Melasma / sun spots

[iskwobel]

Hi there wondering what people have used to get rid of facial sun damage ? I have tried Eucerin serum but no noticeable difference. I use L'occitane immortelle products daily. My skin texture and tone always looks great when using them apart from the sun damage which has just appeared over the past couple of years despite religious use of SPF50. I need something to get rid of them as I'm thinking of laser therapy but not really feasible at the moment. Does anyone have any other ideas?

I would love to know the answer to this too!

You could try Dermatica, with tretonin or similar products. But laser is probably your best bet for the pigment, at least to get a good start. The Melasma is harder to deal with but a clinic could advise. I tend to get laser a couple of times a year to take down pigment and redness and then stick to the prescription skin creams. Laser is definitely an ongoing thing, you have to think about doing a top up every year and avoiding the sun.

Thanks @silentpool

I’m thinking about trying out The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin? It’s out of stock everywhere though.

Frappuccino, I tried that. It did seem to make a little bit of a difference. Certainly better than some hugely eXpensive stuff I bought from liberty, but still the issue persists...

I've just started a course of microdermabrasion after trying various products (including eucerin) for the same reason.

There are various treatments around such as a chemical peel or the one one with lots of fine needles but I plumped for this as seemed the least invasive & painful

I had the first treatment a few days ago and my skin feels lovely and smooth but very dry and the pigmentation has definitely faded. I think it will take a few more before the worst patches disappear completely.

It's worth a go I think.

I tried the Obagi skincare system which did nothing except dry my skin out for months. So expensive and pointless.

Then had IPL which worked very well, now most of the pigmentation is gone I am very careful about wearing sunscreen daily and a hat if it's sunny outside.

I need to know this too, especially if there is a cheap option. I always used spf in my foundation but have since learned that isn't enough! My forehead looks really bad all red and bumpy which I've been told is sun damage and I have brown patches, wrinkles and redness all appearing quickly over the past few years since I hit 40.

Its very depressing as I can't afford expensive products and treatments so I need something inexpensive?

Microdermabrasion does sound a good start

On month 3 of Dermetica
Tretonin & hydroquinion
The difference is amazing. I had many years of sun damage, quite a few brown pigmentation spots.
First 2 months I didn't see much difference, month 3 I have turned the corner & the pigmentation is hardly noticeable now. I have been using fade out day cream with spf 25 over the top,
I will keep using the Dermetica for now, as my skin is the best it has been for 10 years!

Sunday Riley 15% Vit C Serum. Costs a bomb but works within weeks! I was very skeptical so I bought the travel sized version first and applied that sparingly just around the eyes. Was shocked to see a difference so shelled out for the full-size version.

I recommend Dermatica too. I developed horrible patches on my cheeks in my mid 30s, due to having very fair skin and never really using sun cream except on foreign holidays. I looked into Obagi but it was £££ and was worried it would damage my skin. Tried all the OTC options such as Eucerin, Bakuchiol and the like, but they did nothing. Tried Dermatica as they were offering the first month free and had never tried prescription only stuff, and omg the difference. I have been using it for around four months now, along with a daily SPF50, and the marks have faded noticeably. My skin is much better generally thanks to the tretinoin also, and my mild/hormonal acne, for which I have been on ineffective antibiotics for two years, has also cleared up, so I have stoppped the tablets! Wish I had tried Dermatica sooner.

If I could I’d also travel back in time and tell my younger self to use sun cream daily... alas.

Tranexamic acid is meant to be good, i am seeing results both on patches on my face and on my hands with one from superdrug for £8.99

Me+ Tranexamic Acid Booster 30ml On offer buy one get one half price.

I’ve been using Body Shop Drops of Light serum and have a noticeable difference in both melasma and skin texture has improved. The melasma hasn’t gone entirely but it’s much better than it was.

Can the Dermatica posters tell us how or what to do? Do you buy these products from Amazon? Which one? Or on prescription? Thank you!!

BOOTS no7 dark spot corrector is a game changer.

Dermatica - go to the website and enter your details, upload some pictures and they will prescribe tretinoin/ whatever treatment you need. It is around £35 a month I think but I paused my subscription after a couple of months as I still have plenty to use 4 months later.

@silentpool

What kind of laser do you have?

Re Dermatica that's what I was going to suggest as well, I've only just started but its only £20 a month so worth a try and their can tailor the treatment to pigmentation

It's easy if you just go on their main website you create an account, upload some pics, they prescribe you something and send it out all within a few days

By the way they are still going first month free where you just pay for postage

The Dermatica sounds promising! Thanks !

I use tretinoin with niacininide from Dermatica. It takes a few months to see results but it’s well worth the wait.

Can anyone share how long it took for the peeling to stop!?

I've been using dermatica tret/niacinamide every night for the last 4.5 months and have seen precisely no improvement in my pigmentation.

So although some people say they've had good results with them, I personally wouldn't recommend Dermatica.

Dermatica for me -I'm on tretinoin/hydraquinine
Been using since end of June and difference is very noticeable!
Didn't realise how bad it used to be until I look back at older photos.