Comments on: How To Prevent Melasma http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma Anti-aging skin care secrets to fabulous, smooth, glowing skin! Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:09:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1602 hourly 1 By: Emily http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-106852 Emily Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:34:38 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-106852 I am 37 and have been on the pill more or less continuously since I was 19. I never had any issues with hyperpigmentation even though I got a lot of sun exposure as a kid and teen. I had been on Desogen for most of the time, but then switched to Yasmin a few years ago. Around that same time, I started noticing hyperpigmented blotchy patches up around my hair line. I attributed the changes to aging and sun exposure even though as an adult I have been compulsive about wearing sun block and a hat. Three weeks ago, I stopped taking Yasmin (a little scary since the few times I have tried stopping it in the past I broke out like crazy). A week ago, I had an IPL photo facial. The nurse practitioner performing the treatment wasn't totally sure whether my spots were melasma or just hyperpigmentation from cumulative sun exposure. I definitely looked freaky with little scabby spots all over my face for the past 7 days, but my complexion is much more even now that they have flaked away. I'm hoping getting off the Yasmin for good will help as well. Will probably get another photofacial within the next month. Time will tell whether these effects will be long-lasting. I can only hope.... I am 37 and have been on the pill more or less continuously since I was 19. I never had any issues with hyperpigmentation even though I got a lot of sun exposure as a kid and teen. I had been on Desogen for most of the time, but then switched to Yasmin a few years ago. Around that same time, I started noticing hyperpigmented blotchy patches up around my hair line. I attributed the changes to aging and sun exposure even though as an adult I have been compulsive about wearing sun block and a hat. Three weeks ago, I stopped taking Yasmin (a little scary since the few times I have tried stopping it in the past I broke out like crazy). A week ago, I had an IPL photo facial. The nurse practitioner performing the treatment wasn’t totally sure whether my spots were melasma or just hyperpigmentation from cumulative sun exposure. I definitely looked freaky with little scabby spots all over my face for the past 7 days, but my complexion is much more even now that they have flaked away. I’m hoping getting off the Yasmin for good will help as well. Will probably get another photofacial within the next month. Time will tell whether these effects will be long-lasting. I can only hope….

]]> By: suzie http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-106813 suzie Sat, 04 Jun 2011 07:32:10 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-106813 Hi everyone I recently developed melasma on my top lip and it looks like a moustache its so embarrassing and depressing. I have olive skin and love the sun but am going to have to completely avoid it now to try and sort my melasma out. I came off the pill in october and haven't seen any significant results as yet. I've been using skinceuticles phyto+ correct gel for a few months and I think its starting to break it up a bit but we'll see. I'm so embarrassed and paranoid about it I now wear a ton of make up and suncream everyday to try and prevent/cover it up. I'm too scared to use hydroquione or have laser/fraxel incase it makes it worse, surely there must be a cure for this! Hi everyone I recently developed melasma on my top lip and it looks like a moustache its so embarrassing and depressing. I have olive skin and love the sun but am going to have to completely avoid it now to try and sort my melasma out. I came off the pill in october and haven’t seen any significant results as yet. I’ve been using skinceuticles phyto+ correct gel for a few months and I think its starting to break it up a bit but we’ll see. I’m so embarrassed and paranoid about it I now wear a ton of make up and suncream everyday to try and prevent/cover it up. I’m too scared to use hydroquione or have laser/fraxel incase it makes it worse, surely there must be a cure for this!

]]> By: Mari http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-106536 Mari Mon, 30 May 2011 21:44:25 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-106536 Hi all. I have been fighting melasma for about 5 years now. My dermatologist prescribed hydroquinone and retin-A. It has lightened a little, but I don't think it will ever go away. My melasma came about due to menopause, so any hormonal change can trigger it, not just the pill. I use a sunblock, try to stay out of the sun, but it just won't budge. Hi all. I have been fighting melasma for about 5 years now. My dermatologist prescribed hydroquinone and retin-A. It has lightened a little, but I don’t think it
will ever go away. My melasma came about due to menopause, so any hormonal change can trigger it, not just the pill.

I use a sunblock, try to stay out of the sun, but it just won’t budge.

]]> By: Cute http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-106147 Cute Tue, 24 May 2011 18:44:20 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-106147 Hi everyone! I'm an african an black skinned. I have melasma on my nose, my jawline and it's developin on my forehead now. It's in between my cleavage. It's really bad.i take vitamin C everyday, but plan to increase dose. I'm in mid 20's, the dark skin colouration is really at it's peak, i'm so ashamed of myself. I really need help. Some of the drug here, is not in my country. I'm just fed. Hi everyone! I’m an african an black skinned. I have melasma on my nose, my jawline and it’s developin on my forehead now. It’s in between my cleavage. It’s really bad.i take vitamin C everyday, but plan to increase dose. I’m in mid 20’s, the dark skin colouration is really at it’s peak, i’m so ashamed of myself. I really need help. Some of the drug here, is not in my country. I’m just fed.

