I’m a Master Esthetician- I’ve tried *everything* under the sun topically to reverse my melasma. You name it, I’ve tried it. And guess what? The only thing that is actually working is changing my diet. Green smoothies specifically that contain more veggies than fruit. Every day I blend in 1/2 of a whole, organic lemon (leave the rind!) and it is doing wonders on brightening my skin from the inside out. Hope this info can help someone else.
I don’t know if I have melasma. My skin is pretty great. But it does get red in the cheek area. It’s not dry. It’s a nice even skin. There is a moisturizer that I use by the company. Hey honey. It is their moisturizer called relax. When I use that I wake up in the morning and my skin is just a nice even tone. Barely any redness.
I used 2% hydroquinone and at-home peels for 3 months in 2010 for some ugly stripes on my forehead and it worked and it’s not come back so far so 14 years I’m pretty happy – however I have had patches pop up on my cheeks and chin since then and the products I used are no longer available 🤡
Sadly, this is true. I have melasma on my chest and throat. I had IPL laser, which worked for about a year. I will say my skin texture now on my neck and throat looks 90% better as it got rid of aging damage, but the brown came back. Then I was able to use hydroquinone, on, off basis, until I developed contact dermatitis from it. So now I’m on a 7% arbutin and tranexamic acid gel, which is helping but not like the hydroquinone did. I’m just super hard on myself and the way my skin looks.
I would be curious to know if melasma was this common like 70yrs ago. Because all the photos I see of those ladies back in the day, their skin looked amazing. Wtf is going on now that we all look like a splotchy speckled mess?
MOST of my melasma went away when I switched from the estrogen pill to the progesterone-only implant. There is a link between estrogen and melasma. My mum had hyperpigmentation quite badly until her menopause and now it’s all gone.
My mom has tried so many things over the years. Her skin has significantly cleared up. I’m not sure what really did it for her. Sometimes she feels it flare in the heat but it’s still significantly cleared for the exception of a few spots near her mouth and next to her eyebrow. To manage it now, she religiously uses big hats, long sleeves and lots of sunscreen. She can’t afford going expensive treatments regularly nor does she buy expensive skincare regularly. It’s a once in a blue moon splurge.
Thank you for reinforcing what I know now. I paid up for treatment, they never said it would come back! I have now learned to manage it as my menopause says that you will have this until you die! 😂
Is tazarotene is as effective as tretinoin for melasma? In Canada it is almost impossible to get tretinoin anymore. It is largely replace by tazarotene.
@margaretbarrieau8895on October 8, 2025 at 11:11 am
Finally! An HONEST answer! Thank you so much; navigating the skincare lane, especially in your 40s, is hard enough without dishonest derms. You have a new subscriber! ❤
@claudiayanirarojas1808on October 8, 2025 at 11:17 am
Doctor quick question, I live in La I have insurance but it doesn’t cover my dermatologist appointments . What is the cost of a prescription for tretinoid ? Since I’m paying out of pocket! Thank you so much!!! My dermatologist office sells the hydroquinone therefore I’ve not needed a prescription. But I’m eager to try the tretinoid 🙏🏻
@MaribelZevallos-bl2rfon October 8, 2025 at 11:24 am
I’ve had melasma for the past 13 years. It developed on my forehead and cheeks but what’s surprising is that the patches on my forehead are gone but no the ones my cheeks. And I applied nothing to my face, one because I cannot afford these treatments. At first I was so embarrassed to even show my bare face but now I’ve learned to accept it. I love my 10 girls!!
any "Doctor" that tells you there is no cure, is a bad doctor. I healed mine with manuka honey masks. But she wont get paid with natutal remedies so this is what she says. This is why I dont trust doctors.
Melasma can be cured because it’s an internal issue with the circulatory system. Clean out the blood, work on your insulin resistance, it’s a clear sign of an issue (hence why it shows up on your face so you notice it).
I have melasma 20 year I have long experience and I am saying that nothing to do work on melasma your home remedy your laser or your other medicines melasma treatment is impossible😢
I’m a Master Esthetician- I’ve tried *everything* under the sun topically to reverse my melasma. You name it, I’ve tried it. And guess what? The only thing that is actually working is changing my diet. Green smoothies specifically that contain more veggies than fruit. Every day I blend in 1/2 of a whole, organic lemon (leave the rind!) and it is doing wonders on brightening my skin from the inside out. Hope this info can help someone else.
I don’t know if I have melasma. My skin is pretty great. But it does get red in the cheek area. It’s not dry. It’s a nice even skin. There is a moisturizer that I use by the company. Hey honey. It is their moisturizer called relax. When I use that I wake up in the morning and my skin is just a nice even tone. Barely any redness.
So curious to know your thoughts on Musely’s spot cream.
is there actually nothing we can do? my face looks terrible 😔
Honesty Honesty Honesty. Huge Respect for you
I used 2% hydroquinone and at-home peels for 3 months in 2010 for some ugly stripes on my forehead and it worked and it’s not come back so far so 14 years I’m pretty happy – however I have had patches pop up on my cheeks and chin since then and the products I used are no longer available 🤡
Not true!! I got rid of 90% of my melasma with diet! Your melasma comes from an inflammation imbalance within your body! Eat organic non gmo foods!
