I have melasma, my dermatologist got it under control 98% gone as long as I use it. He gave me a combination of hydroquinone and Differin gel 3% and it’s amazing! It also makes my skin look clear and amazing. I put a layer of Differin gel, and a few minutes later the hydroquinone.
Hi there! Did you apply both products on the whole face or only on the melasma affected area? N Also did you use any moisturizer following the hydroquinone Tia💕
I hade melasma for about 4 years. I did chemical peels, two types of laser treatments, and various creams. I also did a retin A with hydroquinone and that didn’t work. About two months ago I began using Triluma and within days I began noticing the melasma fade. I love looking at my face now. I’m very HAPPY! Thank you Dr. Dray for mentioning Triluma in your other videos.
When I put hydroquinone I developed severe burns and swelling. This reaction lasted over 7 days. Safe to say I'm allergic. I must find an alternative that works. Melasma comes in waves during the warmer months. Great video as always!
I’ve been on hydroquinone to treat melasma for several months now. It’s actually worked great for me. The melasma spots are still there but they’re much lighter.I’ll be going back to the dermatologist soon and I’ll ask about these options! Thank you.
@@SG-wq4rm I got a prescription retin-a plus Kojic acid plus hydroquinone compound from the dermatologist. I’ve been on it for about 6 months now. It has definitely faded the spots on my cheeks but I think I’m going to have to go off of it for a while.
@@nishamadaree3213 hi! It’s a compound cream made by the pharmacist next to the dermatologist office. I know it has kojic acid and tretinoin included with the hydroquinone in a thick cream base. I don’t think it has a brand name. Results took time - about 3 months to look different. The melasma isn’t gone, but it’s a lot lighter and easier to cover with makeup
Honestly thank for this video. Ive been dealing with melasma for years. I do have a dermatologist but i get more information , knowledge and how to from your videos. It is so extremely hard to find a dermatologist that will actually talk to you about melasma. Mostly they give you a prescription to triluma and tretinoin. And say there is nothing else i can do for you.
WOW. Could it be that some dermatologists don’t want to be “bothered” with such a “mundane” condition as melasma, when they find out they’re likely not able to earn a ton of money from treating such run-of-the-mill conditions??
@@MarianDouglasUngaro because they DON'T know how to get to the root cause of melasma this day it can't be healed or cured and that's such BS. Once a doctor tells you something cannot be cured, that's what you'll get
I been using FADED for the last few weeks and my skin looks amazing and my Malasma is fading. I’m super happy about it because I was looking down getting a chemical peel..
Love all your tips for melasma. I've been trial and erroring many products over my 12 year journey with melasma. Melasma can be so disheartening and affect confidence so much, it's always nice to see solid evidence-based evidence from dermatologists who try to understand melasma ❤
I had really bad melasma and spent so much with brightening products.. happened after stopping pills,,glad it's 99% gone after keeping my skin sealing with thick moisturizer and sunscreen..😘
Melasma's a B! It wasnt until i hit it with multiple ingredients in a pigmentation routine that i noticed a positive change and Faded by Topicals is the star product along side, Timeless vita C serum, micro tretinoin, aha/bha toner (once a week) or an oat hydration toner daily, retinol moisturizer. I went from very minimal difference over a year to difference noticed after weeks!
Please share the order of products (and brand of products) u use in AM and PM. I’d love to try your routine as I already use tretinoin, Paula’s Choice bha, alpha skincare AHA. Thank you!
Dr. Dray: As a freckled gal I would love, and I'm sure others would as well, if you did a video on the difference between melasma and freckles. Can freckles even be faded? Can freckles "turn into" age spots? Love your knowledge and your videos!
I suffer from melasma from Addison's disease and thyroid issues. Hydroquinone worked beautifully for me. I always wear a hat when outside, and sunscreen everyday. My master bath has two huge windows which gives it a greenhouse effect. So, I have to be super careful when in there. Since I use retinol and AHA's, my skin more at risk. This year, I wasn't as careful, and some of my melasma returned. It certainly is a journey!
Have tried HydroQ over the years with same result - an itchy, red rash after a few days - and my skin is normally pretty tough. Thanks for the update on other options!
I ended up with Melasma after getting a series of Broad Band Light treatments. I’m in my 40’s and have NEVER had Melasma in my life. Even while pregnant. It really frustrates me. I’ve done many things including using Hydroquinone. While my skin is pretty clear at the moment once summer rolls around it comes back.
Heard from other dermatologist that hydroquinone works but the melasma returns worse than before. Been using Ambi for acne spots daily, now I have melasma throughout my face.
My dermatologist refuses to prescribe oral tranexamic acid. Even though I have no risk factors, he says it’s not worth the overall risk. I used it a couple of years ago for a few months when I saw a doctor in Mexico and it worked SO well! I wish my current doctor would prescribe it. I use the topical tranexamic acid religiously, but I honestly don’t see much of a result. I still use it though. I also used Cyspera for 18 months and saw modest improvements-not exactly worth the high cost. I’ll probably try it again when I go off my current hydroquinone since I feel like I have to keep working at it. Treating melasma feels like a constant drain on my wallet with little change. ☹️ This spring/summer I’m going to try to be extra diligent with Heliocare. Maybe it’ll make the difference?
Thank you for this information! I’m a medical librarian and I always value the non-biased, very thorough, evidence-based information you provide. I’m struggling with sun spots and don’t want to use hydroquinone (I didn’t respond well before) and this video has helped me explore other options. Thanks as always! SPF forever 💜
I got Cured when taking Doctor Iyhere herbal medications For Black Patches on My Face, All Thanks to Doctor Iyhere On RUclips, He has the herbal medicines for Other illnesses too.
I spend most of the Summer in my garden and have become so tired of explaining to people during the Summer months year after year that I don't have a mustache. Thanks for this!
I've had really good results with consistent use of the topicals' faded serum. I've been very consistent with it though, so every night for the past 6 months or so. In case this helps anyone.
Hello Dr. D... Such a great, informative video. I know all the Melasma folks out there sincerely appreciate the time you take to potentially help them on their journey! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve for tomorrow!