]]> By: Sam http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-106055 Sam Sun, 22 May 2011 19:56:56 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-106055 I took Seasonale in 2005 for approx 1 year and stopped. To this day melasma appears on my lip after only 1 min of sun exposure. I am methodical about sunblock, hats, and scarves. Now I need to find a "safer" bc pill for my skin. Any suggestions ladies?? I cannot use the IUD, and know to STAY AWAY FROM YASMIN and SEASONALE. Any more pills to AVOID? My doc wants me to try Microgestin, I do not know if it is safe, or if any pills are safe... I took Seasonale in 2005 for approx 1 year and stopped. To this day melasma appears on my lip after only 1 min of sun exposure. I am methodical about sunblock, hats, and scarves. Now I need to find a “safer” bc pill for my skin. Any suggestions ladies?? I cannot use the IUD, and know to STAY AWAY FROM YASMIN and SEASONALE. Any more pills to AVOID? My doc wants me to try Microgestin, I do not know if it is safe, or if any pills are safe…

]]> By: kelly http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-104847 kelly Wed, 04 May 2011 12:08:20 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-104847 3 years ago I started taking the pill after a couple of years break. As I still had the occasional spot I asked my doctor to start me on one that was good for skin. I started taking Yasmin and noticed darker patches appearing on my skin within weeks but did not link the two as I had recently turned 30 and thought that my skin was just getting more patchy with age. I was living in the uk, so sun exposure wasn't huge. A month after starting Yasmin, I went on holiday and my skin was a mess. I have ended up with dark patches on my chin, lip, cheeks, nose and forehead. My doctor did not link this to Yasmin, and only after my own research did I find out the cause. I took Yasmin for only two months and three years later I am still battling with the mess it has made of my face. It is particularly difficult to attend job interviews etc with a dark shadow across my lip as I am currently doing. Stay away from Yasmin. They should be warning us of this side affect- or even better, take it off the market. 3 years ago I started taking the pill after a couple of years break. As I still had the occasional spot I asked my doctor to start me on one that was good for skin. I started taking Yasmin and noticed darker patches appearing on my skin within weeks but did not link the two as I had recently turned 30 and thought that my skin was just getting more patchy with age. I was living in the uk, so sun exposure wasn’t huge. A month after starting Yasmin, I went on holiday and my skin was a mess. I have ended up with dark patches on my chin, lip, cheeks, nose and forehead. My doctor did not link this to Yasmin, and only after my own research did I find out the cause. I took Yasmin for only two months and three years later I am still battling with the mess it has made of my face. It is particularly difficult to attend job interviews etc with a dark shadow across my lip as I am currently doing. Stay away from Yasmin. They should be warning us of this side affect- or even better, take it off the market.

]]> By: Jill http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-102729 Jill Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:05:16 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-102729 I developed Melasma on my cheeks 2 years ago after being on the pill for about 10 years. Intially I tried using a pigment-fading cream from the dermatologist (Hyrdoquin 4% & Tretinoin 0.1%) which although did help fade the brown spots, it left my skin red and peeling and looked worse than the Melasma! I was too embarassed to go to work with peeling skin so stopped using it. Over winter it faded then the next summer it came back, in more areas (forehead & lip, but cheeks were not as bad as the first time). All this time I used very high protection sunscreen and wore a hat, but I live in a very sunny climate and do a lot of sport so it is difficult to completely avoid the sun- I just put sunscreen on at least a few times a day. Anyway, I went back to the doctor and got a new cream, less strong, (no retinol) and so far it seems ok- no redness or peeling but it is too early to say whether it is fading the pigmentation (only been using it a few weeks). I was considering getting a laser treatment but have heard that IPL makes Melasma worse. Apparently there is another laser treatment called Fraxel- has anyone had good results with this? I also changed pills from the combined to the minipill to try to help solve the problem from the inside, but I don't like the minipill at all and am now wondering what non-hormonal contraception to try... so many problems aaagh! I developed Melasma on my cheeks 2 years ago after being on the pill for about 10 years. Intially I tried using a pigment-fading cream from the dermatologist (Hyrdoquin 4% & Tretinoin 0.1%) which although did help fade the brown spots, it left my skin red and peeling and looked worse than the Melasma! I was too embarassed to go to work with peeling skin so stopped using it. Over winter it faded then the next summer it came back, in more areas (forehead & lip, but cheeks were not as bad as the first time). All this time I used very high protection sunscreen and wore a hat, but I live in a very sunny climate and do a lot of sport so it is difficult to completely avoid the sun- I just put sunscreen on at least a few times a day. Anyway, I went back to the doctor and got a new cream, less strong, (no retinol) and so far it seems ok- no redness or peeling but it is too early to say whether it is fading the pigmentation (only been using it a few weeks). I was considering getting a laser treatment but have heard that IPL makes Melasma worse. Apparently there is another laser treatment called Fraxel- has anyone had good results with this? I also changed pills from the combined to the minipill to try to help solve the problem from the inside, but I don’t like the minipill at all and am now wondering what non-hormonal contraception to try… so many problems aaagh!

