Replied By Laura (Wichita, KS) on 06/17/2008

Replied By Marea (Dallas, Texas) on 06/19/2008

Replied By Marea (Dallas, Texas) on 06/19/2008

I don't know if I can mention brands, but I was taking the NutriBiotic original GSE liquid concentrate unfiltered formula (10 drops contain 100mg) which I purchased at a Whole Foods supermarket, to be taken 5-15 drops in 5oz. or more of water or juice 1-3 times daily, with or without meals.

My melasma was on the sides of my forehead, very pronounced on my nose, some on my upper cheek bones and somewhat around my mouth. And, yes, it is all gone, except for one tiny spot on my nose where it was the most pronounced. I had gone on vacation for three weeks and had stopped using the GSE. The Melasma has not returned, but I have started up again on GSE to get that one spot left on my nose. No, I don't use sunscreen. I don't like to use chemicals anywhere on my skin. I use hats during the sun's peak hours. If you decide to try it, I hope it works for you, as well as it did for me. Do remember though, that you would also have to address your internal terrain. Going on an internal cleanse to flush out your colon and liver would greatly benefit your overall health. My best to you.

TO LAURA FROM WICHITA,KS

Laura, I was using 15-20 drops of liquid GSE extract (the natural citricidal kind)five times a day on an empty stomach (10 drops100mg for a total of 750mg-1000mg daily). I started with 20 drops three times a day, for a few days, increased to 20 drops five times a day for a few weeks, then tapered off to 15 drops five times a day. I prefer the liquid GSE because, in my opinion, it is more easily absorbed and perhaps faster acting. If taken on an empty stomach, you do have to increase gradually because otherwise you might experience some mild stomach acidity. I don't know if you will get the same results with tablets or capsules. Just try it and if it doesn't work then switch to liquid and see if it works better for you. Do be aware, though, that the liquid extract tastes bitter. If you do an internet search on the benefits of GSE, you will see that it states it does not affect beneficial intestinal flora; however, I took probiotics at separate times, just as a precautionary measure.

I have never tried the MSM. Joyce from Joelton and Ted highly recommend it, and they are very knowledgeable, so I am sure that would help, too. I wish you the best at resolving your skin condition. I hope it works for you as well as it did for me.

Replied By Leah (Suffolk, VA) on 06/29/2008

Replied By Laura (Wichita, KS) on 07/07/2008

Replied By Laura (Wichita, KS) on 07/09/2008

Replied By Kristin (Wichita, KS, USA) on 07/12/2008

I am also from Wichita, KS. What Dr. are you seeing that has provided you with your hormone level check?

I have lived with Melasma since 1999 when I was pregnant with my first child. The only medication I have used is Triluma. It did have little results but left my skin flaky and dry. I am interested in finding out more about Melasma.

A very good friend of mine found this website and I am certainly thankful for her passing along the information as I have found many interesting facts and remedies to try. Please let me know how you are progressing and what Dr. you have been seeing here in Wichita.

Thank you so much for your information, and I wish you the best of luck.

Kristin

Replied By Leah (Suffolk, VA) on 07/21/2008

Replied By Laura (Wichita, KS) on 07/23/2008

Replied By Marea (Dallas, Texas) on 08/18/2008

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.

Replied By Denise (Brooklyn, NY) on 08/18/2008

Replied By Misha (Karachi, Pakistan) on 02/20/2009

Marea, I have had melasma since I was 14. At 29 it has grown to a disturbing extent. I have tried every medical and herbal/alternative doctor I could find and used every remedy anyone and everyone has advised. (The funniest was when a woman once came up to me at an airport and said to use the inside of a mango seed)

All I have ever noticed is slight lightening of the marks and eventually (due to stress, sun, etc etc) they darken again and grow larger and thicker.

The last medical doctor I saw told me they can ONLY lighten and I have to live with th fungus family and they will get worse if/when I have children,so I should be prepared (life just gets better!). The last herbal doctor I went to told me to be patient. I spent 2 years on her medicine and saw a little peeling after a few months and eventually it all returned...

And then around the end of 2008, I read your thread...
Marea, YOUR GSE remedy is the first time I have SEEN results.

