See Ya, Melasma! - Portland, OR

Hi there! I had it done on Wednesday morning and it is now Tuesday morning--so just shy of a week. I'm a skin type II on the Fitzpatrick scale, so my skin is extremely fair; I blush often and burn easily. I developed freckles as a child and it progressed into melasma in my 20's around my cheek/orbital area. I'm now 36, by the way. While I don't have acne, I do have very large pores and my skin tone is rough. I've never had a peel before, but have had microdermabrasion and laser treatment well over a decade ago. I've tried prescription and non-prescription pigment lightening creams without any noticeable results, so with Cosmelan I was really looking for something definitive and drastic. My ultimate goal would be to completely rid my freckles and discoloration. I'm sure plenty of folks out there love their freckles and think I'm a jerk for wanting to get rid of mine, but that's the case. I just can't stand them. I was also looking for a solution to even out the surface of my skin so makeup could be applied smoothly—that is assuming makeup is even needed after this treatment! I really only wear makeup to even out the discoloration, so... The first two days following the procedure my skin was simply tight and red. Friday night was the first time my skin peeled and I wasn't expecting it; didn't think it was ready yet. I had just eaten a meal and the eating motion must've exacerbated the skin around my mouth and chin. I was shocked to pass by a mirror and see ALL the skin around my mouth/chin had separated from my face and was loosely hanging there in large chunks. So that was the start of it. It has continued peeling ever since. Last night I'd say 50% of my old skin had peeled off, and then the other 50% of remaining old skin was dead, crusty and stained from the cream, but still clinging to my face. Very difficult not to pick when the skin is clearly dead and detaching, but you've just gotta let it run it's course and peel on it's own. I used cuticle scissors about every hour or so to trim off the peeling skin which kind of helped keep the skin peeling off. It gave me a better sense what I was looking at underneath. I didn't experience the itching sensation others spoke about. Here are a couple things to note. It may be specific to the facility I visited for the procedure, but maybe you'll find it helpful since my experience was different from others. The nurse who applied the Cosmelan 1 told me to only leave it on between 4-6 hours for my skin type. I thought that was interesting because nearly everyone on this site says they left theirs on much longer. But she was right! 4-6 hours was exactly the right amount of time for me. I experienced textbook results exactly as everyone else described: it was the color of a moderate sunburn. I was told to wait two full days before applying Cosmelan 2. So my procedure was Wednesday AM and I was instructed not to apply Cosmelan 2 until Saturday. I was also told that if the Cosmelan 2 caused any irritation or excessive redness, avoid using it until the skin settles down. Luckily I didn't have an adverse reaction, so I've been using it on schedule except around my chin which was no longer peeling, but rather severely flaking—an indicator of irritation. I used a light application of cortisone on my chin before bed last night and avoided Cosmelan 2 around that area. This morning my chin is still very flaky and tight, but getting better. I opted not to use Cosmelan 2 this morning on my first day back to work. The Cosmelan 2 is very yellow/orange upon application. Even though the color dissipates after a while, it still definitely leaves a tinge on your skin that would be hard to cover with makeup. Given the peeling and flakiness, I didn't want an orange tinge on top of that my first day back to work. I'm trying to keep this under the radar! I haven't decided if I'll only use it at night so I don't have to go to work with an orange face, or if I'll put it on tomorrow morning and suffer through it. I could always say I had a bad spray tan reaction. Ha! Also to note is during the initial Cosmelan 1 application, they only use 3/4 of the jar and reserve the other 1/4 for spot treatment in three weeks. So when I scheduled the "vacation" days off work for Cosmelan 1, I had no idea I'd need to take further time off three weeks later for the follow-up application. Additional time off work is a luxury I don't have, so I'm not sure if I'm going to skip that step or figure out how to do it as late in the day as possible to not miss work. It would be a shame not to do everything as directed, given that this is expensive and I want all my money's worth!! Please let me know if I can answer any additional questions. I'll post photos soon once I decide how much I really want to put out there (without compensation from Cosmelan—ha!). Hope you found this info helpful!

Quick tip/update: DO NOT FORGET to bring along Cosmelan Hydra-Factor Vital K moisturizer or hyaluronic acid when you finally head back to work!! If I've imparted no other helpful information, please let this one bit of advice be your takeaway. Today is my first day back to work and by 1:00pm my chin looked like saw dust. I was embarrassed and desperate for something to quench the parched skin, so I scrubbed away the flakes with a wet paper towel (I know! So bad!!), then grabbed burn cream (!) out of the first aid kit (I know, I know, I know, but that was literally the only option available besides heavily perfumed hand cream in my purse). Needless to say it only made matters worse. I repeated that idiotic process twice before finally leaving work and buying some hyaluronic acid. Yes, I realize now that should've been the first thing I did before scrubbing my poor skin and scouring the first aid kit, but what can I say. Lesson learned.