]]> By: Laura http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-97570 Laura Sun, 06 Mar 2011 06:49:22 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-97570 I have had melasma on my upper lip now for about a year, i am also looking at getting IPL hair removal in the same area....does anyone know if this IPL could possibly make the melasma worse? I have had melasma on my upper lip now for about a year, i am also looking at getting IPL hair removal in the same area….does anyone know if this IPL could possibly make the melasma worse?

]]> By: Crystal http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-94358 Crystal Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:24:47 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-94358 Thank you ladies for the posts! I had been on Yasmin for at least 4 years without any melasma. Then a couple months after I gave birth to my son, I developed horrendous melasma all over my forehead. Some spots on my nose, but that can be from too much sun in my teenage yrs & early 20's. If only I could go back to 15-yr-old me & slap some sense and sunscreen on myself!!! I'm guessing the combination of pregnancy/postpartum hormones/sun/then back on Yasmin after I finished nursing is the cause. So what birth controls would you recommend? I think switching might be a good idea. Otherwise I am very tempted to just quit the pill because I feel so ugly! Thank you ladies for the posts! I had been on Yasmin for at least 4 years without any melasma. Then a couple months after I gave birth to my son, I developed horrendous melasma all over my forehead. Some spots on my nose, but that can be from too much sun in my teenage yrs & early 20’s. If only I could go back to 15-yr-old me & slap some sense and sunscreen on myself!!! I’m guessing the combination of pregnancy/postpartum hormones/sun/then back on Yasmin after I finished nursing is the cause. So what birth controls would you recommend? I think switching might be a good idea. Otherwise I am very tempted to just quit the pill because I feel so ugly!

]]> By: Christine http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma/comment-page-1#comment-91707 Christine Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:25:33 +0000 http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-melasma#comment-91707 The posts are very helpful. That's been my experience as well. Actually, with continuous use of the pill over years melasma gets worse. I think it is not just the hormones, it is hormone fluctuations, such as stopping the pill, or even the week without the pill after the 21 days. It is a shame because the pill is so good at taking care of acne and the obvious use of birth control. Staying away from the sun helps, of course, but does not prevent it. I read somewhere and found in my experience it is true, hormones make our skin 'photosensitive' so that we are more sensitive to different things, including chemicals, soaps, etc. so we have to be less harsh with our skin in general. Retinoin worsens my skin patches as well as salicylic acid found in acne prevention soaps etc. because they both thin the skin making it more sensitive to light. The patches turn red and then darker without any sun! Solution? may be finding out a pill that doesn't do this (it seems that Yasmin is worse) finding the product that keeps it at bay, for me it is glycolic acid once in a while, and avoiding the sun (which is not a bad thing for anti aging anyway; sun block when sun cannot be avoided). Thank you for all of your helpful information. Amazing, even dermatologists are somewhat clueless, it's not harmless, so who cares right?! The posts are very helpful. That’s been my experience as well. Actually, with continuous use of the pill over years melasma gets worse. I think it is not just the hormones, it is hormone fluctuations, such as stopping the pill, or even the week without the pill after the 21 days. It is a shame because the pill is so good at taking care of acne and the obvious use of birth control. Staying away from the sun helps, of course, but does not prevent it. I read somewhere and found in my experience it is true, hormones make our skin ‘photosensitive’ so that we are more sensitive to different things, including chemicals, soaps, etc. so we have to be less harsh with our skin in general. Retinoin worsens my skin patches as well as salicylic acid found in acne prevention soaps etc. because they both thin the skin making it more sensitive to light. The patches turn red and then darker without any sun! Solution? may be finding out a pill that doesn’t do this (it seems that Yasmin is worse) finding the product that keeps it at bay, for me it is glycolic acid once in a while, and avoiding the sun (which is not a bad thing for anti aging anyway; sun block when sun cannot be avoided). Thank you for all of your helpful information. Amazing, even dermatologists are somewhat clueless, it’s not harmless, so who cares right?!

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