Hello@@DrDrayzday! I've been seeing some some reviews about Cosmelan. Very interested to know about your take on this treatment and how it works on dry sensitive skin. Thank you so much for your unceasing dedication to post content that don't typically reach consumers like us. 🙏🏻🤍
I got Cured when taking Doctor Iyhere herbal medications For Black Patches on My Face, All Thanks to Doctor Iyhere On RUclips, He has the herbal medicines for Other illnesses too.
I got it bad from pregnancy, it was all over my cheeks and over the bridge of my nose, it made it look like I had white goggles on because it didn’t effect my under eyes. Definitely took on the “mask of pregnancy” look. It’s very slowly fading
I like to give warning about Ambi fade cream. I was using it on my thighs to get rid of hyperpigmentation. But unfortunately it causes fishy odor syndrome. My thigh and private region started to smell like fishy odor due to hydroquinone. Hydroquinone blocks an enzyme in your sweat glands that neutralize the sweat smell. Thankfully it went away after a week or so after discontinuing using Ambi. Ambi is just a brand that has hydroquinone. I have googled this after the odor and it is true. I didn’t know this until i used this and experienced. So be careful with hydroquinone.
From the act of labor and pushing, my face developed melasma so badly. I remember my husband asking me after delivery, "what happened to your face??". I didn't know much about skincare solutions and ended up using a Burt's Bees Brightening Treatment, which did help a bit. My goodness, I looked like a racoon! I was prepared my 2nd pregnancy, but I had a c-section, so I never experienced it again.
@@GenXfrom75 my mom had the same thing. She said an endocrinologist asked her if she just had a baby boy because of the markings on her face, which she did. And the melasma was from my son's delivery too. Was yours a boy as well? Wondering if it's an old wives tale or something legit..
I’ve been using Faded for my melasma for 14 months now. It has all the right ingredients, but for some reason, it hasn’t done anything for my melasma 😢 Hydroquinone on the other hand, is the only topical that has worked, but I’m trying to avoid it.
I have actually randomly used that grown alchemist serum a few years ago. Anecdotally I found it worked really well for brightening, more so than any of the vitamin C serums I've tried. I didn't repurchase due to price but I can vouch it is a good product!
thank you for this Dr Dray! I have a partially used bottle of hydroquinone in my skincare drawer (I was on my off period with it for a few months), but since it's no longer available and can have the limitations you mentions, I ordered the Faded from Topicals - I've only been using it for a couple of weeks so I'm not sure if there's any change. It's mostly to brighten and even my complexion and help fade some minor sun spots I've accumulated over the years.
@@DrDrayzday Thanks. I'll need this advice later. My melasma was almost 100% gone with your advice but despite daily Spf 50 and being this early in spring my freckles are still waking up. I just hope they won't merge to larger sun spot areas like before.
--- Whaaaa?!?!? Ilythia Marie & Dr. Dray talking right here??? I follow both of you and I absolutely love both channels for different reasons 😆 You two just made my day! 😀
I have a sun moustache. I tried azelaic acid and alpha arbutin from the ordinary, and tret that i got in Spain, but nothing seems to work. I am an office worker in Ireland, so heat and sun are not my issue 😂 I think I'll splurge and visit a dermatologist as i really hate my moustache
I’m using 5% tranexamic acid serum with some other actives, I find it very effective for dark marks so I would recommend for dark marks and to lighten scars
Hi, This is an SOS! This evening my sister who's been applying Retin-A (0.05%) cream for the past few months alarmingly told me that she's noticed the appearance of melasma on her face (for the first time), asking me if it's because of Retin-A. (Unlike me, she's had great skin all her life. She's in her 30s.) I've been troubled ever since, because personally I've also have faint melasma on my forehead and both my cheeks which I can now say appeared after I started using Retin-A microgel (0.04%). It was my sister's query that made me join the dots. And yes, I apply sunscreen religiously (though many a time, I forget to reapply. Of late, I've been carrying a sunstick- Isntree). So my request to you is: could you kindly let me know if the culprit is Retin-A? Could it be because we have coloured skin? Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
I feel like retina a makes ur skin sensitive even if I wear sunscreen it makes skin prone to marks because it’s sensitive due to retina a I would definitely wear it obviously only at night and not every night
I’ve had Melasma for 2 years! It looks like I have a damn mustache! Wearing the face masks 😷 during covid helped me hide my upper lip. My Melasma all happened when I had a miscarriage then became pregnant shortly thereafter. Having it above the lip has really been a killer to my self confidence. Nothing I have tried has worked…. It looks absolutely awful. Thank you for this video…
Omg I completely identify with you. I have it in my upper lip, I CANNOT hide it not even with makeup it looks worse!! And I still wear my mask at work and even in the car I feel like it even helps from the sun a little haha !! People might feel I look weird but i do not care! My kids laugh all the time. I put on actives, Tretinoin, spf at home and on top of my makeup every 2 hrs!
Dr. Dray or anyone else who knows the answer: I have a dark spot on my upper arm -- like lower shoulder. It is dark skin because it itched so I scratched it until it was dark. I just bought a 10% glycolic acid cream and now I need a skin bleaching cream. Can you recommend a skin bleaching cream? Hydroquinone did not work for me.
I got Cured when taking Doctor Iyhere herbal medications For Black Patches on My Face, All Thanks to Doctor Iyhere On RUclips, He has the herbal medicines for Other illnesses too.
