the melasma to make sure that still gets treatment. I've done that for 2 non-consecutive weekends and haven't noticed any blotchiness but it may be because I go back to full face on the Monday after. With that said, I had a different derm at one point and they prescribed the hydroquinone by spot treatment, not full face. i believe that may depend on the treatment. Back then I was only using hydoquinone and the tretnoin. It did not work for me. It's working now with Obagi.

Thanks! So the hydro and tenor tin didn't work at all for you? My derm has said tomdomthatbyet in the spots because that is what you are trying to lighten? What Obaji routine do you use? I just dint want tons of peeling because I am around people and at my kids school everyday:-( I hate this and wish I knew how I got it. Google the reverse regimen by Roden and files for melasma pictures...it just seems really good so I'm leaning in trying it...one of the dermatologist (Roden or fields) also has melasma and her face looks great and she talks about what she does..she even said that after she applies one of the night products that she wraps the bad part in Saran Wrap for like 30 minutes for a way that she said epdermatologist have practiced something(can't remember the name) forever..sounded weird but willing to try whatever works lol

I invested in the whole Rodan and Fields Reverse Regimen and stopped using it before it ran out--and only used it as long as I did because it was expensive. I didn't see any difference in my skin and I actually thought that it faded the rest of my skin but NOT my spots so it appeared to get worse (which is why most dermatologists tell you to only use HQ as spot treatment--bc I have freckles too, and I'm not trying to fade those). Also, it made my skin look dull and I had a lot more breakouts than usual. I wouldn't waste your money. All the R&F products only have 2% HQ and you can get that in OTC creams for way less money. I have Obagi Nu-Derm Clear hydroquinone 4% cream from a skin clinic after I had an IPL Laser treatment I got 2 years ago, and started using that again just as spot treatment and using the Murad Environmental Shield line (packed with vitamin C) and my skin looks so much better overall. Going to keep using this and look into getting some laser treatments to accelerate the spot fading. Also, shocker, hormonal contraceptives may make this worse so I'm looking into other alternatives for that as well ... oh to be a woman.

Oh the good times. Use reverse saw nothing. It made my skin smoother to touch. I'm using it as my cleanser and toner. Just started obagi clear and forte I'm going to add the blender with a 1% tretinoin after a month. Any suggestions of what kind of hat to wear in sun. I have one now but doesn't cover my full face as I have a lot on my cheeks and lips and small spots on forehead Thanks Lauren

Bella I too am latina with olive complexion. Boy did it lighten me up. The rest of me is all tanned and face isn't, I'm just avoiding the sun with hats.

That's exactly what i DID NOT want! To look like michael jackson. I may have to just live with my UGLY FACE!!!!! I figure GOD made me like this,so it's meant to be. I have been living with it for 10 years or so&i will til i die. I wish you the best. Plz NO sun as it can get darker,like black.

Haha Bella, the Michael Jackson look would not be good. I am latina too but I think the face just looks cleaner and younger with this system. I have noticed that in pictures my face is lighter than my arms because I get a lot more sun there but that has been the case when I get any sun. I have avoided sun in my face for over a year and before this treatment...I was still a bit paler in the face. Have you talked to a dermatologist about it? It may be worth it to try it and if you don't like it, stop but if you talk to your derm they could advise you on what would work better. I hope you find something that works! I found a good dermatologist which is the difference between my face then and my face now. I feel the other one I had was very dismissive so finding one that seems to understand the problem worked for me. Thankfully lol Let us know if you decide to try anything and the results! :)

Haha Bella, the Michael Jackson look would not be good. I am latina too but I think the face just looks cleaner and younger with this system. I have noticed that in pictures my face is lighter than my arms because I get a lot more sun there but that has been the case when I get any sun. I have avoided sun in my face for over a year and before this treatment...I was still a bit paler in the face. Have you talked to a dermatologist about it? It may be worth it to try it and if you don't like it, stop but if you talk to your derm they could advise you on what would work better. I hope you find something that works! I found a good dermatologist which is the difference between my face then and my face now. I feel the other one I had was very dismissive so finding one that seems to understand the problem worked for me. Thankfully lol Let us know if you decide to try anything and the results! :)

My doctor is a dermatologic Surgeon. He advised me to try derma sweep. He said no fraxel,too expensive&doesn't work and no laser. I shall see this October once i do a patch test,if i will continue to do both cheeks. I will experiment slowly and only on one cheek at a time. DO one side&wait 6 months and if it doesn't fade i will STOP!! Thanks for the advise.

Thank you for that information!

Be careful. I personally wouldn't trust Amazon with something like this that needs to be stored properly.

Thanks Peanut!

What laser did she do and did it help? And she never goes I. The sun still? Thanks!

Wow! That's crazy. I was doing really well with obagi. But they say you can't be on the hydroquinone for ever so I had to find something else. I am scared to do lasers because I feel then my face will go all crazy with more melasma. ugh. But thanks for the best wishes! :) Hope your gf finds a good resolution as well.

Derma sweep

I Am at my dermatologic surgeon and I am doing a patch test on my right cheek I will post before pics and of course after Later today. I have disgusting brown patches on both cheeks due to birth control&sun. YUK! I am dark skinned and so I will only do 1 side of face,I do not want black patches. so scary. I am doing it now as we are going into winter but it's always sunny in California Wish me luck.

Good luck!!! Looking forward to an update

Thanks,i wrote 2 new reviews and they are not up yet I posted it all. :) Since i am the first doing DermaSweep. I did a thorough review about the treatment.

