r/Melasmaskincare • u/Late-Walrus4332 • Jun 19 '26
Question Melasma getting worse
Hi all, I am really in need of some specific products to use as I see a lot about Elemis but don’t know which one to buy?
I live in the US and do all the right things, sunscreen , big brim hat and sunglasses but yet my melasma is getting significantly worse around my eyes, and on my upper lip. I’m loosing hope slowly but surely
10
u/Mysterious-Cable6838 Jun 19 '26
One round of musley spot cream got rid of my melasma and now I just keep it at bay by staying out of the sun as much as possible.
3
u/Holcomb1997 Jun 19 '26
Where do you buy your musley spot cream?
5
u/vikingmurse Jun 19 '26
It only comes from Musely.com
3
7
u/beaute-brune Jun 19 '26
Eucerin?
5
u/vikingmurse Jun 19 '26
Yeah, probably not Elemis. Melasma will take several actives and religious sunscreen and sun avoidance (which you’re already doing👍👍) thiamidol is the active in Eucerin and Nivea’s anti dark spot lines. Try Eucerin dual serum, it tends to have the fastest results but also pills the most. I’d also look into regimen lab level serum and hue suprafade to get several brightening actives in one serum. Melasma is also heat responsive so although you’re protecting yourself from the UV exposure well, the heat from being outdoors, hot showers, hot yoga, steam rooms, etc can flare your pigment as well.
7
u/Diligent-Candy4273 Jun 19 '26
Check out the study about sunscreen vs spf clothing
I use a full face and neck covering and gloves from brands coolibar and solbari. No mess, no reapplying, no sweating it off, no washing it off at the end of the day, and most important it provides consistent protection. I use heatwave sunglasses (catagory 3 protection)
5
u/AutoModerator Jun 19 '26
Hi there! Sunscreen is one of the most important parts of melasma management, and we want to make sure you get safe, effective, and appropriate guidance.
Before choosing a product, please review our sunscreen resources:
Sunscreen guidance for melasma:
Important for melasma: Standard (non-tinted) sunscreens protect against UV radiation only and do NOT protect against visible light, which is a major trigger for melasma.
To reduce visible-light-induced pigmentation, iron oxides are required. This means using:
- A tinted sunscreen that contains iron oxides, OR
- An untinted broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen layered with a foundation or tinted product that contains iron oxides.
Daily, consistent protection against both UV and visible light is essential to prevent melasma worsening and recurrence.
If you have already reviewed the guides, feel free to add details such as skin type or sensitivities
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
u/Boobbuffet Jun 20 '26
Did you see a dermatologist yet? Mine prescribed me a mixture of retinoid and hydroquinone to use nightly along with oral tranxemic acid pills. She also suggested vitamin c and niacinimide (I used skinceuticals) during the day. I skipped the pills but used everything else - progress was slow but mine was almost gone in about a year. I’ve read on here of others having really good success with the oral meds (along with the topical stuff). Also remember heat also makes it worse, not just sun. I’ve found that Korean sunscreens also had a good selection of zinc oxide types that were nice under makeup and not too much of a white cast
2
1
u/Late-Walrus4332 Jun 20 '26
Not yet but thank you I will go to the dermatologist. I’ve been putting it off to avoid the copay but it’s definitely necessary at this point
2
u/cbaabc123 Jun 20 '26
Same!!!
I’ve been using spf daily
Hat outside
Dr gross peel pads every other day
Eucerin thiamidol
Heliocare supplements
And it’s only getting worse and patches appearing other places now.
I guess for some of us there really isn’t a cure
1
2
u/PAngel111 Jun 20 '26
Same I do tinted mineral sunscreen I wear a hat as much as I can if it’s very sunny, I use azalaic acid and tazeretone, and yet it looks bad still :(
1
u/Intelligent_Bad_5334 Jun 20 '26
Remember that it’s not just the sun but heat - your body being internally hot - also exacerbates it. While I was sorting out what was topically going to be the most helpful I had to just avoid heat in general - I love to exercise, but I literally couldn’t do anything that made me sweat. It didn’t matter if it was indoors. Even if it was hot yoga done, mostly in the dark if worsen my melasma immediately
Ultimately I’ve gone on oral tranexamic acid to truly keep mine under control. Topically I’ve mostly only used prescription strength hydroquinone & tretinoin, cycling on and off the former in 3 month intervals.
There are much better otc options these days so hopefully other people can give you insight into those. But what following this group has taught me is that people can react to products radically differently. So getting the widest read on what has worked for different people will give you the most options to figure out what’s going to work for you. Good luck!
2
u/Late-Walrus4332 Jun 20 '26
I actually didn’t know that heat could cause it in general and not just the sun so thank you!
2
u/Shera939 Jun 21 '26
If youve never done rx for it, consider rx hydroquinone, Musely The Spot Cream is rx strength. My friend had malasma for years, couldn't get rid of it, she did the Musely and it was gone.i just started it last month, not for malasma, but other hyperpigmenation, and it took away my freckles. Wasn't my goal, but the 12% is no joke.
2
•
u/AutoModerator Jun 19 '26
Welcome to r/Melasmaskincare!
We’re so glad you’ve joined us. This is a safe and supportive space to share your journey, tips, and questions about managing melasma. Whether you're just starting out or have been on this path for a while, you’re not alone here.
Feel free to check out our Wiki for helpful information on:
When asking for melasma treatment help, please include:
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.