Dr. Dray, I have been using retina and salycilic acid because alot of my skin became thickened and turned a brownish orange color. Not sure why except that I did begin to notice it around 2008. I was diagnosed with Primary Aldosteronism and it took several years until I got some black ulcers on my skin and alot of other places on my body because of water retention as the disease ends up causing retention of sodium and spilling of potassium. Potassium dropped causing arythmia and subsequent chest pain so I went to the ER... this eventually led to the diagnosis. So I have been on Spironolactone and with your tips and alot of patience I can see my real skin in many places. Once it began to break down it is going away gradually and just wanted to tell you I have seen 4 Dermatologist and none of them gave me any ideas for helping with this. I had to ask for the retina script because I had used it for a decade but ran out and was using Differin. My face did not have melasma or it was very minor. I told them about this and I was in the office so they could take note of it themselves. I would tell them about this coating I had noticed over my skin and none of them believed me as maybe they just thought it was sun exposure or maybe the episode of poor circulation that was related to the blood pressure sky rocketing and BP medicines would not bring it down. Looking back I had symptoms of this disease as far back as my 20's now. My hair and scalp scaling is cleared up also and I can tell you that I stopped picking at it and just used the shampoo put out by the same company Nizoral is sold by/otc. and has 3 percent salicylic acid. and I have used it as a body wash too so I think it is helping with removing the thickening and darkening of the skin. I could not afford to purchase the retina at my pharmacy at 100.00 bucks for 20 grams so I opted to get it at a foreign pharmacy for 8.00 a tube, can you believe the price difference? I have a script so it is legal to do this.I can give other's a link to this overseas pharmacy based in Europe. Just send me a message on RUclips.... If this is not ok Dr. Dray I can edit this comment. So Primary Aldosteronism is a hormone malfunction. Have you ever seen a patient with this disease?It is easily treated with one pill called Spironolactone. Does it make sense that this could happen? I just get baffled when I think about all of the Dermatologist I saw. not able to give me any advice. There was one who I saw when I had skin ulcers who did clue me in on wearing compression stockings and elevating lower legs as much as possible and even in the heat I wear them or I get Neuropathy pain to the lower legs. I am a Registered Nurse and cannot return to work in the hospital but I have applied for a job as a Case Manager for Home Care clients at 10 hours per week to see how I do. And go from there.
--- I went to a dermatologist (Elite Dermatology) here in Houston who prescribed me hydroquinone 😔...I should have know better 🥺 I had a bad feeling about it....and I follow you, Dr Vanita and Dr. Alexis Stephens...I had a feeling that my super-tiny spots melasma would get worse.... and they did 😢
For Fitzpatrick 4-6, you could check out Dr Alexis Stephens. She does a lot of videos on hyperpigmentation. There's also Brown Skin Derm and Dr. Caroline Robinson but their channels aren't necessarily as active as Dr. Stephens'.
Hey Dr Dray, there are in fact 2 comparative studies about cysteamine and hydroquinone. Evaluation of the efficacy of cysteamine cream compared to hydroquinone in the treatment of melasma: A randomised, double-blinded trial Efficacy and safety of topical isobutylamido thiazolyl resorcinol (Thiamidol) vs. 4% hydroquinone cream for facial melasma: an evaluator‐blinded, randomized controlled trial
@@ritasharqawi7367 Hi. No, not in my case although I hear that Melasma can return, but what I do is use Vitamin C (Drunk Elephant C Firma is the one I use) in the morning, then every day I use sunblock. I have not had a recurrence of the melasma.
I got Cured when taking Doctor Iyhere herbal medications For Black Patches on My Face, All Thanks to Doctor Iyhere On RUclips, He has the herbal medicines for Other illnesses too.
I hope this product works for most. I had ZERO results with Cyspera (I used along Osmosis MD) for longer than the required weeks and prior to that I use Faded which made my skin breakout.
I use the "Maxi Peel" no. 3 anti-acne depigmenting agent, by Splash. It is a tretinoin & hydroquinone exfoliant solution. It can be found tucked away in Asian/Pacific Island grocery stores. (Just show them a photo of the green bottle). Splash is a popular brand in the Philippines. I bought mine online from a Filipino store in Queenland Australia. I have fair skin, so I use it occassionally when my skin needs brightening, for melasma reducing maintainence and to quickly fade acne marks (not too many nowadays). I apply it to my face and also my neck (because my skin is quite tolerant), not around my eyes or on my lips though. I also apply it to my chest & hands. I sometimes just dot it on with a cotton bud, where I particularly need it. It can sting a bit on pimples. I do this at night, or if I'm indoors all day. It is very reasonably priced...so don't be tempted to use it all the time! BTW, Also some of the products I use are Superfade (hydroquinone) by John Plunketts, Azclear (azelaic) by Ego, CE Ferulic serum by SkinCeuticals (Vitamin C), Rapid Wrinkle Repair (retinol) by Neutrogena. I wear SPF 50+ sunscreen everyday, outdoors and indoors. Since Dr Dray mentioned this, I also avoid wearing metal frame sunglasses, as the heat generated can exacerbate melasma. I am prone to discolouration on the cheekbones, so this was particularly useful advice for me. Another great episode, with new information about less familar products & ingredients. 👱♀️❤
Would you go through the layers of skin and let us know which products work on different layers of the skin? Like what helps epidermal and dermal hyperpigmentation.
Hearing my blood is "thick and sticky" is probably the most motivating thing I've heard to quit smoking yet. Everything else are scary things that could happen to you in the future, but that's something that's already happend. Damn I'm so tired of smoking
I didn’t find hydroquinone 4% effective and it’s very irritating. I am so self conscious about my melasma I wish I could find something that it’s not as irritating.
I had freckles as a child, including above the lip. I am still prone to discoloration there if I don't maintain it; so I can definitley relate. It is all clear there now. I used to cover it with heaps of makeup which isn't ideal, but I don't need to that anymore thankfully. The appearance of that area has also further improved since I started shaving the very fine hairs my face. The regular light exfoliation brightens and smooths my skin as well as removing the baby hairs. I was scared at first, but I don't get stubble at all. The fact is I realised (that previously) even the 'invisible' hairs on my face cast a shadow on my upper lip (when outdoors/under ceiling lights), So once I removed the hair this no longer occured.. I wrote a post today about what I use to fade & even out my skin tone and to prevent reoccurence.. I forgot to mention that I wear my surgical mask a lot during the day, especially whilst in the car, to block the sun, for anti-aging and ro prevent unwanted attention from men at the traffic lights! 😉 👱♀️❤
Hi Dr. Dray, I have been enjoying your science based information on skincare. I have been suffering hyperpigmentation for years and nothing seems to help(hydroquinone, sunscreen, diet, retinol, AHA/BHA, vitamin c etc.). I'm thinking about doing pico laser. What is your opinion on pico laser for Asian skin?
