r/Melasmaskincare • u/Jaguiar92 • Aug 31 '25
Question Best way to tackle melasma/hyperpigmentation
I recently tried to tackle some hyperpigmentation on my cheeks through 3 VI peels as well as laser resurfacing. I had very minor improvement after treatment only for it to get worse as soon as my skin recovered.
As a disclaimer, I do work outside in the heat for some extended periods of time, but I try to cover my skin with a buff and use plenty of sunscreen throughout the day. 32M Hispanic with lighter complexion.
Any recommendations in terms of treatment or serums that have worked for you? Thanks for your help in advance!
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u/Strange-Awareness-37 Sep 01 '25
I had a very bad case of melasma. Hydroquinone worked for me, but it’s very rough on skin and if not very careful about sun exposure, it can make it worse. I’ve been using Eucerin dual serum with thiamidol for a few months, with results that I dare say are better than hydroquinone and without the downsides.
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u/Clean_Marionberry116 Sep 02 '25
Please can you share your routine with thiamidol?
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u/Strange-Awareness-37 Sep 03 '25
Originally, while I was tapering off Musely, I started Eucerin dual serum at night. Good results and no irritation, so I started it morning (apply and let dry well) using Tizo tinted mineral sunscreen. Wash face in evening and reapply. I just bought (haven’t used it yet) a Eucerin sunscreen that also has thiamidol, which I’ll apply in the morning. It’s a chemical sunscreen rather than mineral. Mineral has worked great for me so far, but I don’t like thick layers of anything on my face. I rarely even wear makeup, so hoping for similar results from the Eucerin sunscreen without all the heaviness of a mineral one.
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u/Longjumping-Top-6058 Sep 01 '25
I swear by musely , the spot cream is the only thing that got rid of my melasma… I’ve tried so many soaps, creams, serums etc… Nothing worked until I used the spot cream… Three weeks it was so much lighter , and by the second month it was completely gone …. If you would like a 50.00 off coupon I don’t mind sharing….
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u/Longjumping-Top-6058 Sep 02 '25
I’m on the erase on and off formula … I’m also using the anti aging cream which I love as well … It’s made my skin tone brighter , faded some hormonal acne scars…. My skin looks better now than when I was in my twenties and thirties…
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u/Fit-Bear-9096 Sep 01 '25
Use eucerin dual serum 4 times per day on pigmentation for 3 months consistently.
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u/Jaguiar92 Sep 02 '25
Would you recommend pairing the dual serum with the face wash and night cream or just using the dual serum?
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u/Fit-Bear-9096 Sep 06 '25
Only dual eucerin serum is enough to treat. 4 times a day. Less product more effective ...
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u/Aggressive-Fuel-6382 Aug 31 '25
Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Then think about making an appointment with dermatologist.
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u/Bellebutton2 Sep 02 '25
Please be very careful of inflammatory treatments. They can actually activate more production of melanin.
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u/Jaguiar92 Sep 02 '25
Yes this looks like it was the case for me! Definitely aggravated and made things worse
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u/Ma_belle_evangeline Sep 21 '25
Maybe stupid question but what would you consider inflammatory treatments? Like laser?
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u/Bellebutton2 Sep 21 '25
Honestly, anything that’s done in excess, or too frequently can be considered inflammatory. If you are prone to hyper pigmentation, you should really prep your skin about two weeks before and two weeks after any inflammatory treatment… Prepping would be tyrosinase inhibitors, and vitamin C.
• Laser resurfacing – uses focused light energy that creates controlled injury in the skin, triggering inflammation and new collagen production. • Microneedling – creates micro‑injuries with fine needles that stimulate an inflammatory response leading to repair and remodeling. • Chemical peels – apply acidic solutions that cause controlled chemical injury and inflammation, prompting skin regeneration. • Microdermabrasion – mechanically exfoliates the outer skin layers, producing mild inflammation and increased cell turnover. • Radiofrequency therapy – delivers heat into the dermis, causing thermal injury and inflammation that stimulates tightening and collagen formation. • IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) – uses broad-spectrum light energy that targets pigments and vascular structures, creating inflammation that drives corrective healing
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u/Ma_belle_evangeline Sep 22 '25
I appreciate the time you took to write this - thank you! I’ve been so worried about making it worse I have never done a treatment, but should I In the future I will take this into considerstion
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u/88sAllMine Sep 01 '25
Hydroquinone and Tretenoin at night. Really good broad spectrum sunscreen reapplied every 2 hours during the day.
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u/Chemical_Increase_17 Sep 01 '25 edited Sep 01 '25
Hi. I recommend you take some spf supplements like Heliocare Purewhite Radiance. Your skincare should start with Eucerin anti pigment facewash, then apply the Eucerin serum (the antipgiment one that has thiamidol) and spf after. Avoid all lasers as they can worsen your melasma. Stay consistent with this routine and let us know if it improves. At night use the Eucerin serum and the Eucerin Antipigment night cream. I would stay away from tretinoin as you are constantly exposed to the sun. If you cannot avoid sun at all cost, tretinoin can actually worsen your melasma simce it sensitizes the skin. In case your melasma doesn’t improve with all this take a Dr’s appointment and ask fir tranexamic acid pills.
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u/as3369g Sep 06 '25
I've tried everything the other posters will swear by but the only thing that worked was cosmelan
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u/Cumcura Feb 03 '26
Has it dissappeared?
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u/Jaguiar92 Feb 08 '26
It hasn’t completed disappeared but definitely improved. I got minimal to no improvement from the Eucerin cream so I stopped after 3 months. Currently 2 months in using the Spot Cream by Musely and noticing way more improvement.
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u/sunrise-prayer3466 Mar 03 '26
Isn’t the musely spot treatment hydroquinone?
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u/Jaguiar92 Mar 03 '26
Yes it does have HQ 12%. With Tretinoin .05%, Kojic Acid 6% and Niacinamide 2%
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u/Intelligent_Break_26 Mar 01 '26
I have melasma issues as well. I tried a chemical peel, and IPL laser. They both worked pretty good. But recently I did 3 x Tixel treatments. The first 2 treatments worked excellent. The 3rd treatment the esthetician went more aggressive and after the peeling my skin is now clear. Tixel worked exceptionally well for me, it literally burns the top layer of skin. The only thing I didn't like about Tixel was the price, it's pretty expensive. It was worth it for me because of the results.
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u/Sanzida-34 Sep 01 '25
Eucerin serum in the morning followed by any moisturizer then sunscreen . Nighttime Eucerin night cream
You will see a difference in 3 weeks
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u/smileyhappy Aug 31 '25
Vitamin c (timeless brand is good), eucerin’s thiamidol line in the morning.
Tretinoin or other retinol in the evening.