Bless You Marea, I cannot thank you enough. I ordered Grapefruit Seed Extract from America and started with a few drops and as you said, it did play havoc on my stomach. So I was on and off it trying to control the nausea and bloating, and simulaneously I did see breaking up and peeling within the first week. When I increased it to 15 drops in 5oz of water Three times a day, the results have been phenomenal! My back now has huge clear spots where the fungus family had been squatting for years! In other areas I can see dramatic breaking up and watch with amazement every morning as the clear spots get bigger and bigger. (it is on 70% of my back and 30% of my front and sides of my face and scalp..eyuu)

I do get bloated and feel nausea (I wont even get into the ITCHING stories). I have had sleep issues as well. I am thinking it must be the need for an internal cleanse as you had stated. I started taking acidophillus tablets alongside the GSE (but at a separate time of day from the GSE) I now started taking physillum husk in a glass of water (internal cleanse attempt). I could not find bentonite (for a colon cleanse) yet so I have ordered that from America.

After starting the fibre, I felt more nauseous, but the next day my sleep had improved, skin is generally looking fresher (even my under eye bags). Yesterday I felt a strange euphoria. From what I have read, I believe the dead bacteria that was left in my system must have been removed or reduced by the fibre leading to these positive effects.

Do you think you can give some more guidance on the internal cleanse and diet you followed? What kind of acidophillus and how many tablets daily? Can you be more specific on the type of internal cleanse you did and what diet you followed?

Marea, I honestly send you so many blessings everytime I see progress. And whoever founded this forum, thank you!

Clear skin by my 30th birthday..., everytime I think about it feels surreal.
(I must sound like a commercial:))

This is the only place where I found a sincere remedy. Many many thanks :)

Replied By Marea (Dallas, TX) on 02/23/2009

BLESS YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE TO LET ME KNOW OF YOUR SUCCESS WITH GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT FOR YOUR MELASMA! I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUCCESS AND THE REMEDY IS WORKING FOR YOU.

It was almost by accident that I saw your letter. I have been traveling extensively over the last few months as we are seeking relocation to land in the mountains (for pristine soil to grow our own crops, fresh air and sunshine), so my daughter is able to keep up with the reading of the posts much more than I am able to. A few of my friends have now tried the GSE. It did not work for some who gave up too soon, but those who stuck with it and took it as directed in spite of its very bitter taste, were able to see results.

Continue doing what you are already doing - it takes WILLPOWER and RESOLVE. You are on the right track. Taking Acidophilus at separate times and also psyllium and bentonite will all lead to internal cleansing and detoxifying over time. As I had mentioned in my original thread, internal cleansing to flush out the colon, liver and bloodstream will greatly enhance any healing protocol and will benefit overall health. Everything we consume will work that much more effectively if our internal organs are clean and able to absorb; so yes, internal cleansing is of paramount importance, and that is where one should always start if long lasting, permanent results are desired (otherwise, conditions will always eventually recur, when we stop treatment before we address the root or cause of many problems - sluggish, inflamed, clogged or overburdened organs with candida, fungus, bacteria, parasites, etc.)

There are many herbal cleansers on the market. Over the last couple of years, I have used Dr. Richard Schultze's and Dr. Christopher's herbal preparations - they are excellent, and natural. I have heard that Dr. Hulda Clark's herbal preparations are also good. I have followed the _____'s internal cleansing protocol by fasting on distilled water (distilled water is the best solvent of inorganic minerals - I use it for cleansing over the short term) once a week, and three days out of every month by drinking about ten 8-oz glasses of water (in three out of ten glasses of distilled water, I add two teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar and a dash of cayenne). For me, short periodic fasts are an excellent way to give the digestive system a rest, and time to fully use energy for regeneration and restoration of cellular function. Once a year (I have now done it two consecutive years), I have done the Stanley Burroughs Master Lemonade cleanse for ten days. His lemonade/maple syrup/cayenne drink (I also add a dash of cinnamon) is surprisingly sustaining.

