Covering melasma

[Swearwolf]

Since my youngest was born I've been prone to melasma. I get a big patch on my forehead and worst of all, my upper lip goes dark and looks like a moustache.

I already do everything I can to prevent it, factor 50 daily, wearing a hat in the sun etc, but it takes nothing for it to appear. So I need help to cover it. Usually I use Doublewear foundation in cool bone, and I've been using a Mac concealer to try and cover it but I originally bought that for my eye bags and it doesn't really work on my lip.

Any suggestions for what will cover it, and what kind of tone I need to look for, would be really appreciated.

Little bump for the evening crowd!

Have you tried using anything with niacinamide?

I can recommend these products:

keromask.com/

A little goes a long way, literally need half a dot of the foundation, and it's easy to blend.

Also, this website may be useful as it recommends other brands to try:

www.changingfaces.org.uk/services-support/skin-camouflage-service/skin-camouflage-products-prescriptions/

No, is there anything in particular you might be able to recommend?

Thank you, this is so helpful!

ELF Camo concealer. Covers it right up and doesn't budge until I wash it off at night.

I have a big patch on my forehead that's fading by using Dermatica and SPF50 every day but this works in the meantime.

I have it in large patches on my face and neck. I have tried elf camo concealer and it didn't work very well. I have tried lots of different things and nothing has worked fully. I feel ugly enough without this and wish there was a product that covered it well.

A few of my friends have got rid of melasma using Dermatica, it's a prescription cream you get sent to you monthly. They had previously had it for years and had completely gone in under 6 months.

I've not really found a concealer to totally cover mine but I use IT cosmetics cc cream and bye bye under eye concealer and it's much less noticeable.

Dermatica prescription skincare will help but you will have to go slowly with it as the tretinoin is really drying. I've not found niacinimide to make any difference at all.

Have a look into illumifacials too. It's a laser (possibly ipl) treatment, and I've found a course of those to be the best thing to see an actual improvement.

I find any sun at all will cause dark patches now so factor 50 everyday and a hat if I'm in the sun. I still end up needing a top up with the illumifacial at the end of the summer to tackle the patches despite my best efforts ☹️

@Diggetydawg @eendoflevelbaddy did you get the Dermatica prescribed by the doctor? It's so hard to get seen around here! I've googled and it looks like you can buy it on their website, is that what you did? Just not sure if it's trustworthy or not.

@Swearwolf I signed up on their website and they send the prescription through the post. You have to send them pictures

Hi @Swearwolf . Sorry to hear you are suffering from this pesky pigmentation too. I also have it on my forehead and upper lip. I can handle the forehead, but the upper lip really bothers me.

You need to colour correct it. I use the NARS Radiant Creamy Colour Corrector. It is a peach colour. After this, I apply my foundation and blend the peach in then layer with a little concealer to finish it off.

Have you tried any treatments to get rid of it? Mine will not budge..

I have done a laser which temporarily removed it but I swear it came back darker afterwards. I am currently undergoing an intensive acid peel 8 week course, but so far it hasn't changed.

In addition to this, I have used high quality pigmentation ointments, daily Vitamin C serums and tried skin needling. I also don't go in the sun anymore and still wear zinc and sun cream.

I have been strongly advised against anything a Doctor prescribes as it can be really damaging to the skin long term.

I am not pregnant, on birth control, nothing :-(

I recently developed melasma on my face so just searched for it on here and came across this thread. I thought I'd share that I've been using the Citygo Dark Spot Corrector Cream £20 that I bought from Amazon of all places and it's lightened my melasma that was really bothering me. I've been using it for about two weeks now and I think its working so far. I also use a SPF50. I recommend it.

Hello, I have the same problem. Did you find anything that worked? Thanks

Actually it has improved! I've been using a Clinique serum called Even better clinical dark spot corrector + interrupter, and have been rigorous with sun cream and wearing a hat or visor when I run or sit out for a long time. It's faded a lot. That said, it's only March so the battle is about to begin again I guess.

That’s good to hear! Mine always lightens over winter too.. did you find any makeup that covers it?

I've been using the Clinique Even better serum foundation too, the one in the little pear-shape bottle. It's quite thick and you can also layer it like a concealer over tricky areas.

Not perfect and it hasn't gone away completely, but generally you can't notice it much at all at the moment.

Have you tried hydroquinone 4%? It's stronger than niacinamide and can be used for 6 months to fade melasma.