E. Chou (Vancouver, B.c.) on 12/30/2009
ok, I see that as a success story and want to share, but the problem is I cannot pin down what I did contributed to the success, it could be a combination as well. So I will give you all the details and you can decide, or try and see.
I had an IPL treatment hoping to take care of some sun spot, and it lifted a few big patches of dark on both cheeks and forehead. The IPL was done early September. It did remove some tiny sun spots, but wheh you have melasma it's a totally different game. Anyway, I just left it and hopefully it will go away but it did not. Some people said it's the post treatment healing which can take 3 months to 1 year. Anyway by end of Oct (which was 2 months after the treatment) that was no improvement whatsoever. Also in mid Oct I visited this site and started taking a whole bunch of supplements, Vitamin C, E, grapefruit seed extract, zinc etc, for either increase antioxident or balance the copper, which was said being the cause of melasma. Anyhow I still didn't see any improvement until in Novemebr I started a diet that cut out dairy, greatly reduce meat intake, lots of avocado, papaya, lemon, lime, some flexseed etc. One of the key is to reduce the acidity of the body. That seems to take effect pretty fast, I started seeing white patches breaking the dark patches. It goes on for 2 weeks and because I am impatient, I started to use a cream of hydroquinone 4% (tried 2% previously did not work for me), which does NOT require a prescription in Canada, but do in the US. I know the cream doesn't really fall into natural rememdy category, but it does almost totally clear up my patches. The original melasma spots at the corner of my eyes are almost all gone as well. SO whatever it is, it could be just that the IPL injury was healing, or it's the vitamins, or it's the diet, or it's the cream. I am just happy to have clearer skin again. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.
EC: Warning! Hydroquinone is already banned in many countries (the EU, Japan, South Africa and Australia) as studies have shown that it can cause leukemia in rats!Replied By Elena (Athen, Greece) on 02/06/2010
I'd like to ask E. Chou about how long and how often(morning,evening,etc.)uses this cream of hydroquinone.It's also very important to me to know if you go outside during the time of using the cream (which means a week, maybe more staying home).
***, another cream of hydroquinone, is my last hope for noticeble results. Everything I've been trying for 10 years failed, including expensive creams prescribed by doctors,going to beauticians. A month ago I started on my cream of hq but something went wrong. After the first peeling my face looked about 80% lighter, was so happy and kept on with it. Another succesfull peeling-things seemed to be perfect in only 2 weeks time(!) and then,I don't know why,my spots became brown again.I applyied this cream every night and always used sunscreen when going out.Trying to find why this reverse occured :(
I don't know if I have high level of copper, but what I am sure of is that my melasma started in a moment of extreme stress. I also have anemia and am prescribed folic acid. Trying lots of homemade masks-milk,lemon etc. No results for now. Thanks and good luck to all!
Replied By Bernietonyan (Pomfret, Ct) on 07/24/2011
- Pycnoginol - 3 times daily
- MSM - 3 times daily
- Ultimate Flora Probiotics - 3 times daily
- Pomegranate Extract - 2 times daily
- Vitamin C, Vitamin E with Selenium, Beta Carotene, Zinc, Magnesium and Omega 3-6-9 once daily
In addition I am using apple cider vinegar twice daily as a toner and a papaya enzyme exfoliating mask once a week. I have just started this regimen 3 days ago and am happy to report that already my husband and I notice a difference - my dark spots are lighter and appear to be breaking up! I am so excited I just had to share!! I will keep you updated on my results as I go along. Thank you all for your wonderful insight and encouragement and good luck!
Replied By Boo (Australia) on 08/14/2016
Just wanted to clarify, Hydroquinone is not banned in Australia. You can get it over the counter at the chemist/pharmacy or high dosages of it with a prescription.
I'm currently on it myself. I have seen results but then it comes back again. And yes, there are risks associated with it too.
My dermatologist says that UV light is the main culprit, - I've found if I miss putting on sunscreen once (eg. putting it on in the morning on a cloudy Melbourne day then forgetting to put it on in the afternoon) my melasma gets worse. However, there is a question as to whether light in general (eg. from lightglobes) is also a culprit. Which would be pretty frustrating if true! 'Coz wandering around in a balaclava is not something I can really get away with most days.....
As already mentioned here, the dermatologist said that friction is also a cause of it, elsewhere mentioned here. So DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE! I touch my face all the time so I'm sure this has contributed.
And when using HQ it makes my skin peel so I'm not even supposed to touch my face to get it off so that's just as unsightly as the melasma. So I'm pretty much still a melasma mess. : (
Thanks for all the advice, I think that HQ is not a long term solution so will give the supplements another go. And that fungal infection cream, as there's a browny grey patch around my mouth and chin that looks horrid and makeup seems to just draw attention to it. Just hard to figure out what works and what doesn't.
Good luck everybody!
Replied By Janet (In) on 08/14/2016
Replied By Kaylee (Wash.) on 08/16/2016
Another great anti-fungal so is coconut oil if kills the biofilm and kills the fungus. A friend came back third world country with some skin fungus so the doctor told her to use Selsun Blue and leave it on the skin for like an hour a day then rinse it off and I think she did this for few days I can't recall the number of days. Selsun blue is selenium sulfide it kills fungus Selsun blue is very strong smelling I put it in zip lock plastic bag but it works. Be sure to avoid around your eyes.
Replied By Maya (Washington Dc) on 04/01/2017