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Remedies Requested for Melasma

Posted By Kimberly (Canton, NC) on 05/15/2008

Hi. I have been battling melasma on my face since I was in my mid-20s. My forehead is the worst area. I feel like everyone stares at it and not me. I have done everything.... peels, microdermabrasion, Obagi, etc. I am now 38 and the war continues!! I've been off birth control for 5-6 years now and that hasn't helped. I am sooo desperate for help. I'm getting married Aug 23 and don't want brown patches all over my face. I am so self conscious and hate being photographed. I've read all the comments and am going to try some of these remedies to see if I get any improvement. Any other suggestions?? Please let me know!

Replied by Marea (Dallas, Texas) on 05/16/2008

I share your sentiments about melasma. I, too, was afflicted with this condition, but nothing you do externally will be of great help or even permanent, unless you also address your internal terrain. I started using an herbal liver cleanse, and it took four months before I started noticing improvements. My melasma was reduced by half by the end of six months. However, when I started taking Grapefruit Seed Extract (the natural citricidal kind) for an unrelated condition, to my amazement, the melasma started dissapering at a faster rate than with the herbal treatment. It took only about four weeks to almost completely dissapear. I believe liver spots, melasma, age spots, whatever they are called are mostly related to an internal fungal condition, which the GSE greatly treated and that is why it acted so much faster. I was taking it five times a day on an empty stomach.

Replied by Joy (Columbia, SC) on 05/20/2008

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! It is a wonderful time, and I know just how you feel about Melasma. I wrote in 05/01/08 about starting the MSM 1,000 MG 3 Times a day and Vit. C500 mg 2 times a day with meals. I am still getting wonderful results. Also remember to put on sunscreen everyday. I use the UVA/UVB Broadspectrum I got it from Walmart, I think it is by CooperTone. I hope you get results before your big day!

Replied by K- (Pacific Northwest Islands, USA) on 06/10/2008

What I am posting for EarthClinic is not a cure, rather it is a cosmetic aid.

If you have ever suffered Melasma, you would certainly understand the embarrassment suffered....people don't ask questions; they just stare. Therefore, one is not able to explain the horrific side-effects of HRT.

Please post this so that my two, simple cosmetic aides may benefit someone who has suffered melasma as I have.

Black patches on the skin are hard to disguise. The two aides that have helped me over the decades are:
- Yellow Concealer; the only color that truly hides the black/grey patches.
- Instant tanning products; made for faces only. I take a qtip and strategically color in the whiter areas of my face. Performed on a regular basis, this maintains a more blended appearance of coloration.

- Never, ever expose face to sun...The process begins anew when you do. Wear hats!

And for a final footnote: In addition to being diagnosed with Melasma, as a direct side-effect of HRT, I also was diagnosed with psoriasis. TANNING BED! Cover the face and tan 2-times a week. Within a few weeks, psoriasis will subside.

Good luck to all fellow HRT recipients.

Replied by M.c. (Colorado Springs) on 08/19/2016
Hi there, Thank you so much for posting few years back re Melasma and HRT as I now suffer from full face, dermal Melasma after starting Premarin in 2007 after oophorectomy. I'm not on Estrodiol patch and at age 42, am trying to figure out what if any, estrogen replacement is most Melasma "friendly, ugh! Meanwhile, I have manaaged to reduced the darkening quite a bit by mixing AntÃƒÂ-dandruff shampoo (1/2 tsp), blue listerine (1/2 tsp) and 1/4 tsp baking soda. I did this once a day and have been for a few months now. Crazy...I know! Found it on Realself.com. However, I know that won't fix my issue as even stepping outside w mineral SPF and hat, mine will begin to darken a bit. So I was wondering if these GSE and other supplemnents worked for you w the HRT issue? Did stopping the HRT help you or was that even an option as its not for me o don't believe. Yours is first post I've seen mention HRT so I really appreciate your feedback as this has ruined my esteem, had to move, lost relationship, you name it...

Replied by EC on 06/11/2008

Response to K (6/10/2008) and anyone thinking about using a tanning bed... Be careful! The New York Times recently ran an article on cases of deadly skin cancer in teenagers and young adults from tanning beds.

Replied by Nv34 (Tampa, Fl, Usa) on 04/23/2011

Hi everyone!

I suffered of melasma about 5 to 8 years back. I noticed the problem when I was 26 years old. I used to flawless skin, but that's is history. I think this is way I feel so depressing! I used to take sun, but nothing so extreme that make this problem getting worse and worse. I have been doing photofacial, chemical peel, obagi, etc, etc. The last thing I bought was a new cream call Pearl. Which cost $90.00 waste my money! I found this website last night.... I went to the store right away to get ACV and Vit C and Lecitin. Also, I am planning to get selenium and zinc. I have to said that I never hear before this problem is coming inside of me. I have been going to the dermatology and of course they give me a bunch of prescription and retinol A. By the way I just find out that something is to cure acne make the melasma worse. So, she is curing one time and make worse the other one. I feel disturbing to know that never hear that I could inbalance hormones or the problem need to be address inside first. It surprise me that before find this place a ARNP nurse told me that my is problem is not only the sun and that's when I decide to search more about inbalance hormones and I found this website.

I have to said THANKS DR TO TELL ME THE TRUTH! I guess I making her richer spending alot money there! So, I definetly want to hear all you guys progress with home remedies and share with me. I really want to get it off of this melasma. I know is not cure, but at least controlling and finally see it fading. They are so dark right now. I just want to cry when I look myself in the mirror.

Please any suggesting that works for you, please share with us!

Thanks

Replied by D (London, Uk) on 08/22/2011

Hi Ted or everyone who could help, I'm in the UK, does anyone know where I can get a treatment for exogenous ochronosis? which clinic do I exactly go to?

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