The laser IPL treatment is great as long as you don't go in the sun again. It removed all my melasma (totally cleared on my face), but I went in the sun. It came back more on my face black patches. If you decide to do the laser, you will have to take care of your face 24/7. Hope this helps!

Yes...Looking forward to an update as well! Good luck to you!

This is what I don't want! brown to black crap on my face. I am LAtina and I do not believe thedermatolgists or easthetitcians who say they can remove I&Iit won't come back all BS! this I why I Never even tried obagi etc. thanks :)

Oh no, i'm so sorry. This is so frustrating for us all. I really did not like Lytera and when I went to my doctor to express my concerns they were dismissed. I told them it was making my spots darker and they said "it's a lightener, that's not possible." (This wasn't the dermatologist herself. She doesn't exactly have the best support staff and they scheduled me with an aesthetician instead of the dermatologist.) I did some more research and found a doctor's office that offers the ZO medical line which is a product from Dr. Obagi. I've only had it for a couple of weeks, haven't seen any results but I feel a lot more confident about the possible results by using brightenex. Let's see how this works since it was an additonal $115 to the $110 I paid for the Lytera I didn't finish. Uff.

if you are ok with using hydroquinone, I am using a non-prescription PCA pigment gel with hydroquinone for just over a month and I can definitely see the difference. I believe it is 2% hydroquinone. The dark spots I got from Lytera is definitely much lighter. It is much easier covering up the dark spots with concealer and it does not show through like it used to… just not sure if it will turn dark again soon as I stop using it though.

I don't agree with the skin thinning. I bought 2% over the counter hydroquinone from cvs and within 1 week it has significantly lightened my spots already. No burning, no thinning, no irritation. I think some people just have overly sensitive skin to a lot of products in general.

Melasma requires daily treatment, it may almost disappear completely (but temporarily) after applying HQ for few weeks. As soon as you stop using HQ (and allow your skin to 'breathe' and re-fresh up) melasma appears again! And if you decide to apply HQ daily in order to fade your melasma, then your skin pays the price! Eventually, your skin will become thin and red and sore and painful. I scrubbed gently and my skin 'peeled off' AND WAS BLEEDING! Terrible HQ experience! I personally believe that HQ works like janola, it only bleaches temporarily.

Hi, I'm on obagi zo medical December 23,2014 I have dermal melasma (deep) today is April 14, 2015 I seen improvement little lighter dr said to c improvement takes about 5 months after that he will put me on maintance so will c how it goes I'm planning to get pregnant soon so I will be on obagi maintance products We will c if he's products really control melasma from spreading and getting dark being pregnant ladies please use sun block always jane Ireland mineral bb cream has spf they also have SPF powder ladies we r all beautiful in our way i know how it feels to have melasma don't give up I know if obagi doesn't work for me I will try something else till I find something that works I'm not going to let it get the best out of me there is something out there that will work also ladies dr said if u have oily skin or dry not to add more oil to you're skin it makes malasma worse use oil free pads to clean face dr said the skin already produces oil so don't give up ladies and when I c a women young or older and they have melasma they r beautiful nobody is perfect so ladies stay strong think beautiful

Hi, did u have derml deep melasma or dermis superficial melasma ?

im not sure but I've been using peona cream 2x a wk cause it's strong, and it works. Amazon$$ 46

I'm glad it's working for u I will look into it thank you best of luck

Hi Jmscott. Thanks for your comments! I agree, it's gotta be mostly internal. I asked my doc to check my hormones, so going soon for blood work and see if that's an obvious problem there. If not, I will continue taking the supplements (msm, adren-all, liver support) that people have recommended. I've only used them for about 2 months so I think I have to give it more time. I'm happy to hear though that you went to Hawaii and didn't make your melasma worse! I'm sure you were relieved. And I learned something new from you...I did not know there was powder sunscreen! I never re-applied the sunscreen b/c it meant having to wash my face and re-apply makeup. so unless I went home, I wasn't able to reapply the sunscreen I prefer. I did use the spray one but that didn't have zinc. Thanks for that tip! Lumixyl...hmm, that's interesting. I am going to try apple cider vinegar first in a few weeks and if that doesn't work I will give Lumixyl a try. I def need to get off Tri-luma. I actually tried to get off of it since the spots had cleared up in 3 weeks. So I was off for 2 weeks and that's all it took for the spots to come back to where they were when I started tri-luma. And I was not in the sun and used sunscreen every day and applied Brightenex which is non-hydroquinone.

Hi There, You have to try the powder sunscreen! Its called ColorScience. I use the 50. Its great. I carry it around in my purse. Money well spent! And the Lumixyl is HQ free and paraben free too. You are right about using HQ. Its seems that everyone says their melasma returns x10 when stopping. Mine was x20. I've come to realize that it may not ever go away. So I a would rather use a " healthier "topical to lighten my melasma - while working on whats happening inside my body. I too use the apple cider, but drink it. I don't that its helped, but it is good for you. I will definitely look into Brightenex!

Hey there! I'm glad Obagi is working for you. Your skin should be so sensitive right now. If you're actually waxing while on Obagi (which I would highly discourage) please make sure you're not applying any products around your eye brows. It could end up getting scarred. I've gotten waxed before and once on non-treated face, they went too low on my eye and pulled on that sensitive skin, it burned so bad. It scabbed but thankfully didn't leave a mark. I hope you never get asked if you want your mustache waxed again! ;)

It was threading I didn't even think about that they didn't do above my eyebrows :)