You are so helpful to so many people. I know everyone suffering from this appreciate your tips. You're certainly a wonderful lady and very generous with your time and knowledge. Happy Tuesday, Dr Dray! I hope you have a relaxing evening. 💚
Thank you so much for sharing safety information about treatment options and alternatives to consider. And ladies please all take time to continuously nurture and maintain good emotional health if you struggle with melasma hyperpigmentation. It’s all too easy to become overwhelmed and depressed when continuously experiencing skin discoloration so do prioritise inner peace despite your skin condition. Ebs Evers
I think the drink elephant Sukari baby facial caused the melasma that just showed up all over my face. Cheeks forehead huge brown patches with white spots throughout. I am 45 and feel like I’m stuck with disfiguring patches on my face. Yay.
Dr. Drey, I will be 45 in the next few weeks my skin has been pretty nice up into about a yr ago I messed around with a radio frequency device about twice and ruined my skin I now have melasma and it most definitely came from that device I have never had a pigmentation issue I used it more for skin tighten and I got myself in a mess now
So then why did the laser center then gave me hydroquinone if it can make it worse? I am so beyond distraught now. Did they just basically do more damage to my skin?
Dear doctor can you please address, pigmentation on skin type 4 from pimples , hair electrolysis, hair ingrown…. Will all this item help stop or improve this dark spots melasma blemish
Check out her video, skin changes that happen down there. I might also check out some ob/gyn channels like Dr. Jennifer Lincoln or Mama Doctor Jones. There's also the Madge the Vag channel at the Scary Mommy channel.
Dr. Dray is it odd that BBL treatments made my brown pigmentation worse? My Derm said I need Jessner peels now that it got darker. I’m frustrated because now I need to spend more money to correct the darkening. He said it coincidence🧐. Is there any other treatment you recommend other than topical treatments?
Hi Dr Dray! How are you? Not sure if you saw, but they actually changed Cyspera and now it's called Cyspera Intensive System with 3 steps for $275. Even more expensive now! Love from BR!
Hi Dr. D...Love your videos! There is early evidence of B12 and Iron Deficiency being cause of melasma. Would you recommend supplements and at what dosage? Thanks!
I've been iron deficent for years and have melasma you could be right , the sun and heat exacerbate it so I wear tinted zinc oxide sunscreen all year round on my skin
![Twenty One Pilots - “The Line” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2Rj2gQAyPA/mqdefault.jpg)
4% Hydroquinone
20% Azelaic acid
Methimazole
3-5% Tranexamic acid
3% Rumex occidentalis
Cysteamine
Kya all use krne hai
I have melasma, my dermatologist got it under control 98% gone as long as I use it. He gave me a combination of hydroquinone and Differin gel 3% and it’s amazing! It also makes my skin look clear and amazing. I put a layer of Differin gel, and a few minutes later the hydroquinone.
@ Mel of a Certain Age
How long did it take to get your clear skin?
hello, can you give me the refrence to that doc
Hi there! Did you apply both products on the whole face or only on the melasma affected area?
N Also did you use any moisturizer following the hydroquinone
Tia💕
@@vuplubanu8913 any result after using
can u share that medecine
My sister did 10% Niacinamide AM - 4% Hydroquinone + 4% kojic acid PM (I Forgot if she used 0.025% retinoic acid) and it worked wonders
I hade melasma for about 4 years. I did chemical peels, two types of laser treatments, and various creams. I also did a retin A with hydroquinone and that didn’t work. About two months ago I began using Triluma and within days I began noticing the melasma fade. I love looking at my face now. I’m very HAPPY!
Thank you Dr. Dray for mentioning Triluma in your other videos.
When I put hydroquinone I developed severe burns and swelling. This reaction lasted over 7 days. Safe to say I'm allergic. I must find an alternative that works. Melasma comes in waves during the warmer months. Great video as always!
try Bioderma matricium under moisturiser
I’ve been on hydroquinone to treat melasma for several months now. It’s actually worked great for me. The melasma spots are still there but they’re much lighter.I’ll be going back to the dermatologist soon and I’ll ask about these options! Thank you.
@ Heather Finseca
What have you been using??
@@SG-wq4rm I got a prescription retin-a plus Kojic acid plus hydroquinone compound from the dermatologist. I’ve been on it for about 6 months now. It has definitely faded the spots on my cheeks but I think I’m going to have to go off of it for a while.
please state what hydroquinone cream you are using. My demotologist has given me fast fade which is useless.
thank you kindly.
Nisha.
@@nishamadaree3213 hi! It’s a compound cream made by the pharmacist next to the dermatologist office. I know it has kojic acid and tretinoin included with the hydroquinone in a thick cream base. I don’t think it has a brand name. Results took time - about 3 months to look different. The melasma isn’t gone, but it’s a lot lighter and easier to cover with makeup
@@HeatherFonseca are you in USA
I recently visited my derm MD for a tiny mole removal. He said that, at 67 yo, my skin looks AMAZING! Thanks to you Dr. Dray. ❤️
You probably had gorgeous skin before? What's a relatively young yt channel gonna do to a lifetime of skin wrecking lifestyle or bad genes?
Honestly thank for this video. Ive been dealing with melasma for years. I do have a dermatologist but i get more information , knowledge and how to from your videos. It is so extremely hard to find a dermatologist that will actually talk to you about melasma. Mostly they give you a prescription to triluma and tretinoin. And say there is nothing else i can do for you.
WOW. Could it be that some dermatologists don’t want to be “bothered” with such a “mundane” condition as melasma, when they find out they’re likely not able to earn a ton of money from treating such run-of-the-mill conditions??
I agree!
@@MarianDouglasUngaro because they DON'T know how to get to the root cause of melasma this day it can't be healed or cured and that's such BS. Once a doctor tells you something cannot be cured, that's what you'll get
My derm took 30 seconds to give me triluma for other questions she said you have together appointment with beauty consultants ( pay separately)
I been using FADED for the last few weeks and my skin looks amazing and my Malasma is fading. I’m super happy about it because I was looking down getting a chemical peel..
Who makes it, and where do you get this product? Is it still working for you?
@@marieantoinette3451 topicals is the brand
That looks like it has several ingredients she's talking about too. I'm gunna give it a try! Thx :)
Love all your tips for melasma. I've been trial and erroring many products over my 12 year journey with melasma. Melasma can be so disheartening and affect confidence so much, it's always nice to see solid evidence-based evidence from dermatologists who try to understand melasma ❤
Try glutathione. It cured my worst melasma patches.