You should work on melasma from the inside
Sadly, this is true. I have melasma on my chest and throat. I had IPL laser, which worked for about a year. I will say my skin texture now on my neck and throat looks 90% better as it got rid of aging damage, but the brown came back. Then I was able to use hydroquinone, on, off basis, until I developed contact dermatitis from it. So now I’m on a 7% arbutin and tranexamic acid gel, which is helping but not like the hydroquinone did. I’m just super hard on myself and the way my skin looks.
Hand movements are intense! 😂
Thanks for honesty. New subscriber here. ❤
IT NEVER GOES AWAY???? It’s gonna be there forever? Did I understand that correctly?
I would be curious to know if melasma was this common like 70yrs ago. Because all the photos I see of those ladies back in the day, their skin looked amazing. Wtf is going on now that we all look like a splotchy speckled mess?
I have used hydroquinone in the past, but had to stop after 3 months, this was last year. Can I restart?
So true. Ive tried so many serums and sets nothing’s work. It makes your face fairer but it just make melasma visible
Thank you! Is oral tranexamic acid safe?
Chemical peeling is that safe for melasma? Or can I use glycolic acid if I have melasma?
So we are doomed?
When is someone going to develop a cure for melasma?
This is so important! We need to accept or skin in it’s natural state as beautiful!
MOST of my melasma went away when I switched from the estrogen pill to the progesterone-only implant. There is a link between estrogen and melasma. My mum had hyperpigmentation quite badly until her menopause and now it’s all gone.
My mom has tried so many things over the years. Her skin has significantly cleared up. I’m not sure what really did it for her. Sometimes she feels it flare in the heat but it’s still significantly cleared for the exception of a few spots near her mouth and next to her eyebrow. To manage it now, she religiously uses big hats, long sleeves and lots of sunscreen. She can’t afford going expensive treatments regularly nor does she buy expensive skincare regularly. It’s a once in a blue moon splurge.
I started getting that at 58 years old😭😭😭
What about picosure pro?
Thank you, thank you. 😊
You’ve said it all❤
I have the problem, thanks for being honest, let me save my money and enjoy other things I have and forget about pigmentation.
Your content is awesome.👌💕 and a informative one😍
So what you’re really saying is…I’m doomed. (i have a malasma 5 o’clock shadow) 🙁
Thank you for reinforcing what I know now. I paid up for treatment, they never said it would come back! I have now learned to manage it as my menopause says that you will have this until you die! 😂
Is tazarotene is as effective as tretinoin for melasma? In Canada it is almost impossible to get tretinoin anymore. It is largely replace by tazarotene.
what an encouraging message, NOT!😢😂
So she’s saying it’s more effective to treat melasma with topicals which as hydroquinone?
Finally! An HONEST answer! Thank you so much; navigating the skincare lane, especially in your 40s, is hard enough without dishonest derms. You have a new subscriber! ❤
I’ve tried the prescription topicals, and they lightened the skin around the melasma, but not the discoloration. What else can I try?
So what one should do as I girl I do think about this cause women do get melasma during their pregnancy
So how do I start taking care of it from now as I have no dark spots or something like that
Hey Dr Ellis! Will those topical creams help fade the bug bite scars on my legs? Thanking you ❤
Well isn’t that a f*cking treat to hear? 😕
Doctor quick question, I live in La I have insurance but it doesn’t cover my dermatologist appointments . What is the cost of a prescription for tretinoid ? Since I’m paying out of pocket! Thank you so much!!! My dermatologist office sells the hydroquinone therefore I’ve not needed a prescription. But I’m eager to try the tretinoid 🙏🏻
Well,castor oil works magically.
my one dissapeared through microneedling after 4th session, I think you have wrong information
That’s what they all say
I’ve had melasma for the past 13 years. It developed on my forehead and cheeks but what’s surprising is that the patches on my forehead are gone but no the ones my cheeks. And I applied nothing to my face, one because I cannot afford these treatments. At first I was so embarrassed to even show my bare face but now I’ve learned to accept it. I love my 10 girls!!
You offer no solutions. What do you suggest after helping 1ks of people?
any "Doctor" that tells you there is no cure, is a bad doctor. I healed mine with manuka honey masks. But she wont get paid with natutal remedies so this is what she says. This is why I dont trust doctors.
Melasma can be cured because it’s an internal issue with the circulatory system. Clean out the blood, work on your insulin resistance, it’s a clear sign of an issue (hence why it shows up on your face so you notice it).
Can i use hydroquinone with aloha arbutin on the same routine ?
You should mention that using topical treatments can put you at risk for melasma coming back worse.
I have melasma 20 year I have long experience and I am saying that nothing to do work on melasma your home remedy your laser or your other medicines melasma treatment is impossible😢
Thank you!!! I love your channel 💕💕Does this apply to sun damage?
Thank you! I’m seeing this after cancer treatment and the trough of bad or poor info has been difficult to trod through.