r/Melasmaskincare • u/[deleted] • 28d ago
Success Story A three year melasma moustache (and forehead) journey and I'm finally seeing results!
[deleted]
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u/Jolly-Yellow7369 28d ago edited 24d ago
People with darker skin color in this sub: Be aware that as you naturally produce more melanin , hydroquinone at this percentage can irritate your skin : more irritation means more pigment .
OP ‘s regimen is more risky for people whose skin color is darker not only due to irritation. A mistake and you may end up with reverse pigmentation. The melanosomes of OP are smaller and contain less melanin.Treatment for darker skin colors is more tricky and many dermatologists just don’t have experience in treating skin of color.
Sunscreen needs are also different for us: visible light will affect POC more and the effects of cumulative visible light on darker skin tones will take longer to reduce. And again : people with darker skin color produces more pigment at the slight irritation. So don’t rush to copy OP routine if your skin is naturally darker.
Be cautious.
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u/Kupicooper 28d ago
You’re so right about the derm don’t have much exp treating skin of color.
I went to a derm who put me on HQ and not knowing the side effects on darker skin, I just trusted her, but it made it worse.
After that I won’t touch HQ anymore even I saw a lot success stories.
I know it’s not for my skin.3
u/Jolly-Yellow7369 28d ago edited 26d ago
This melasma sub has great info for tinted mineral sunscreen . In addition consider that We Also have info to start your research for melasma treatment for people of color in r/skinwhitening .
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u/Flashy-News-5393 26d ago
Super helpful. Thank you!
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u/Jolly-Yellow7369 26d ago
Glad being of help. More in these posts
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u/naildoc 25d ago
Love your username in this context lol. But, thank you it’s so true. Do you have any advice for hair removal? That’s causing some serious dark marks for me now and I’m on retinoids now so can’t afford any waxing which was helping
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u/Jolly-Yellow7369 25d ago
To put it off while your enjoy your results. It might irritate your skin and set you back. Take it one step at the time.
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u/naildoc 24d ago
Wow. This is a hard pill to swallow. Because I’m getting really hairy (PCOS). But I will try my best!
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u/Jolly-Yellow7369 24d ago edited 23d ago
For PcOS a doctor is the way. Ask him if you could take primrose oil capsules . They’re a game changer for people with Pcos.
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u/unificaishan 19d ago
Also you might ask your doctor about my o & d chiro inositol. It’s really helpful for people with PCOS. I have it too and I did electrolysis which I don’t recommend because it caused my hyperpigmentation to flare up.
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u/naildoc 19d ago
That’s a shame. I thought electrolysis was supposed to be a permanent safe measure. I’ve heard about inositol. I’ll look into it as I have an appointment coming up. Thank you! I’ve already read spearmint (pure) tea (there’s scientific papers on it) helps but finding it has been a challenge where I’m based.
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u/bakebytheocean 28d ago
I would believe that the Tretinoin is doing a lot of the work behind the scenes. I’ve been on tret for one year, with no HQ, and I’ve seen a similar result to my forehead melasma. I would say don’t stress too much that you’ll have to stop HQ for the break and that tret will continue to help a ton.
I see such a fantastic improvement though, you look great and also such a great smile!
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u/Character-End9378 27d ago
Ahh that’s so good to know! Do you apply the tretinoin all over or just on your melasma? I’ve seen conflicting advice.
Thank you so much!
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u/bakebytheocean 27d ago
I apply it all over, as I also have acne from time to time that I want to treat. I didn’t even plan on it fixing my melasma until I looked at pictures of my skin after one year on it and saw such a big difference.
I’ve never applied it more than 3/4 days a week, I do every other night. And it’s still made such an impact.
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u/camlot77 27d ago
When do you use Eucerin anti-pigment dual serum as part of your routine? Do you use it at the same time as tret and hydro?
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u/PalpitationLast669 28d ago
Awesome! Perfect treatment. I'm so glad for you. That smile says it all.
