★★★★★
I feel guilty in a way for being so obsessed about this; vain even. But like every woman, I want to look my best and realize that your face is what people see first.
So after studying all of these posts I purchased the following: Grapefruit Seed Extract (2 a day; 15 drops), Acidophilus (1 at lunch), Zinc (1 at lunch), Milk Thistle (2 before bed). I also use Apple Cider Vinegar as a toner (diluted) in the morning and before bed.
After two weeks, I am heartened at the changes I am seeing. My children confirm that not only is the melasma noticeably lighter but that it is breaking up on my cheeks and chin. You can actually see my normal skin colour coming through. The remaining spots on my forehead are stubborn but I will see this through.
Cheers!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Onion Juice
★★★★★
I have finally found something that works: A one part to one part solution of onion juice and ACV. I found the recipe on the internet: just put some onion in the blender (I used a garlic press) to get some juice going. Add an equal amount of ACV to the onion juice.
Every evening, I've been pouring about 1 - 2 teaspoons into a little dish and applied it to affected areas with a cotton swab repeatedly until the juice is used up. This takes 10 - 20 minutes. After several days, I used the vinegary onion pulp as a facial mask - left it on for about 20 minutes.
It's been maybe 4 weeks and most stubborn brown spots have faded really nicely. The onion juice apparently helps lift the darkened areas off - and it has vitamin C in it - which seems like an overall healthy thing to be putting on your skin. I bought my second onion a couple of days ago and am looking forward to even an even clearer complexion!
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★☆
Multiple Remedies
★☆☆☆☆
It's been a while since I last wrote to EC. I have been battling melasma for years now and it has become my life mission to find a cure. I have tried everything cosmetic with disastorous results for my face and my wallet. The worst experience I had was IPL laser which made my melasma 100 times worse.
I've tried various concoctions from EC including MSM, Grapefruit, hydrogen peroxide to little avail, , , that being said I've probably not stuck to anything long enough to see a result... I'm a firm believer if there is no improvement in a few weeks there isnt going to be.
I am now on a regime of Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamin C, zinc and horseraddish as these are about the only things I've not tried, It's been 1 week since I started using ACV and maybe there is a little improvement but nothing as dramatic as the results some have posted. I guess we all have to trial and error various methods to find the magical one that will work.
I promised myself if I find a solution I will tell everyone... so for those of you still battling this I feel your pain and will keep you posted on any improvements I see. Cheers, Maz
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★☆
An update to my previous posts on my melasma condition. I was and still am using a product ____24. In addition I am still taking vitamins on a daily basis. Just recently my melasma came back with a vengeance. . . All my fault. I went on vacation to the beach and layed in the sun with sunscreen every day. I wanted a nice tan so badly. Well needless to say my melasma kicked in full gear. I came back to Earth Clinic for help. I tried the acv on my face in the evening before bedtime. This is only my second day and the spots are all fading! After I wash my face, I dip a cotton ball in water acv and put it all over my face. I cannot believe the improvement in just two days! Thanks Earth Clinic contributors! I will keep everyone posted on my progress.
★★★★★
Copper Connection to Melasma
But seriously, I think what happened was, I stopped caring. I stopped obsessing over it. I started loving myself more. I believed my body could just heal itself and that paying attention to it was only making it worse. Anyway, it was there for, oh, maybe 5 years? I tried everything, almost. Seriously I write this to give hope to other people that it can really just go away. I realized it was going away a few months ago, but wasn't sure what would happen when warmer weather came. But I know now. I have been in the sun plenty of times without sunscreen. Also with sunscreen. I mean like daily hour long hikes on sunny days. I don't fear it anymore. It's just gone. I assume the last little spot on my forehead, maybe half an inch by half an inch will be gone soon enough - it's way shrunken down from what it was before - it's literally vanishing. Anyway, it just started going away by itself as far as I can tell. My body is just healing itself. Please don't obsess over it, tell yourself daily you love yourself anyway, ignore it. I am pretty healthy, I eat well, but I'm no fanatic. I think the more we worry the worse it gets. I think when we let go, and believe it can heal but don't mind anymore... it will just go away.