After the short fasts, I follow with a healthy diet of lots of raw fruits and vegetables and their freshly extracted or blended live green juices. As far as my eating habits go, I eat a variety of foods in moderation (at least half raw or more, the rest cooked). I alternate between organic goat's cheese, free-range organic eggs, wild salmon and free-range organic chicken or freshly made chicken soup in small amounts about two or three times a week. Also, the best way to get your probiotics is through raw, cultured (fermented) vegetables if you can spare about one or two hours once a week (I do it on a Saturday or Sunday). That way I can have a couple of tablespoons of the cultured vegetables with my meals throughout the week (cabbage rejuvelac is surprisingly easy to prepare). I must say that I started following this diet after the success with GSE. I was so thrilled with my new face, that I wanted to make sure I would never again get those spots on my face! It was a great motivation to keeping my internal terrain clean after the herbal cleanse and GSE. By the way, I strongly believe that if you do periodic cleanses to keep your internal system working optimally, and your immune system strong and alkalized by the consumption of plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, you will not have to keep taking any treatments indefinitely (I don't need to continually take remedial herbs, nor take any medications, prescribed or over the counter). I no longer need the GSE. I was thankful that it did a fabulous job, because the cleanse alone was not taking care of the condition fast enough, BUT in conjunction with the cleanse, the GSE accelerated the process along in just a few short weeks, not months. By the way, your internal terrain also includes your emotions. Minimize, or better yet, eliminate continued negative thoughts and emotions such as stress, anxiety, worries, fear, anger, resentments, etc. - they are highly acidifying and conducive to ill health. Yes, in varying degrees, they are part of life, but don't let them control you.

If you have access to a trampoline (I use my children's old outdoor trampoline), soft rebounding is also excellent for the lymphatic system. It works by stimulating circulation of body fluids to nourish the body and bringing vital life and energy to every organ in the body. I have seen a difference in my muscles and skin tone, including facial skin tone since I started using it. At my age, I am limber, in perfect weight and with the body, life and energy of my 20's - I attribute it to the internal cleanses, the diet and the trampoline combined. Once you get into a routine, it really does not take a lot of time, and it is not hard to follow. Once you experience the benefits, the energy and the feeling of well-being, you will never want to go back to old habits. Above all, a positive frame of mind, love and laughter and the power of prayer are great medicine for the body and soul!

Many blessings to you, too, Misha. I hope you get my response to your questions, and my best wishes for your continued success. Many blessings, too, to the beautiful staff at Earthclinic for keeping up this wonderful site, and to those who contribute with their caring responses to the questions aked. Marea from Dallas, Texas

Replied By Misha (Karachi, Pakistan) on 02/24/2009

Good luck in your new home search. May it bring you all you wish and desire :)

Replied By Marea (Dallas, Texas) on 02/27/2009

Replied By Fernanda (Modesto, CA) on 05/10/2009

Replied By Tina (Fairfax, Washington Dc) on 07/25/2011

Replied By Zulema (Houston, Tx) on 08/08/2011

Please continue to work with this... Do not give up. I used 2-3 coats of foundation and people can't even tell. I am a beautiful woman 42 yrs old, and melasma in my opinion is what is bothering me the most... But I have to put things into perspective. I am taking ACV internally and will start with the Aloe and all the other antioxidants recommended in these blogs.

Replied By Janet (Washington, Dc) on 08/16/2011

I have had melasma all over my face for about 5 years. I have tried all of the expensive topical treatments and peels with only temporary success. I discovered this website back in May and have since tried many of the remedies recommended here. I have also started seeing a Naturopathic Doctor, which has been very helpful (although quite pricey$$). She discovered I have a hormone inbalance and she thinks this is the reason I have the melasma (as well as some pretty bad PMS symptoms). I am taking vitex along with other supplements to correct my hormone inbalance (I am estrogen dominant). I am also taking Vitamin C, MSM, a multi-vitamin, Pycnogenol, Zinc, Copper, Probiotics, Fish Oil, and using ACV topically. I have tried the GSE, horseradish, hydrogen peroxide masks and Kefir, but that didn't do anything for me.

For me the fish oil and probiotics have been key to helping my skin. My melasma has lightened quite a bit, but I think this is also due to shifting my diet. I did a 2 week liver detox and have tried to stay away from sugar, wheat, dairy, red meats, alcohol and caffeine since then. I know that sounds like a lot and no fun, but it has made me feel a whole lot better and I think my skin is getting better. I have been eating mostly veggies, beans, fruits, grains and beans. I am not completely strict on this, and I still like to go out and have pizza and beer on the weekends, but I do notice that my brown spots look darker the next day when I do.

Another thing I have done is to shift my beuty products to all natural ones -ACV, coconut oil and natural makeups and SPF (look up EWG.org to find out if your products have irritating chemicals in them). I recently heard about topical niacinamide (vitamin B3), which is supposed to act much in the same way as Retin A by curing acne, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, but it is completely natural and is very inexpensive. Just google the natural spray form. I am definitely going to give it a try and I will report on my progress. Good luck to everyone else -this is a difficult battle! (I do have to put things in perspective sometimes and think -things could be a lot worse ;)