Done! :)

Thanks for the note! I tried to write my updates less goofy than I speak conversationally, but sounds like some of the goofiness definitely poked through ;) The photo is slightly deceptive because the melasma only affected my cheeks/nose/forehead, yet the peeling and flaking is occurring around my chin/lip/nostrils, where there never was any discoloration to begin with. Also, the photo was taken after I had trimmed off most of the loose hanging skin with cuticle scissors, so it definitely appeared more shocking prior to cleaning it up. I would gladly post more photos—I have an entire photo album showing my various stages of recovery—but don't necessarily want to give Cosmelan access to my results (and fully expose my identity!) with no personal benefit. I will tell you my discoloration is nearly gone. Cosmelan works!! There's quite a bit of redness, but some of that was preexisting and perhaps appears more dominant now that the melasma is gone and the brownish/greyish camouflage has been eradicated. I'm hoping Cosmelan 2 will continue evening things out over the next few weeks and the red will become less noticeable. I will keep you posted!

Such an oompa loompa vibe! And yes about the Vita K making the stinging reoccur! I've found that if I use a small pea sized amount rather than a large pea sized amount, the stinging is noticeably less. Hope I'm still getting the same effect with the slightly smaller amount. Seems to be working well! I think you will be very pleased by the results—just gotta get through four whole weeks. This Saturday will finally mark one month for me. While the Cosmelan 2 still stings, the peeling/flaking is totally gone as of a few days ago. I think you'll find this was all worth it. Hope so! Keep me posted...

Thank you Sooo much for your reply! It feels so good to know that I am not alone in doing this to myself :) When did you really start to see results? And when you applied Cosmelan 1, did it kind of clump up, get crusty and flake? I think I applied too thin a layer and when I tried to apply more it just kind of kept clumping off! I was worried that maybe I bought a fake because I bought it off ebay. But I am starting to think I have the real deal considering the massive and constant peeling I have been having since day 3. But after I applied the Cos 1 it turned like a really deep yellow brown, not like the tannish yellow I saw pictures of online once applied to the face. Also I have a little more than half a jar left. When I decide to use the rest should I slather it on thickly and spread it quickly before it dries?

Funny you mention it about Cosmelan 1! When I arrived home from the procedure and finally able to look in the mirror, it was extremely thick--about 1/8 inch--and the coverage was totally even. A few hours into it, I made the mistake of touching my forehead and a huge chunk clumped right off—so I think what you experienced was probably normal. The nurse who applied mine must've had a technique for even application. She used a circular motion to rub it into my skin. It was interesting, though—by the 4th or 5th hour wearing the mask, it started separating to the point oil was just dripping down my face! I had to wear a towel across my chest to catch the oil. I asked the nurse what was up; she said she thought it may have been due to her application technique of rubbing it in, rather than applying it lightly to the surface. So I think I experienced a different reaction than most people, since I haven't read about that happening to anyone else. And YES it was definitely a deep yellow brown, almost peanut butter-looking color—not at all the color shown in the demo videos online. I'm opting not to use the remainder of the jar for the second application--only because I cannot take anymore time off work, although I would love to. If I do this again next year, I'm definitely buying it off ebay and doing it myself, as you did. Regarding seeing results, it honestly took about three full weeks to see the even, nice skin I was promised. By the fourth week I was finally happy with/excited about my appearance once the flaking/irritation finally completely subsided. It sucks, but you just have to be a little shameless and go on with life with flaky, oddly orange skin during that time for about a full month. I will say that while it did even out the texture of my skin and my pores are definitely tighter, the texture isn't quite as smooth as I'd hoped. Can't expect miracles though, I guess. It's definitely an overall improvement in texture, but hoping when I do this again next year it'll tighten up my pores just a bit more than this first time around. And, like I mentioned in an earlier post, once the discoloration disappeared around the three week point, the broken capillaries and redness became a bit more prominent, since there was no longer any discoloration to camouflage it! So there's that. Still worth it though, as temporary as the results may be.

