Dermatica treatment for hyperpigmentation has not worked - what next?

[hyperpigmentationBgone]

I started Dermatica in summer last year and have been on various formulations with them (Tretinoin with Hydroquinone 4% or Niacinamide 4% or Niacinamide 4% / Azelaic Acid 4%). It's made no difference 😭

My skin marks easily (ethnically Chinese skin), so I'm definitely wary about laser treatment or peels. But, perhaps these are worth exploring if they'll help?

So much contradictory info online.

Any advice, anyone???

@MoltonSilver Did you use Tret in combination with anything else? I’ve been using it since June last year… no improvement so far.

@RogueV Sorry to hear that Dermatica didn’t work for you. How long did you use it for? Hope Cyspera works out.

@AmongUs

No consultation, just managed to buy it online from a UK based salon/store

@hyperpigmentationBgone
Thanks. Dermatica wasn’t all bad, it helped clear up the acne. I’m going to see how I get on with the cyspera then reintroduce tretinoin

Yeah it’s a total pain to top up spf every two hours but I think that’s when my pigmentation really started to significantly reduce. Also definitely use every night to see results, last year when I started using it I didn’t buffer I just put it on and used a small pea sized amount.

Now my pigmentation has reduced I put on tret after moisturiser as I found my skin dried out so it’s not to buffer just add moisture.

Honestly it’s what works for you and long term what you can realistically carry on with but I think from what you’ve said you could see better results perhaps by using every night and more spf.

I see tret as the long game for improving my skin and I’ve had quick treatments like laser and unfortunately it comes back, but it’s probably still a good treatment to combine with tret, two sided attack !!!

4hyperpigmentationBgone, I was using other over the counter skincare (vit c, glycolic acid etc) but nothing as consistently as the tretinoin. DH has much more sun damage than me, having grown up in a hot country. He's been using it for over 2 years and is only now seeing a marked improvement. As Bigpainting said, it's very much a case of playing the long game.

@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes

I had great results using superdrug me + tranexamic acid booster on liver spots on my hands, its cheap at £8.99 and often buy one get one free or half price.

Given up on GoW alpha arbutin and kojic acid as suffered a break out. Got the Superdrug tranexamic acid booster and just applying to big patch of pigmentation on cheek to see how I go rather than whole face like before. On the bottle is says there should be an improvement after 4 weeks. Hope so as nothing covers this patch of pigmentation up and I am so aware of it. Just can't stand it to be honest.

I have suffered with melasma for 10 years The only thing that worked for me was Obagi. I was so fed up with it I paid to see a private derm and took their advice to try the Obagi system.

The main products are tret and hydroquinone but with lots of other products thrown in. I must admit my skin looked the best it has ever been by the end, it was worth every penny! Unfortunately though it has gradually creeped back in different areas (luckily my top lip moustache shadow has never returned ) I still get a few spots and they seem to leave marks that take forever to go so I seem to have lots of pigmentation as things have joined up?

I have ordered tret and hydroquinone from abroad (it is prescription only here but I know how to safely use it from using Obagi) and spf 50 every day. It is not working as well as I'd hoped though.

I have heard that taking tranexamic acid tablets works well on melasma but this seems to have been discontinued from off the shelf so needs a prescription now.

I even tried laser once, I wouldn't recommend it, it seemed to make mine worse. The money would be better spent on Obagi, it really does work. You might be lucky and it never come back for you.

I 2nd the obagi Nu derm system. I use dermatica now but obagi is gold standard really.

Are you taking the pill or hrt?

It’s often hormonal

It also, ironically? Typically happens to people who tan easily

My olive skin suddenly turning against me age 49 so I know how you feel

I have mine under control (still visible melisma and spots but they are light enough to be covered by tinted moisturiser/a bit of foundation) by using factor 30 on cloudy days, 50 on sun days. Wearing a hat or cap, and in the evening vitamin C cream

Not gone, but a lot less worse than it was

@Bigpaintinglittlepainting Thank you, I am going to try with the SPF every 2 hours and see how I get on. I'm now trying to also find a good mineral sweat proof one for running. If you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear.

@MoltonSilver Well, that’s motivating to hear! Did he use it in combination with any other active ingredients, e.g. hydroquinone? Did it look worse before it got better?

@Bloodyfuckit @Bananarama3star I’ve heard of Obagi before, and heard it had good results. Any reason why you’re not doing Obagi now? Cost or rest from hydroquinone?

@ChubbyLittleManInACampervan No, neither of those. Although strange how it came on suddenly last year. I wish I’d appreciated my skin before then! I have been guilty of LOTS of UV exposure in the past, this is prob biting me on the ass now.

Mainly because it's so hard core. I peeled for about 3 months. You cannot wear makeup at all during the process and you really have to commit to it. You can go slower if you want and therefore be less red and peely but I just wanted it done. I'll do it again in the future, maybe this autumn.

Yes that and cost really. I thought I could cheat and just buy the main active products but not the same. I really recommend it if you're keen to try something that works once and for all. I think they say not to start in the summer but I started in August and was obsessed with applying spf. My skin is not as bad now as it was then.

@Bloodyfuckit That does sound very hardcore tbh. Don’t think that’s for me… I can’t go without make up. World’s not ready for that!

@Bananarama3star I see what you mean - yeah, I hear formulation is everything! I’m going to give the Dermatica a proper go rather than being slightly half hearted before definitely moving on. Did you find your hyperpigmentation got worse before better? I’m sure mine’s getting darker… even since just a week ago.

Red light therapy?