My Struggle with Melasma and Hyperpigmentation - What Works to Treat it Topically & Technologically

[@crucitasquillace5072]

I tried IPL…NOT GOOD ON OLIVE SKIN!!! It made it all worse. The place I went to was in existence for over 30 years….the owners daughter did it and now I was dealing with worse spots!! People need to do their research. I have been on a 4 year journey to get my spots caused by the IPL to fade. I have been seeing an esthetician who has done a tremendous job. Again, darker skin tones need to be careful with some of these procedures.

[@barbowens8626]

Oh Sarah! It is NOT noticeable. 🥰 You look terrific! …And most people would be thrilled to have as bright and clear of a complexion. I’ve been watching your videos for a bit less than a year and I can tell your skin is much brighter. I love seeing how great you’re looking and THANK YOU for all the fantastic product tips. You’ve helped me get my skin looking brighter, too!🎉 Big hugs! 😌☮️💕

[@DRVenard]

The very first time I dermaplaned, I couldn't believe how much hyperpigmentation was hiding under my upper lip fuzz! I legitimately looked like I had a brown mustache! It was covered by my blonde hair! Sunscreen, retinol, tretinoin, and exfoliation has fixed mine. I may have to Azaleic Acid my other spots on my temples😬Have a beautiful day 💗💗💗

[@mistyswiney7339]

Me too. I have a melasma stache

[@primordialmeow7249]

Thanks for giving us your chronological journey with your hyperpigmentation. I have learned that it is "a long game." I have learned to manage my expectations and am very happy living with a shadow of my sunspots.

[@joansmith6844]

Sara I enjoy fade bright by plantium skin care Available in 2 sizes. 2oz. for facial use $44 and 4.5oz. for body use. Alpha Arbutin Azelaic Acid Kojic Acid Licorice Mulberry Bearberry Resveratrol Lactic acid

[@ybs161]

I just want to say that your skin looks so beautiful and healthy!😊

[@lllee3476]

Your skin looks great! I enjoy watching your videos though. I’m simplifying my skincare routine. I stopped using timeless because it didn’t absorb on my wrinkled forehead. (When I cleansed at night using Burt’s Bees micellar towelettes, I wiped off a lot of it). Good molecules retinol and Bakuchiol, Avene recovery balm, and sunscreens seem to improve my skin. So, I’ll stick to my current routine.

[@zarapttazaraptta462]

Your face looks amazingly clear and smooth.

[@primordialmeow7249]

Your skin looks fabulous today Sarah! Like me, I the redness changes from day to day.

[@losuede1328]

Thank for your sharing your story concerning melasma. Which product do you recommend, the regimen lab Level Serum or the Allies of Skin Tranexamic Acid and Arbutin? Thanks in advanced

[@whitneybrown4067]

This is 4 Sure Gonna b so Insightful Sarah🔥🔥🔥👍n Happy Sunday😀….

[@ST-gu6yc]

I never see this product on social media, but the Eucerin pigment corrector is amazing for melasma. Their own internal studies showed it was comparable to hydroquinone 4% and I find it even more effective personally. I have to use the serum twice a day to get results. Why it’s not readily available in the US is beyond me.

[@r.c.7779]

Wait, have you tried Cysteamine? It’s apparently more effective than hydroquinone but completely safe because it’s a substance our skin naturally makes. Cyspera is the original brand that makes the product, but Urban RX has a hyperpigmentation cream with Cysteamine that’s much cheaper.

[@swineinny1]

Sarah, haven’t heard you mention using an LED mask - do you use one & is it effective in helping with melasma? Just curious, should melasma be diagnosed by a derm? Also, have you ever had any “deep peel” in-office? I’ve heard it can help with hyperpigmentation.

[@maxmm9287]

Recently I discovered that your psychological well-being affects how your skin responds to treatment. Sometimes stress and anxiety can cause skin discoloration and what you eat can do as well.

[@leonyu2097]

Have you tried LED green light? I heard it can clam the skin down and work on hyperpigmentation

[@lilybiscuit3849]

I think your skin looks great!