I had really bad melasma and spent so much with brightening products.. happened after stopping pills,,glad it's 99% gone after keeping my skin sealing with thick moisturizer and sunscreen..😘
Please can you tell the name of the moisturizer and sunscreen
Melasma's a B! It wasnt until i hit it with multiple ingredients in a pigmentation routine that i noticed a positive change and Faded by Topicals is the star product along side, Timeless vita C serum, micro tretinoin, aha/bha toner (once a week) or an oat hydration toner daily, retinol moisturizer. I went from very minimal difference over a year to difference noticed after weeks!
Please share the order of products (and brand of products) u use in AM and PM. I’d love to try your routine as I already use tretinoin, Paula’s Choice bha, alpha skincare AHA. Thank you!
my mom has melasma and she tried Hada Labo's tranexamic acid lotion and she said it works great!
Where did she buy can share picture please
Where can we get it plz ?
@@walaamahdi9711 Stylevana !
Dr. Dray: As a freckled gal I would love, and I'm sure others would as well, if you did a video on the difference between melasma and freckles. Can freckles even be faded? Can freckles "turn into" age spots? Love your knowledge and your videos!
She's got a couple videos on freckles including one called, how to fade freckles, Jun '21.
I have the same problem and have been searching the internet for the answers forever
I love my freckles. I have some melasma but I won’t use anything for it because I’m afraid it will fade my freckles also. Dilemma!
@@prtrinilan4357 I like my freckles too, but have noticed as I age, they're looking less and less like freckles and more like age spots ☹
hi Dr can you help me for dark spots for my face my face it’s sensitive can you give me advise please thanks
I suffer from melasma from Addison's disease and thyroid issues. Hydroquinone worked beautifully for me. I always wear a hat when outside, and sunscreen everyday. My master bath has two huge windows which gives it a greenhouse effect. So, I have to be super careful when in there. Since I use retinol and AHA's, my skin more at risk. This year, I wasn't as careful, and some of my melasma returned. It certainly is a journey!
Have tried HydroQ over the years with same result - an itchy, red rash after a few days - and my skin is normally pretty tough. Thanks for the update on other options!
I ended up with Melasma after getting a series of Broad Band Light treatments. I’m in my 40’s and have NEVER had Melasma in my life. Even while pregnant. It really frustrates me. I’ve done many things including using Hydroquinone. While my skin is pretty clear at the moment once summer rolls around it comes back.
Same thing happened to me it’s so horrific 😩 and the fact that I did this to myself makes it so much worse!
Hey i have melasma please how muvh you spend for Broad light treatment! Please let know ..thamk u..@ bn0510
@@arcelygerolangin1016 if you have Melasma you don’t want to do the BBL
That's not true melasma. Melasma is hormonal.....sun and heat are NOT the cause it's just a catalyst
This is so strange, I got BBL to treat my melasma and it definitely lighted it significantly. @@bnb0510
Heard from other dermatologist that hydroquinone works but the melasma returns worse than before. Been using Ambi for acne spots daily, now I have melasma throughout my face.
So good to know there are several alternatives to hydroquinone for hyperpigmentation. 😊
My dermatologist refuses to prescribe oral tranexamic acid. Even though I have no risk factors, he says it’s not worth the overall risk. I used it a couple of years ago for a few months when I saw a doctor in Mexico and it worked SO well! I wish my current doctor would prescribe it. I use the topical tranexamic acid religiously, but I honestly don’t see much of a result. I still use it though. I also used Cyspera for 18 months and saw modest improvements-not exactly worth the high cost. I’ll probably try it again when I go off my current hydroquinone since I feel like I have to keep working at it. Treating melasma feels like a constant drain on my wallet with little change. ☹️ This spring/summer I’m going to try to be extra diligent with Heliocare. Maybe it’ll make the difference?
Have you tried upping your uva and blue light protection? You me taking two steps forward but one step back if you are not fully protected.
Hydroquinone really messed up my skin. If you're African American please ask for something else.
Am not African American but I don’t know why I have a feeling that something in it caused hyperpigmentation. Just a brown girl’s opinion
Mine too!! Major damage
Thank you for this information! I’m a medical librarian and I always value the non-biased, very thorough, evidence-based information you provide. I’m struggling with sun spots and don’t want to use hydroquinone (I didn’t respond well before) and this video has helped me explore other options. Thanks as always! SPF forever 💜
I got Cured when taking Doctor Iyhere herbal medications For Black Patches on My Face, All Thanks to Doctor Iyhere On RUclips, He has the herbal medicines for Other illnesses too.
I spend most of the Summer in my garden and have become so tired of explaining to people during the Summer months year after year that I don't have a mustache. Thanks for this!
I've had really good results with consistent use of the topicals' faded serum. I've been very consistent with it though, so every night for the past 6 months or so. In case this helps anyone.
What's a good moisturizer for melasma?
Hello Dr. D... Such a great, informative video. I know all the Melasma folks out there sincerely appreciate the time you take to potentially help them on their journey! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve for tomorrow!
Thanks for watching
Hello@@DrDrayzday! I've been seeing some some reviews about Cosmelan. Very interested to know about your take on this treatment and how it works on dry sensitive skin. Thank you so much for your unceasing dedication to post content that don't typically reach consumers like us. 🙏🏻🤍
I got Cured when taking Doctor Iyhere herbal medications For Black Patches on My Face, All Thanks to Doctor Iyhere On RUclips, He has the herbal medicines for Other illnesses too.
My mom had both her checks really dark. Her face is clean now and it got clear after she got her uterus removed.
I got it bad from pregnancy, it was all over my cheeks and over the bridge of my nose, it made it look like I had white goggles on because it didn’t effect my under eyes. Definitely took on the “mask of pregnancy” look. It’s very slowly fading
I like to give warning about Ambi fade cream. I was using it on my thighs to get rid of hyperpigmentation. But unfortunately it causes fishy odor syndrome. My thigh and private region started to smell like fishy odor due to hydroquinone. Hydroquinone blocks an enzyme in your sweat glands that neutralize the sweat smell. Thankfully it went away after a week or so after discontinuing using Ambi. Ambi is just a brand that has hydroquinone. I have googled this after the odor and it is true. I didn’t know this until i used this and experienced. So be careful with hydroquinone.