Good luck! ES
Copper Connection to Melasma
Best regards to you all!
Folic Acid
★★★★★
Grapefruit Seed Extract
I developed melasma after a blue light peel. I had a small amount about a dime size on my forehead and was told by plastic surgeon (huh?) to get the blue light peel to lessen the melasma on my forehead. Being young, and naive, I agreed. The procedure involved putting a blue die all over face, and standing in a tube like structure where they shine a light of rays (UV?) on your face for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Now when I think about it, doesn't heat make melasma worse? Why would he prescribe this treatment for me? Also, if the melasma was on my forehead why put blue die all over the face? I truly believe I was dupped.
Anyhow, the melasma was supposed to get darker, then disappear. But that didn't happen, the melasma spread all over my face. To my cheeks, nose, and more on my forehead. When I went to complain (in tears) about the results, they told me that they results were not guaranteed for everyone (huh?) But they had not told me this at the beginning. I think they were using me as a test case because of my skin tone.
I wanted to sue them, but in Canada the rules for taking someone to court, and suing them are quite strict. Anyhow, the damage was already done. I then went to see a derm (who put me on HQ and RA). This combo worked well, but once I finished the course of treatment, the melasma came back with a vengeance. I then tried a series of peels, Fractional laser treatments, etc, etc...
Nothing has helped me like the GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT...
Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to give you a complete picture as to my struggle.
Warmest Regards,
Gigi
Onion Juice, Hydrogen Peroxide
★★★★☆
Multiple Remedies
★★★★☆
Here's what I use for the external that really seems to work. Exfoliate with clarisonic brush, use a favorite toner that works with your skin type. You can use Hydroquinone 4%, it works for me, but it makes me nervous, but it does work for me. I also used Meladerm, works well and no HQ. I do this every night, I never go to sleep with my makeup on!
I think the key is getting the proper nutrients inside and exfoliating every single day and it does take time but after months I am truly seeing a significant improvement. Put it this way, I don't want to cry now every time I look in the mirror. The IPL treatments put me over the edge that it made it so much worse. Now I am going to try the Grapefruit Seed extract and see what that will do for me. I know that in my younger years I was on the birth control pill, so I know hormones play a role, but my diet of sugar and junk food in my 20's and beyond has had an effect on my skin, I am sure. Now I am just trying to undo some of my past damage and I know I will get there with patience and time.
I just wanted to write to see if I could help someone else fight this annoying problem.
Good luck and I hope something I've said here helps.
JDW
Avoid Hydroquinone
Hydrogen Peroxide
★★★★★
Grapefruit Seed Extract
★★★★★
Grapefruit Seed Extract
TO LAURA FROM WICHITA,KS: Laura, I have been traveling this summer, so I am now catching up on my reading, and noticed your comment on the CURES section for Melasma. You said you "haven't noticed the GSE has helped my melasma either". I would like to encourage you to persevere just a little longer, don't give up too soon. I treated my melasma successfully with GSE, and gave the GSE extract to a friend who also treated hers successfully, but took her a little longer to see results. I can only deduce that the longer you have had the melasma, the longer it will take to see results. I had my melasma for about five years and it took four weeks to see results. My friend had hers for about 12 years and it took her about nine to ten weeks to begin to see results.
Also, I noticed that you were taking several things such as MSM, Vitamin C, Zinc for copper overload, hormone therapy in addition to GSE capsules. I am wondering if perhaps too many things for the same condition are causing system overload. Not only that, but also you were using GSE capsules (or tablets?) which in my opinion, may not be as effective as the GSE liquid extract itself. I had started with an herbal liver cleanse prior to the GSE which addressed my internal terrain, which I believe helped to get things started, but I KEPT IT SIMPLE and used no additional supplements. I used the GSE liquid extract on an empty stomach mixed with plain filtered water, NOT mixed with any juice so it would not interfere with digestion or assimilation. I learned to tolerate the taste.