[@helenorgarycrevonis2022]

Azeleic Acid tend to pill, for anyone who does not like the filling of a mess on your face, stay away. Overall acids are a temporary treatment, just to clean up the surface of the skin, but the true problem still remains. Micro needling requires continues sessions which is very expensive. I encourage you to find a state you are comfortable with - you look great now - and maintain on a set routine. I am on the same path as you, but more judicious and selective.

[@carolm.4623]

Question: are these all good for brown spots too? I know melasma is more mask like but mine is absolutely caused from sun exposure. Dang spots.

[@lisagardner4814]

I love your skin you have such a beautiful skin I’m having some spots of hyper pigmentation and I also deal with some dry flaky skin due to Malassezia and Yeast. I really wanna try some of the products you mention the sound amazing

[@RockeyToes]

Hi Sarah! Thanks for another great video! I am fair-skinned Mediterranean and get the mustache a well. BTW, you look terrific! You skin is glowing!

[@lisablommel1903]

My hyperpigmentation was totally related to my hormone therapy. I had female issues that were treated for years with synthetic hormones. When I finally got off the hormones my hyperpigmentation went away. Just another aspect to this problem

[@Kats4korner]

Thanks for sharing your story and your personal journey with melasma 😊💗

[@misslady2470]

plz review the skin fix eczema balm! its my new fav petrolatum product

[@shelbywright1904]

You look great. Similar story- I did the laser first though - it is a battle, too bad women can't just be themselves or be considered distinguished as we age. Thanks for sharing.

[@brooksbecker299]

My melasma started to fade when I switched to mineral sunscreen (worn daily). It faded even more when I started wearing a UPF baseball hat whenever I'm outside. Now the melasma is basically gone, but I think it would reappear with a lot of sun exposure.

[@angelinebiswas7611]

For a good 15% Azelaic acid- There’s an awesome brand called Niche beauty labs in Spain and they have an azelaic acid 15% under their Theramid line. The Theramid line has a great vitamin C as well as a 3% Ceramide serum. Anyway since facetheory UK finally figured out we were buying their 15% azelaic acid they shut off shipping to the US 😢the last bottle I got I paid $29 and I love that stuff! Anyway theramid azelaic 15% is like $39 BUT they always do free shipping! No minimum so that’s what reeled me in. Anyway just a thought for people who aren’t able to get the stronger ones

[@lorainemcgillivray77]

Hi Sarah truthfully I've never really noticed hyperpigmentation on your face - maybe the lighting, the video or whatever, but we're always our own worst critic. I have freckles (fitzpatrick one 51 year old skin) and have had them since early childhood. They have got darker and more prominent over the years, but truthfully they're not my main concern with my skin. Most topicals targeting pigment are really not suitable for rosacea and inflammation can make all pigment worse, so I really advise caution when trying to treat pigment on very reactive skin. My main issue is being RED, so much so people ask me if I'm ok (am I too hot or embarrassed or whatever)? My skin is also eczema prone and both have worsened substantially since menopause (my last period was five years ago). The dryness has also worsened massively and this contributes to both flaring more often. I have had some success from azelaic acid, retinoid and alpha arbutin on pigment, but cannot use vitamin c at all and tranexamic acid is also difficult to tolerate. Exfoliants have to be used with extreme caution on my skin and there is no way I could use some of the stronger pigment correctors mentioned. It's important to factor in how your skin is otherwise and if it's robust enough to allow use of either the topicals or in office procedures, before spending the money. I also really really really advise extreme caution when contemplating doing micro needling etc at home - the repercussions if it goes wrong can be truly disfiguring (I was a Registered Nurse a long time including several years in Maxillofacial). Also anyone deciding to have procedures done need to research carefully and not every treatment is suitable for everyone eg darker skins have to use a lot of caution and can have real problems with rebound pigment. Best wishes.

[@cloverbyram9300]

Looooveee Allies of skin, when I am out of my other exfoliants I am going to repurchase. I also just added Sachi Skin and love it too!

[@Jen-if2it]

Thank you Sarah for the updates in your process. My pregnancies over 9 years ago left me with Melasma and I've been trying to fade it ever since. I noticed the biggest difference when I started wearing spf daily. I've tried lots of serums for hyperpigmentation with not much result. I got a Rx for hydroquinone from my doctor but I am a little scared to use it. I just dont want to make it worse.😬

[@sjonesblue]

Thank you for sharing your story. It’s key to healing.