Maybe that it why it has such an obnoxious fragrance. Put my sinuses on red alert.
Maybe it's a secret ingredient that was going to turn you into a mermaid!🧜♀️
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From the act of labor and pushing, my face developed melasma so badly. I remember my husband asking me after delivery, "what happened to your face??". I didn't know much about skincare solutions and ended up using a Burt's Bees Brightening Treatment, which did help a bit.
My goodness, I looked like a racoon!
I was prepared my 2nd pregnancy, but I had a c-section, so I never experienced it again.
SAME! And I pushed for over 3.5 hours! I looked terrifying! Then had emergency cesarean with my second!
@@GenXfrom75 my mom had the same thing. She said an endocrinologist asked her if she just had a baby boy because of the markings on her face, which she did. And the melasma was from my son's delivery too. Was yours a boy as well? Wondering if it's an old wives tale or something legit..
@@Arigirl1984 had all boys! Wow!
What about treating it from within
Mint leaves
Coconut milk
Indian berries
I’ve been using Faded for my melasma for 14 months now. It has all the right ingredients, but for some reason, it hasn’t done anything for my melasma 😢 Hydroquinone on the other hand, is the only topical that has worked, but I’m trying to avoid it.
@@LindaQueLeenda can you plz tell me what worked for you? I have melasma on upper lip, forehead and now cheeks too
I have actually randomly used that grown alchemist serum a few years ago. Anecdotally I found it worked really well for brightening, more so than any of the vitamin C serums I've tried. I didn't repurchase due to price but I can vouch it is a good product!
thank you for this Dr Dray! I have a partially used bottle of hydroquinone in my skincare drawer (I was on my off period with it for a few months), but since it's no longer available and can have the limitations you mentions, I ordered the Faded from Topicals - I've only been using it for a couple of weeks so I'm not sure if there's any change. It's mostly to brighten and even my complexion and help fade some minor sun spots I've accumulated over the years.
Thanks for sharing
@@DrDrayzday Thanks. I'll need this advice later. My melasma was almost 100% gone with your advice but despite daily Spf 50 and being this early in spring my freckles are still waking up. I just hope they won't merge to larger sun spot areas like before.
@Jacob Lucas Thanks! I have used Faded for months now, with very little success. I’ll give Level a try!
--- Whaaaa?!?!? Ilythia Marie & Dr. Dray talking right here??? I follow both of you and I absolutely love both channels for different reasons 😆 You two just made my day! 😀
@@marikal2341 what do you use please?
So using the sauna will worsen melasma?
I have a sun moustache. I tried azelaic acid and alpha arbutin from the ordinary, and tret that i got in Spain, but nothing seems to work.
I am an office worker in Ireland, so heat and sun are not my issue 😂
I think I'll splurge and visit a dermatologist as i really hate my moustache
I’m using 5% tranexamic acid serum with some other actives, I find it very effective for dark marks so I would recommend for dark marks and to lighten scars
How long have you been using the tranexamic acid?
@@chy9361 I’ve been using it for around a month. it’s a U.K. brand called Facetheory. The serum is called Exaglow
Would any of these cream be helpful for dark under eye circles ? What do you think of using coco butter ?
And for the skin itself, what can we use to whiten it?
I am using #whiteoncream it made my skin super white permanently without side effects.
Hi,
This is an SOS! This evening my sister who's been applying Retin-A (0.05%) cream for the past few months alarmingly told me that she's noticed the appearance of melasma on her face (for the first time), asking me if it's because of Retin-A. (Unlike me, she's had great skin all her life. She's in her 30s.) I've been troubled ever since, because personally I've also have faint melasma on my forehead and both my cheeks which I can now say appeared after I started using Retin-A microgel (0.04%). It was my sister's query that made me join the dots. And yes, I apply sunscreen religiously (though many a time, I forget to reapply. Of late, I've been carrying a sunstick- Isntree). So my request to you is: could you kindly let me know if the culprit is Retin-A? Could it be because we have coloured skin? Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
I feel like retina a makes ur skin sensitive even if I wear sunscreen it makes skin prone to marks because it’s sensitive due to retina a I would definitely wear it obviously only at night and not every night
How to used hydroquinone. Is it to apply only hyperpigment area or all over the face? Overnight or only for hours
I have Azelaic Acid in my Rx skin treatment & it's really helped my discoloration/hyperpigmentation.
At 20% ?
@@Vegan_Vlogs nope. .05% Tretinoin, 5% Azelaic acid and 4% niacinamide
I’ve had Melasma for 2 years! It looks like I have a damn mustache! Wearing the face masks 😷 during covid helped me hide my upper lip. My Melasma all happened when I had a miscarriage then became pregnant shortly thereafter. Having it above the lip has really been a killer to my self confidence. Nothing I have tried has worked…. It looks absolutely awful. Thank you for this video…
I have it above my lip too.... I definitely understand how it hurts self confidence :(
Omg I completely identify with you. I have it in my upper lip, I CANNOT hide it not even with makeup it looks worse!! And I still wear my mask at work and even in the car I feel like it even helps from the sun a little haha !! People might feel I look weird but i do not care! My kids laugh all the time. I put on actives, Tretinoin, spf at home and on top of my makeup every 2 hrs!
Dr. Dray or anyone else who knows the answer: I have a dark spot on my upper arm -- like lower shoulder. It is dark skin because it itched so I scratched it until it was dark. I just bought a 10% glycolic acid cream and now I need a skin bleaching cream. Can you recommend a skin bleaching cream? Hydroquinone did not work for me.
*Whiteonskinwhitening cream* has been a lifesaver for my dark spots - I can't believe how quickly they're fading away! I got korean glass skin too💗 💕
I got Cured when taking Doctor Iyhere herbal medications For Black Patches on My Face, All Thanks to Doctor Iyhere On RUclips, He has the herbal medicines for Other illnesses too.
Musley is the only thing that worked for my severe Malasma.
