Free advice for treatment of Melasma and chloasma.

The key to treating melasma or dark pigmented skin spots is perseverance. There are many skin care products out there reporting to rid us of these unsightly marks and all have there merits, but of these some are more effective than others. I have investigated many different products over the years resulting in a skin care regime of which I am experiencing great success, so much so that I have to share.

Step 1. visit your GP or Dermatologist, dermo is better because they can look at your skin under a woods lamp and officially diagnose your skin condition, with this he can tell you how deep the pigment is. The deeper it is the longer it will take to treat but it can be treated! Get a prescription for trenitoin (retin A) cream or gel, also one for Hydroquinone over 3% compounded with kojic acid. Use the trenitoin at night after cleansing, over your whole face (not just the spots) sparingly, more is less. Don't use moisturizer over the top. In the morning after cleansing apply the hydroquinone cream, only to your dark spots. This is like a bleach, it actually stops the skin from producing more melanin, but you only want this where you need it. Apply sparingly as well as it can be quite greasy. After the hydroquinone has soaked in apply a sunscreen/moisturiser at least 30+, this is most important as the trenitoin thins your skin making it susceptible to the sun and the sun will make your pigment issues worse. You can then apply your make up and go about your day.

Budget Buster: http://www.alldaychemist.com/  These guys stock trenitoin and hydroquinone creams at less than half pharmacy prices and no script in necessary. I have made several purchases with them and everything arrives promptly and in good order. Shipping can be expensive so buy in bulk.

 After a week or more of following this skin care regime you should be experiencing some skin peeling, maybe some redness even the odd pimple or two, don't panic!! The trenitoin is a vitamin a derived lotion and causes your skin to turn over at a higher rate than normal, this is great for treating aging skin as well as pigmentation, thus why we put it on the entire face, may as well reap the benefits from both. If you find your skin is to sensitive what with peeling and redness, then try using the trenitoin every second night, but don't give up on it. Also avoid harsh cleansers and facial scrubs while the skin is sensitive.

Step 2: Book a skin peel. Most beauticians can recommend a skin peel that will assist with removing pigmentation. In addition to the trenitoin treatment your skin will react very well to peeling. Your dermatologist could recommend which peel is best for your skin type as well, some even offer this service.
A word of caution, often deeper peels can cause more pigmentation, especially if you have darker skin. So chemical peels may not be recommended for darker skin, (such as my own). After your peel your skin may be quite red and stinging, there may even be areas where the skin has been removed. While your skin is tender, for the next few days it is best to cleanse with just water or a very gentle cleanser. I prefer to use an aloe based gel to keep my face moisturised and to prevent scabbing. Tho scabbing will still occur over the next few days, and this will in turn itch. Gently massaging your moisturiser into your skin (or bio oil) will relieve the itching and help to exfoliate away loose scabs. A mask of honey (just normal kitchen honey) is also relieving and assists in the healing process. Do not pick!!! While your skin is healing do not use your trenitoin cream, instead you can use your hydroquinone morning and night until healed.

Step 3. Vitamin supplementation: You are what you eat apparently, and there are many supplements reputed to assist in ridding us of melasma. I can neither dismiss nor approve these claims so supplement I do. A list of these and there uses are here.
MSM- Methylsufonylmethane: 3000mg a day is supposed to rid the body of excess copper
Vitamin c- lowers copper levels
Zinc- lowers copper levels
Coq10- helps cell turn over
Multivitamin- why not I'm already taking everything else!
Pro biotic- stops excess estrogen production in the gut.
Copper in excess in the body is thought to be a contributing factor to Melasma, thus why we supplement against it. Estrogen (hormones) is another cause so we eliminate any that we don't need. Most of these are available at the local pharmacy, I found MSM more difficult to obtain so I ordered a bag in a powder form and some empty capsules and made my own, it has been much more economical though a little time consuming. http://www.msmaustralia.com.au/ this is the local supplier I used. Also I have found MSM useful for treating my arthritis and can easily be made into a cream as well. Some web sites even sell it in eye drops to lighten eye colour.

Step 4: when your skin has recovered from your peel and is no longer sensitive, have a good look at it. You may still have some areas that are a little pink if you scabbed up allot or not. You may even have some areas where your pigment has disappeared, (yay). You can now return to using your trenitoin at night and Hydroquinone in the morning for the remaining dark areas. It was at this stage that I changed my cleansing routine.
Morning: wipe my face over with a facial cleansing wipe, then rinse with water.
Tone with apple cider vinegar, apply hyaluronic acid serum (for wrinkles), allow to sink in,
 apply Hydroquinone to spots, allow to sink in. Then 30+ moisturiser and finally make up.
In the evening: remove make up with facial cleansing wipe, massage face with dermalogica precleanse oil.
Wash face with water then cleanse with a gentle vitamin e wash. Tone with apple cider vinegar. Apply serum then trenitoin.

So far so good, this has really worked for me and I know it will for you too. At this stage I am up to my third peel, at a rate of one every month or so and my skin has never been this good. Not just my melasma but the general condition of my skin has improved. I finally look younger a opposed to older :)

Another recommendation is IPL, I have had many professional sessions of ipl and I believe it comparable to a face peel, but the expense is most off putting. Recently I purchased my own IPL machine, it is not the huge thing they use at the salon but rather a small personal model. The unit I purchased comes with the option of hair removal settings and skin rejuvenation settings (all at the change of a bulb). Having darker skin I have been quite cautious in it's use so far for skin rejuvenation. The hair removal option is wonderful and I have put it through it's paces but I am being a little more careful with my face as I don't wish to go back wards at this stage. http://vissbeauty.com/ here is the site I purchased mine from. It only took 5 days to arrive which is amazing for international post I thought, especially since shipping was free. 

Good luck and stay tuned as I have a swag of products I have trialed and will be trialing not only for melasma but general skin care as well, that I want you to hear about.