If your condition is hormone related, perhaps the hormone therapy is what will work for you. Everyone's body chemistry is different, so what may work for some, may not work for others. But we should all be willing to try different avenues until we find what works for us. In many cases, it is also a matter of giving a remedy sufficient time to work. Let me know of your progress. I wish you well in your quest for a solution to you condition. Marea
TO LEAH FROM SUFFOLK,VA: Leah, I had my melasma for about five years, and yes the GSE (GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT, NOT Grapeseed) worked for me. It took only a few weeks, but it might take longer for those who have had melasma for a longer period of time. So far, I would consider it permanent resolution as my melasma has NOT returned.
TO DENISE FROM BROOKLYN,NY: Denise, you said you were experiencing side effects from the MSM and wondered if Vitamin C and GSE worked on their own to treat melasma. In my personal case, I took NOTHING ELSE BUT GSE. The GSE worked for me all by itself. I had started taking GSE for an unrelated condition after I had finished doing an herbal liver cleanse to address my internal terrain, when I realized to my delight that it was breaking up my melasma faster than the liver cleanse! It cleared it completely, and to this date, it has not returned. I wish you well in successfully treating yours.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
As for the people using GSE, this is important the one that is for external use is the ORIGINAL FORMULA GSE is that people used internally. There was some rule that made them change the labeling. The new internal GSE lacks the vital ingredient that the external one has. Do your research before you buy it.
MSM, Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
★★★★★
I was drinking plenty of water during this time and taking good care of myself - other than that, I didn't do anything.
I don't know what will work for other people, but try not to stress over it. Sounds impossible. I was a single woman, and was so upset to have to try to date with those marks on my face! Make up didn't cover it. It looked even worse under fluorescent lights, and got darker if I was in the sun.
Well, it's been over 20 years now, I'm healthy, happily married and happy to say, that melasma stayed banished away, even during my two pregnancies! I never wear sunscreen and spend plenty of time gardening in the sun. No problem. It's gone and it's stayed gone.
So, just know this - melasma CAN go away.
I was NOT doing anything anymore. I just loved myself, and stopped worrying over it. My body healed.
I wish a perfect solution for you all, whatever it may be. Just know this - it doesn't HAVE to stay that way! It CAN go away because it did for me. Be patient, be kind to yourself, take care of yourself and don't insult yourself over it. Imagine you're your own best friend - if you had a dear friend with melasma, would you stare at her face constantly and tell her she looked awful? Probably not.
★★★★★
I asked her how many milligrams of FO she was taking. She mentioned that she was taking a 1000 milligrams a day of combined DHA/EPA. I mentioned that that might not be the optimal dose for her based on effective dosages used in studies of FO in humans and suggested she consider upping her dose to study levels of EPA/DHA of 3 to 4 grams per day in order to optimize the benefit to her skin and heart. This would be 3 to 4 times the amount she was already taking. It is the total amount of EPA/DHA in a given FO soft gel that is important, not the total amount of different oils. So even though a FO soft gel may say 1200 mg, the actual EPA/DHA level may only be half that amount. It is important to read the label carefully to know what you are really getting.
Obviously the heart benefit will not be readily apparent other than through testing, but I told her that any additional benefit to her skin should be readily apparent within two months or so. I also reminded her that FO at therapeutic dosing such as she was now taking can absolutely have blood thinning effects and as such she should notify her doctor and have him/her add that information to her medical records for safety. I further told her that the high dose FO, because of its anti inflammatory effects should be additionally beneficial to her anti hyperpigmentation regimen as localized inflammation is a contributing factor to skin hyperpigmentation.
This past week, my friend texted me to update me on how she was doing as it was approaching the 2 month mark at her new increased FO dosing level. She said the following, it appears to be additive to her anti hyperpigmentation regimen as she could see increased fading of dark spots which she said had previously slowed to a crawl and she felt that if the current rate of lightening continued she might be "clear" in 3 months or so. She further said that the increased FO dosing schedule had eliminated "all of her dry skin" issues which she said had been a major problem for her for years. She went on to say that "stretch marks, keratosis and scars" that she has had for years had either faded, significantly diminished or both.