You are awesome! Thank you for being so detailed!!! OK well its good to know that the peeling and flaking does subside after 4 weeks. So are you still using the cosmelan 2. I've only ever been able to put it on twice a day because it burns so bad. I am now going into day 8 and it seems like my face will never stop peeling, and not just flaking, I mean like really heavy peeling!!! But I am starting to see a little bit of lightening of my discoloration so it is definitely an inspiration to keep on going!!!! And I am trying to be shameless but with my big sun hat and my orange face it seems like I am an eyeball magnet XD lol :)

I'm still using Cosmelan 2 once a day and plan on continuing until the jar is empty—I'm estimating I've got around two more months' worth remaining. I can't really figure out how long you're supposed to continue using it! Every doctor seems to recommend a different length of time and I haven't found one standard answer. In the meantime, best of luck with your continued improvement! I bet in one more week you'll really start seeing results and hopefully will have found your groove with the orange face situation. And the massive peeling! I have definitely been there lol! And you're right to rock the sun hat—gotta protect your investment! ;)

Thank you so much for posting your experience with the cosmelan kit and responding to all my inquiries. Keep us posted with your improvement. I'll definitely let you know how it goes with me :) Again, thank you so much, I truly appreciate it

Oh and one last thing, so sorry to keep bothering you, but when did the stinging/burning start to subside after cosmelan 2 application because I writhe in extreme pain for the first 5 minutes after applying cosmelan 2 and again after putting on the hydra vital k. Then I deal with the stinging for a few more hours.

Not a bother at all! Glad to share my experience! The intense pain didn't really subside until about four weeks along--and honestly even now it still hurts a bit. I still spend many a night in front of the fan cooling my face before applying Vita K and going through it all over again. I've wondered if applying it straight out of the shower versus letting the skin dry a bit has been a factor. My dermatologist advised me to wait 15 minutes after showering/washing my face before applying the retinol product I was using prior to Cosmelan, as it penetrates the skin too quickly otherwise and causes flaking and irritation. I wonder if the same goes for Cosmelan? I'm going to try experimenting with timing and wait a bit before applying Cosmelan after showering--not only for the pain factor, but also because my skin has started peeling/flaking all over again! Just when I thought all that was behind me and enjoying my nice new skin (Friday marked one full month), the peeling is back! If I'm going to continue using Cosmelan 2 another couple months, I need to figure out how to do so with less irritation. I'll keep you posted if I figure anything out in the meantime!

Ok great thanks! Same here, except I immediately go running to the freezer to stick my face in it but I am in so much pain I end up alternating it with running and jumping around the house and whimpering very loud through a closed mouth for those 5 to 10 minutes after I put on cosmelan 2. I have experimented with the timing ranging from 15 minutes to 2 hours and it makes no difference :( It is still excrutiating. And I have done laser peels going up to 150 microns deep, tca's, glycolic, lactic acid peels, you name it, and nothing has ever, Ever been this painful! And I have such a high tolerance for pain. The sides of my mouth are cracked and split so bad that it is always painful to really laugh, eat, or open my mouth very much for anything. I have resorted to putting vaseline there as well as my lips, eyelids and earlobes because the cosmelan 2 always seems to seep there even if I am careful to avoid them, and yet it Still burns in those areas even with the layer of vaseline. I don't know what I am going to do since it is so painful and every time I put it on I say to myself "I can't do it, I can't do this anymore" before I start running and yelling around. It all sounds very comical I know but why didn't anybody ever say it was going to be this consistently painful for so long D-; .....I know I should stop complaining; I am doing this to myself. Whoever said beauty is not or doesn't have to be painful? I have started to see results on some of the areas on the sides of my cheeks and I am amazed but am still really waiting to see an improvement around my lip area. The little yet drastic progress I have had so far is what keeps me going. And would you say that the cosmelan helped to treat ALL of any discoloration you may have had, or did it only really help improve the actual Melasma??? Again, thanks :)

I just remembered something!! While the nurse was applying Cosmelan 1, she told me that if the irritation got to be too bad with Cosmelan 2, I should take a break from using it for a day or two. I asked how I'd know if there was irritation (dumb question, I know) and she said, "YOU'LL KNOW!!!!" So I guess you know! Maybe call your provider to double check, but everything my nurse told me to do (which was slightly different protocol than others have followed) has worked out perfectly, so I trust her advice. As far as if it treated all discoloration, not just melasma--it did! My freckles (which weren't cute little freckles, but more like blotchy random spots, nothing cute about them) are now 90% gone! :)

Great! Thank you for the additional information! And now it's been about 4 days since I've dropped down to cosmelan 2 only once a day which I put on at night and it has helped so much with the stinging! I am still really waiting to see results on my lip area, some days it looks better but then much worse on others. I can never really tell if my skin there is improving though because it it always like snake skin and peeling. Anyway, in the daytime I alternate between using a really good sunblock by Obagi and lycogel which is a special makeup for post procedures like laser and chemical peels and my skin is slowly gaining a little bit of its moisture back which is great. I think i am about at 2 weeks since starting this whole process and hopefully will get to see a clearer face at the end of 4 weeks. I am thinking i may repeat the rest of my cosmelan 1 in 2 weeks but I will see.