[@selena.996]

My story is a sad one as well, I have chronic Urticaria and it left very dark deep discoloration on my leg with some red spots, i paid hundreds of dollars to treat them but in vain 😢😢 i used hydroconin with retionl 1% and i had some improvements but i still can't show my legs The laser therapy left extra red spots that have been there for 18 months as well 😢😢

[@ixchel231]

Have you tried Maelove's Fade Away serum? Love Regimen Lab's Level one!

[@olinayoung6287]

Hearing your whole genuine history & experience was just truly invaluable. Wish I had access to your « lady ». I’ve been looking into bbl too. IPL, hydroquinone (which I used briefly), exfoliating & sunscreen have made the huge differences for me. No luck with vitamin c ☹️ but still trying. Thank you 💕🌷💕!!!

[@PatriciaBezerra-w3s]

You look fabulous 😊

[@mjc2879]

Would you be willing to share who you’re seeing in office for treatments? I’m in the TC as well. Great video!

[@frankvelez4997]

Mandy C hi I'm Loretta De Los Rios using Frank's account to make this comment with his permission. What is TC?.. Yes, I asked her too. But I did not get a reply. Also someone is deleting my comments. Yes it would be great to know because I left a comment earlier about how it's so hard to trust ones skin to someone. It looks like that comment got deleted. I do not not have melasma issues, nor dark spots. But i still need some professional advise. ✝️🙏🤲

[@mjc2879]

@@frankvelez4997 Twin Cities-Minneapolis and St Paul, MN

[@playagamelp2441]

Really good overview

[@valerie4912]

Which topical was your fave for hyper pigmentation?

[@crucitasquillace5072]

Do you have any recommendations on lighted makeup mirrors? Thanks.

[@crucitasquillace5072]

Your face looks great!!

[@carolm.4623]

I agree!!! She looks fantastic

[@phantomthread4385]

I've been wanting the Allies tranax acid serum here in the UK but they don't have it anymore for some reason. So annoying.

[@patpatmoomoo5524]

How old were you when you got your first melisma spots? I was 27 when I got a spot on my cheek and wonder if that’s too young…. I’ve tried clear and brilliant laser at LaserAway and no improvement… thanks for this video. Now trying azelaic acid and some other acids but this list is great.

[@leslierosa9102]

What’s the texture of the COS one with hydroquinone and do you think it helped if any im very interested in it thanks so much

[@ixchel231]

What do you do for prevention? Everytime I go away on sunny vacations I come back with a melasma moustache. ☹️

[@janesmitson7404]

How about an Omnilux Led Mask for 10 minutes a day?....as upkeep. I came across a product that sounds interesting, Maybe consider doing a review on it?...Neogen Dermalogy White Truffle Serum in Oil Drop

[@orozcoaj69]

Bbl, microneedling with PRP $500? In LA, microneedling + PRP is about $750. Bbl probably $500 alone

[@McAwesome363]

I've found ascorbic acid, high strength niacinamide, tranexamic acid, hydroquinone, soy, and chemical peels to be the most effective treatments for my hyperpigmentation. Alpha Arbutin would have to be the most disappointing ingredient i've tried, with virtually no noticeable results even after two bottles of The Ordinary 2% Alpha Arbutin.

[@jaym5317]

How do you get your Evy SPF?

[@patriciaquintela899]

Allies/PSA have a 30% right now on their site.

[@NOBSBeauty]

They do have some great deals which makes their products more affordable when you stock up during a sale.

[@adorableparakeets3608]

I thought once you get melasma, using exfoliants n Vit C will make it worse. Please correct me. I want to get rid of my melasma, but I’m afraid of using any product now :(

[@cv7958]

Not true. You have to use quite a number of actives (including vitamin C) to combat the melanogenesis process at different points/angles.

[@adorableparakeets3608]

@@cv7958 could you pls share a bit more details. I know it’s a broad topic but what is at minimum one must be doing. Thanks

[@cynthiavaldez1182]

❤❤❤❤

[@megcormack681]

💙💙💙💙

[@Labrexa]

💠