Dr. Dray, I have been using retina and salycilic acid because alot of my skin became thickened and turned a brownish orange color. Not sure why except that I did begin to notice it around 2008. I was diagnosed with Primary Aldosteronism and it took several years until I got some black ulcers on my skin and alot of other places on my body because of water retention as the disease ends up causing retention of sodium and spilling of potassium. Potassium dropped causing arythmia and subsequent chest pain so I went to the ER... this eventually led to the diagnosis. So I have been on Spironolactone and with your tips and alot of patience I can see my real skin in many places. Once it began to break down it is going away gradually and just wanted to tell you I have seen 4 Dermatologist and none of them gave me any ideas for helping with this. I had to ask for the retina script because I had used it for a decade but ran out and was using Differin. My face did not have melasma or it was very minor.
I told them about this and I was in the office so they could take note of it themselves. I would tell them about this coating I had noticed over my skin and none of them believed me as maybe they just thought it was sun exposure or maybe the episode of poor circulation that was related to the blood pressure sky rocketing and BP medicines would not bring it down. Looking back I had symptoms of this disease as far back as my 20's now.
My hair and scalp scaling is cleared up also and I can tell you that I stopped picking at it and just used the shampoo put out by the same company Nizoral is sold by/otc. and has 3 percent salicylic acid. and I have used it as a body wash too so I think it is helping with removing the thickening and darkening of the skin.
I could not afford to purchase the retina at my pharmacy at 100.00 bucks for 20 grams so I opted to get it at a foreign pharmacy for 8.00 a tube, can you believe the price difference? I have a script so it is legal to do this.I can give other's a link to this overseas pharmacy based in Europe. Just send me a message on RUclips.... If this is not ok Dr. Dray I can edit this comment. So Primary Aldosteronism is a hormone malfunction. Have you ever seen a patient with this disease?It is easily treated with one pill called Spironolactone. Does it make sense that this could happen? I just get baffled when I think about all of the Dermatologist I saw. not able to give me any advice. There was one who I saw when I had skin ulcers who did clue me in on wearing compression stockings and elevating lower legs as much as possible and even in the heat I wear them or I get Neuropathy pain to the lower legs. I am a Registered Nurse and cannot return to work in the hospital but I have applied for a job as a Case Manager for Home Care clients at 10 hours per week to see how I do. And go from there.
I use Cyspera- works great for me. Pricey though
--- I went to a dermatologist (Elite Dermatology) here in Houston who prescribed me hydroquinone 😔...I should have know better 🥺 I had a bad feeling about it....and I follow you, Dr Vanita and Dr. Alexis Stephens...I had a feeling that my super-tiny spots melasma would get worse.... and they did 😢
What products can we not use at the same time as azaliac acid? I want to try but don't know where to fit it into my routine.
Does this work on any dark spots on your body? Dr Dray thank you in advance
Do these same products work for treating dark armpits, etc?
Any suggestions to treat hyperpigmentation for Brown skin? Would this vid be interchangeable? Thanks Dr. Dray!🥰
For Fitzpatrick 4-6, you could check out Dr Alexis Stephens. She does a lot of videos on hyperpigmentation. There's also Brown Skin Derm and Dr. Caroline Robinson but their channels aren't necessarily as active as Dr. Stephens'.
Have a look at Dr Vanita Rattan youtube channel. You may find it helpful.
Can i apply directly to my skin tranexamic acid thanks doc
Kojic acid has been great for me, you talked about years ago in a video.
We're u using it 4 melasma? if so how long did it take to see a change
Hey Dr Dray, there are in fact 2 comparative studies about cysteamine and hydroquinone.
Evaluation of the efficacy of cysteamine cream compared to hydroquinone in the treatment of melasma: A randomised, double-blinded trial
Efficacy and safety of topical isobutylamido thiazolyl resorcinol (Thiamidol) vs. 4% hydroquinone cream for facial melasma: an evaluator‐blinded, randomized controlled trial
Oh. Cysteamine = thiamidol? Im so confused, lol!
what was the outcome of that study
Do you think you could ever make a video on vitiligo and possible treatments for it?? :( my step dad has it and is very insecure and sad about it…
Show him Winnie Harlow.
Great video once again - mant thanks. Are you using vaseline or oil above your lip?
Quick question. Would using Differin Adapalene and Faded Topical cream together be ok for dark spots?
I’d love the answer for that as well
I was prescibed Tri-Luma and it was amazing at getting rid of my melasma.
Debi M does it come back worse after stop using it??
@@ritasharqawi7367 Hi. No, not in my case although I hear that Melasma can return, but what I do is use Vitamin C (Drunk Elephant C Firma is the one I use) in the morning, then every day I use sunblock. I have not had a recurrence of the melasma.
Hello Dr Dray. Could you please make a video on safe skincare for vitiligo patients
Hello, thanks for your video it’s so helpful but can you recommend any facial wash or soaps for hyperpigmentation
I got Cured when taking Doctor Iyhere herbal medications For Black Patches on My Face, All Thanks to Doctor Iyhere On RUclips, He has the herbal medicines for Other illnesses too.
I was prescribed tranexamic yet I never knew it's benefits 👍always thankful for your videos 😘
I hope this product works for most. I had ZERO results with Cyspera (I used along Osmosis MD) for longer than the required weeks and prior to that I use Faded which made my skin breakout.
Wow. Should have been crushing up and pasting my methimazole to my face for the past several years.
these ingredients can helpful for dark knuckles or not?
How about using Tranexamic acid?
can azelaic acid effective for sun spot and age spot doc?
I use the "Maxi Peel" no. 3 anti-acne depigmenting agent, by Splash. It is a tretinoin & hydroquinone exfoliant solution.
It can be found tucked away in Asian/Pacific Island grocery stores. (Just show them a photo of the green bottle). Splash is a popular brand in the Philippines. I bought mine online from a Filipino store in Queenland Australia. I have fair skin, so I use it occassionally when my skin needs brightening, for melasma reducing maintainence and to quickly fade acne marks (not too many nowadays). I apply it to my face and also my neck (because my skin is quite tolerant), not around my eyes or on my lips though. I also apply it to my chest & hands.
I sometimes just dot it on with a cotton bud, where I particularly need it. It can sting a bit on pimples. I do this at night, or if I'm indoors all day. It is very reasonably priced...so don't be tempted to use it all the time!