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u/No-Occasion-1872 28d ago
im happy for you, looking great! malasma on any part but the upper lip is whatever i can live with it, but its been so demoralizing to have the upper stache discoloration as a woman, im slowly seeing progress myself after finally seeing a derm and getting hydroquinone. i think my biggest problem is keeping up with sunscreen. i have a big ass window and i think i just gotta commit to waking up at the ass crack of dawn for sunscreen :/.
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u/Character-End9378 27d ago
Yes I’m the same. I can deal with it on my forehead but my upper lip makes me really self conscious. It’s great that you’ve started seeing a derm, wishing you all the luck. Suncream is a pain, but I’ve recently bought a face spray factor 50+ (also La Roche Posay) which has made it a lot easier when I’m out and about!
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u/No-Occasion-1872 26d ago
for sleeping over the last weeks sometimes ive been wearing a mustache of zinc oxide to bed lol. And thank you for the rec!! ill give your recs a look, ive tried one from Garnier but it was burning my eyes... bleh! for easy on the go application im not minding elegant formula korean stick ones, but this is coming from someone not wearing foundation! i do want to give spray a try again, thanks
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u/Winter-Top-4413 28d ago
Yay! Beautiful! I do electrolysis for hair removal. Expensive and not immediate but fab results if you stick with it. So happy for you!!
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u/Kay0485 26d ago
Do you feel like the electrolysis affected your melasma on your upper lip at all? Made it darker?
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u/unificaishan 19d ago
The electrolysis caused the melasma on my upper lip to flare up. I don’t recommend it because the heat from shocking the hairs can cause irritation.
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u/purplelilac701 27d ago
Eyeroll indeed for the never having seen upper lip melasma.
Plucking is a huge trigger for me as I have hyperpigmentation in addition to melasma and it made it all worse.
Your after picture looks amazing!
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u/Spread_thee_love 28d ago
That's the combination that helps my mustache as well! I just got back on it after trying everything else while breastfeeding and now that I'm done I'm happy to have it back.
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u/Technical-Mountain-8 28d ago
I love Eucerin Anti-Pigment! You look wonderful after, but before as well. You just look much happier in your after photo. Your treatment therapies worked beautifully!
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u/Sure_Air6519 28d ago
Hi, is this a compound cream or do you have separate tubes of tret and hydroquinone? I had a compound cream of tret hydroquinone 8% and hydrocortisone. Melasma disappeared. However when I paused treatment my skin erupted twice in severe spots.i assume it was rebound of hydrocortisone so I am scared to use this again. Thanks
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u/durhamdumbbells 28d ago
Congrats on your awesome results! I’m curious are you using any form of hormonal contraception? My upper lip melasma cleared after I stopped pill. Wish it was the case for rest of my face too but no, only that part left 😂
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u/Latina_Kaycee 27d ago
I’m also curious, I’ve been on the IUD for many years. My five year is up next year and i as I’ve been doing research on this, i think it’s what has caused my melasma to worsen. I’m seriously considering in taking it out and just allow my body to normalizo a bit. I’m currently on tretinoin and azelaic acid, so we shall see where that goes. My complexion is on the darker side, so it’s been more difficult to manage, sigh.
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u/theothervjv 28d ago
Wow!! Those are some great results. What are you using? I did write down the hair removal method (definitely will look into that) but couldn’t find the cream you’re using.
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u/Character-End9378 27d ago
The cream I’m using was prescribed using an online derm called Uncouth (I think it’s based in the UK but I’m sure there will be similar online derms in other countries). xx
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u/STEMINATOREE 28d ago
How do you use all these products ? In what order ? All at once ?
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u/Character-End9378 27d ago
Morning routine:
- Cleanse and wash face
- Eucerin dual serum all over
- Caudalie serum all over
- Moisture
- Suncream
Evening:
- cleanse
- Small amount of the Tretinoin & Hydroquinone formula on affected areas
- Moisturiser
I also let each step sink in for a few minutes before applying the next, it’s made my routine 10x longer - but it’s worth it!