Overall she was very happy and looking forward to continued improvements and she said the improvements are helping her to diligently stick to her current regimen with no slacking. I told her that was good that she is applying her regimen consistently because that is needed in order to obtain the results she is getting and wants.
She told me she would update me later and when she does I will update this thread to update on her progress.
I know this is not of very much importance to many people, but it does offer a significant boost to her self esteem which, imo, is very important in trying to improve your overall quality of life, plus the added health benefit that the therapeutic FO dose is having to her heart is great, especially as we age! It is important to highlight the benefits of FO at useful dosing levels as many studies spotlight a multitude of health effects associated with sufficient intake of EPA/DHA, even for the brain!
Art
Melasma Creams That Don't Work
Yes, do not use hydroquinone.
my melasma faded to the point where I do not need make up anymore simply by ditching grains, sugar and dairy (3 months).I simply eat meat, veggies and fruits. I use mandelic acid 25% which is made of almonds during winter, and it helps, and 50SPF sunblock.
You need to address your gut and kidney-glucose, heal inflammation.
Good luck!
Melasma Creams That Don't Work
petty surge, milk weed; radium weed, wart weed.
I have used this many times you only need to squeeze a drop or two from the stem of the plant then simply rub it on to the area you want to treat do not use more and do not get it near your eyes, if you put some on in the morning you can you can wash yourself that night without it making any difference to what you have treated. all ways try in a small spot first, as it is possible that too much could burn a little, don't let that bother you, it will take up to a week to start to see the result.you than can use more if need be. its magic no more blemishes no more skin cancer.recently I had black patches on my arms caused by listing to doctors and taking asprin, I started using ozone an found that if I applied ozone to a black patch within about a week I would simply rub the spot and it it gradually dissapear never to return. I have not tried it on cancer spots as yet; as dont have any. (as yet). good luck, john.
Rosehip Seed Oil
★★★★★
I 1st tried 100% organic pure rosehip seed oil (rosa rubinginosa oil) which is a light color, used it twice a day for 6 months, it was a nice moisturizer but did nothing for the melasma. So I wanted to try another brand of rosehip oil bc of the review I read from the previous EC post. I decided to try the Organic 100% pure Rosehip oil (rosa canina oil) which is a dark amber color, little bit thicker, richer and better overall quality oil and great moisturizer than the rosa rubinginosa oil. Wow, what a difference. I used it twice a day and within 3 months my skin tone started to even out nicely, I don"t have to cake on the foundation anymore I can go without. The melasma is so light, its not noticeable.
I think that the origin of the oil makes a huge difference. The rosehip oil (rosa canina) source chile, andes mountain vs rosehip seed (rosa rubinginosa) there are others like rosehip oil (rosa mosqueta) etc. But make sure its 100% rosa canina.
★★★★★
Looking back, I know it didn't help, just getting hot would bring it out! This is the first summer I noticed it Was diminishing. It HAS to be the diet change. I am convinced it was my gut health. If you've read anything on how unhealthy wheat is, you know it blocks nutrition absorption. The minute I stopped the wheat and took vitamins, my skin transformed. It can't be a coincidence. I don't even wear sunscreen under my makeup anymore. My friends and family noticed right away. FYI, I only use coconut oil on my face every night. I don't even wash it off. I rub all over, wipe with a tissue. I also use it to take off my mascara. I don't think the coconut oil cured my melasma though, I think I was missing vitamins and minerals that my skin desperately needed! Just had to share, possibly to help someone else :)
★★★★★
Rosehip Seed Oil, Squalene Oil
★★★★★
With my last visit to the determologist with yet another set of medications. That did nothing except burn my skin. I started to research different oils that have helped people. I have to say they've been such a great help. From the rose hip oil to the one I think works the best frankincense and even sandalwood. The have faded my melasma a ton and worked way better than tri Luna. It's worth a try I promise.
Dermal Melasma
Grapefruit Seed Extract
★★★★★
