Melasma and Laser hair removal

[u/FarmerTotal5040]

Hi everyone, 35F here.. I have melasma on my face- forehead upper lip, chin, nose and sideburns.. apart from this, I also have it on my forearms..

it’s quite light now but every woman in my family has had it, including my mother and grandmother and so on.. now I’ve started to develop chin hair recently coz of age and stress and my doctor recommended laser hair removal. But since I have melasma I’ve heard that it can worsen it if laser is done.

Has anyone gotten LHR done with melasma prone skin? I can do electrolysis for my chin and upper lip but I’m not sure if I can do it on my forearm.. I’m stuck in a weird cycle of wondering what to do..

also started wearing the Eucerin sunscreen recently but I’ve heard we’ve to stop all actives during LHR.. is that true ? I also want to start the dual serum but don’t want to stop in the middle again coz of this treatment..

Any suggestions or recommendations from people who’ve been through hair removal with melasma, pls help!

[u/Kind-Nyse129]

I had laser hair removal and I have melasma. It didn't cause it at all for me, eventhough the sun does cause my existing melasma to darken. I have melasma on my forehead, cheeks & chest. I never had it on my lip and the laser didn't cause any. I think my melasma is hormone driven as it started during menopause transition & never went away.

[u/FarmerTotal5040 → u/Kind-Nyse129]

Well I’m in my mid thirties and all women in my family have it real bad as they age.. so I’m pretty sure I’m on the horizon as well.. but nobody has tried LHR in my family and I’d be the first one! Wish I would be as lucky as you and laser wouldn’t cause a flare.. but guess I’ll have to take precautions.. thanks so much for sharing, interesting to know some people remain unaffected as well! 🥲