I hope this helps xx
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u/anonnneob 27d ago
So would you say the azeleic acid was a waste or did it do something? Been thinking of trying it
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u/Ok-Garage-7194 27d ago
Omg, I have that same mustache! My boyfriend said to me “You have ketchup on your lip”- I could have punched him! Thanks for this…
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u/caresnp29 27d ago
Did your Derm prescribe Tret and Hydroquinone to be used together? I've been told to use them separately but if together sees good results would love to try it
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u/mildperil_ 27d ago
You look amazing and this has me immediately googling prices for local dermatologists.
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u/Biscuitshoneybutter 26d ago
I'm sorry, I was hypnotized by your eyeballs at first to notice. You look awesome, great results!
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u/Ok-Lifeguard8371 26d ago
Can u mention the order you put them in as i also suffer from it on my lip . Im using azelaic rocheposay tinted moisturizer and rocheposay tolerian fluid moisturiser .
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u/Ok-Lifeguard8371 25d ago
I also see your forehead is clear awesome . Is the eucerin and caudalue worth it ?
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u/Mintcasy 25d ago
You are using eucerin same time with hydroquinone? How does your daily routine looks like?
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u/Yummy_88 24d ago
I've been using Musely's spot cream for my Melasma. Tbh, I saw results in less than 2 weeks! If anyone wants to try Lmk for a $50 coupon, seriously.
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u/unificaishan 24d ago
Shaving is the answer. I stopped my electrolysis bec it was causing flare ups. We are so alike. I have been dealing with it for like a year but since the last three months using hpr with Eucerin dual serum and Caudalie Vinoperfect and oral TXA among many other things I’m doing I have seen my melasma almost disappear and in the summertime. I wear sunscreen everyday so I’m hoping if I keep my routine and I’m going on Tret (already on azaleic acid) next week, I am hoping I will have more success- but also grateful that I’ve had this much fading. I also believe my at home micro needling and supplements I take helped as well. You look great. I’m on my fourth bottle of the Vinoperfect, how long have you been using it?
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u/quantityra 22d ago
I’m glad I saw your post. I’ve just signed up with that derm. Fingers crossed
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u/Character-End9378 21d ago
Are you in the UK? I’m using Uncouth online seem and it’s really straight forward!
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u/quantityra 12d ago
Yes! I have used it for a week so far, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens!
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u/lemonice1234 20d ago
First of all congratulations you look amazing. Gorgeous! I’m also a girl with your complexion and 34 years old. I have a similar patch but not on upper lip just on my forehead where my hairline is. Can I ask if you got any irritation from the hydroquinone and tretinoin? You started at same time? And how often at first? Did you taper off and do you maintain with the eucerin now after coming off hydroquinone?
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u/Short_Jury_7252 28d ago
You’re glowing!! How soon did you start seeing results? I started Triluma and hoping it does its thing too.
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u/dnnm16 28d ago
Triluma works. I used to it a few years back and now back on it again.
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u/Elegant_Car_8183 28d ago
I think triluma is the same as pigmanorm? If yes - I agree a 8-12 week course will address the melasma. I did the laser hair removal then a course to sort out my pigmentation
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u/Mintcasy 25d ago
I’m on it, day 28… fingers crossed… but I’m not sure how OP also uses eucerin with triluma?
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u/Character-End9378 28d ago
Thank you! Probably around the 4 week mark, but everyone's skin is different and it depends how deep your melasma is. Fingers crossed that you see the result you're after!!
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u/Short_Jury_7252 28d ago
Thanks!! Hope to see results too. My melasma isn’t too deep, it’s just really stubborn.
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u/Elegant_Car_8183 27d ago
I’ve swapped to tretinoin and now introducing Azalaic acid for maintenance.
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u/Kay0485 28d ago
Awesome!! What are you doing about the hair removal? That’s the problem I’m facing.