BTW, Also some of the products I use are Superfade (hydroquinone) by John Plunketts, Azclear (azelaic) by Ego, CE Ferulic serum by SkinCeuticals (Vitamin C), Rapid Wrinkle Repair (retinol) by Neutrogena.
I wear SPF 50+ sunscreen everyday, outdoors and indoors.
Since Dr Dray mentioned this, I also avoid wearing metal frame sunglasses, as the heat generated can exacerbate melasma. I am prone to discolouration on the cheekbones, so this was particularly useful advice for me.
Another great episode, with new information about less familar products & ingredients.
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Thank you for this!
@@EssAerm My pleasure!
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What's the difference between melasma and hyperpigmentation
Would you go through the layers of skin and let us know which products work on different layers of the skin? Like what helps epidermal and dermal hyperpigmentation.
Is cyspera and crytera same thing
Hearing my blood is "thick and sticky" is probably the most motivating thing I've heard to quit smoking yet. Everything else are scary things that could happen to you in the future, but that's something that's already happend. Damn I'm so tired of smoking
My melasma got worse after I started wearing glasses! I'm wondering if it's possible the lenses magnified the uv rays on my cheeks 🤔🤔🤔
Im heartbroken you can no longer get hydroquinone in the US💔
I didn’t find hydroquinone 4% effective and it’s very irritating. I am so self conscious about my melasma I wish I could find something that it’s not as irritating.
Is micro needling any good for the condition.
Dr Gray,please,is this azelaic cream works on facial warts? i have warts look like moles,please enlighten than you
Yes! I have this between lip and nose. Thanks again Dr.Dray. You are the highlight of my day! 💕💕
Thanks for watching
I had freckles as a child, including above the lip. I am still prone to discoloration there if I don't maintain it; so I can definitley relate. It is all clear there now. I used to cover it with heaps of makeup which isn't ideal, but I don't need to that anymore thankfully. The appearance of that area has also further improved since I started shaving the very fine hairs my face. The regular light exfoliation brightens and smooths my skin as well as removing the baby hairs. I was scared at first, but I don't get stubble at all. The fact is I realised (that previously) even the 'invisible' hairs on my face cast a shadow on my upper lip (when outdoors/under ceiling lights), So once I removed the hair this no longer occured.. I wrote a post today about what I use to fade & even out my skin tone and to prevent reoccurence..
I forgot to mention that I wear my surgical mask a lot during the day, especially whilst in the car, to block the sun, for anti-aging and ro prevent unwanted attention from men at the traffic lights! 😉
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@@nadab4750 I wear my mask everywhere even in my car! I have melasma so i feel it protects from the sun.. people look at me weird but I dnt care!!
@@chrisluisangel I'm so glad that you are doing what's best for you!
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@@nadab4750 thanks!! ☺️
Dr. Dray is it safe to use Tranexamic Acid topically if you also have a blood clotting issue?
Dr Dray, is Eucerin good for melasma?
The anti aging products
Hi Dr. Dray, I have been enjoying your science based information on skincare. I have been suffering hyperpigmentation for years and nothing seems to help(hydroquinone, sunscreen, diet, retinol, AHA/BHA, vitamin c etc.). I'm thinking about doing pico laser. What is your opinion on pico laser for Asian skin?
What is a good premeant bleach cream?
You are so helpful to so many people. I know everyone suffering from this appreciate your tips. You're certainly a wonderful lady and very generous with your time and knowledge. Happy Tuesday, Dr Dray! I hope you have a relaxing evening. 💚
My dermatologist refuses to prescribe hydroquinone. Is there some way to buy it online?
why can''t you use hydroquinone with benzoyl peroxide? What does it do?
Thank you so much for sharing safety information about treatment options and alternatives to consider.
And ladies please all take time to continuously nurture and maintain good emotional health if you struggle with melasma hyperpigmentation. It’s all too easy to become overwhelmed and depressed when continuously experiencing skin discoloration so do prioritise inner peace despite your skin condition.
Ebs Evers
Dr Dray, would any of the work without tretinoin? Is it possible to fade melasma without retinol?
I think the drink elephant Sukari baby facial caused the melasma that just showed up all over my face. Cheeks forehead huge brown patches with white spots throughout. I am 45 and feel like I’m stuck with disfiguring patches on my face. Yay.
Dr. Drey,
I will be 45 in the next few weeks my skin has been pretty nice up into about a yr ago I messed around with a radio frequency device about twice and ruined my skin I now have melasma and it most definitely came from that device I have never had a pigmentation issue I used it more for skin tighten and I got myself in a mess now
So then why did the laser center then gave me hydroquinone if it can make it worse? I am so beyond distraught now. Did they just basically do more damage to my skin?
What can be used underarms to lighten up skin if you shave alot?
Tranaxemic acid 10 percent is effective or not?
Dr.what's the remedy for white patches on the skin.
"the powerhouse of the cell!" 🤣 Bio students love you for including this!
Dear doctor can you please address, pigmentation on skin type 4 from pimples , hair electrolysis, hair ingrown…. Will all this item help stop or improve this dark spots melasma blemish
hey dr. dray! what would you recommend for intimate whitening?
Check out her video, skin changes that happen down there. I might also check out some ob/gyn channels like Dr. Jennifer Lincoln or Mama Doctor Jones. There's also the Madge the Vag channel at the Scary Mommy channel.
Dr. Dray is it odd that BBL treatments made my brown pigmentation worse? My Derm said I need Jessner peels now that it got darker. I’m frustrated because now I need to spend more money to correct the darkening. He said it coincidence🧐. Is there any other treatment you recommend other than topical treatments?
Hi Dr Dray! How are you? Not sure if you saw, but they actually changed Cyspera and now it's called Cyspera Intensive System with 3 steps for $275. Even more expensive now! Love from BR!
Hi Dr. D...Love your videos!
There is early evidence of B12 and Iron Deficiency being cause of melasma. Would you recommend supplements and at what dosage? Thanks!
Could you pass me the link or the name of the website where you found that information? Please 🙂
I've been iron deficent for years and have melasma you could be right , the sun and heat exacerbate it so I wear tinted zinc oxide sunscreen all year round on my skin