Melasma - anything made a difference for you?

[Lottapianos]

I have patches of melasma on my jaw, cheekbone and forehead, which I think are hormonal (long term Pill use). The jaw line is a new patch, and the others dont seem to be fading at all. I use sunscreen every day, and use high strength Vitamin C from the Ordinary 3 times a week, but the melasma seems to be getting worse if anything

Any skincare you have used that faded your melasma successfully?

Following with interest as I have melasma and haven't found anything that makes a difference yet. Tried Epiduo and it made no difference at all.

Hi, I've been reading up on this and seems the best and possibly only effective treatment for pigmentation, such as melasma seems to be a combo of tretinoin and hydroquinone (these are the main active ingredients in obagi nu derm) and can be done stand-alone. I'm trying it currently but only a few days in so can't say how effective it will be.

Important things to note though:

1. It's prescription only
2. You must use strong sunscreen as skin becomes photosensitive from this, increasing your chances of skin damage
3. Whilst it's good for lightening skin pigmentation, it can be less effective for melasma compared to e.g. acne scars as people seem to have a genetic tendency sometimes for melasma so once you stop the treatment (as you cannot use hydroquinone forever), you may see it come back (chances are greater if you don't use sun screen) so maybe think of tackling the cause (e.g. not using the pill if at all possible or swapping to a different one). @Lottapianos

I’ll follow with interest! I gained my melasma when pregnant 5 years ago. It’s on my forehead and down my nose. It fades in the winter but as soon as there is a hint of sun it comes back, even with SPF 50 everyday. I look like I’ve forgotten to blend in my foundation. People often comment how I’ve ‘caught the sun’. It’s infuriating.
I’m using Vit C and retinol (alternate nights) but haven’t found much difference.

Another one following in the hope someone has found a solution. Hate the way part of my face looks like it’s mouldy/melting. Don’t really like wearing makeup, but have learnt to do so in the summer if out and about to avoid stares :(

Following too, I have this on my forehead!!

I’m absolutely sure your face doesn’t look like it’s melting or mouldy!? Honestly, 99% of people’s attention is on your eyes and bugger all else.

I had melasma, came off the pill and it went. My friend still on the pill with melasma found obagi worked for her.

high spf is the only thing helping, really.
my face looks dirty if I don't put on enough.

@EttasEden did obagi nu derm help your friend permanently? As in, did the melasma not return a few months after she'd stopped/ended the obagi nu derm treatment?

@smoothavocado it came back when she stopped using it, so she has gone back on it. It did lighten it for her, but it has got a bit darker again due to holidays and she is outside a lot of the year. I tried laser for mine and it made it worse, so I wouldnt recommend that.

Just to be clear, it pretty much went whilst she was on it, when she came off it had lightened it but the more exposure to the sun the more it made it darker again. So she is going back on it again.

Have melasma too. Had it pre children (strong contraceptive pill) and it got worse each pregnancy (I now have 3 children). I use Obagi Nuderm (basically hydroquinone, tretinoin, bit C and glycolic acid) which helps a lot but has never totally got rid of it. It gets worse in the summer but remember heat can make it worse, as well as UV (obvs!). That's why most dermatologists don't recommend laser treatment.