Can A Leopard Change Her Spots
June 5, 2007 by Tracee Sioux
Filed under Parenting
Holy Pregnancy Mask Batman! Even with an SPF 50 sunscreen, plus the SPF 30 moisturizer I wear I look like a freaking spotted leopard. Or maybe like Kat Von D from Miami Ink, only my spots do not have intention and beauty behind them.
I usually don’t consider myself at all vain. I think I’m attractive and I have a positive self esteem about my looks. I’m one of the few women I know who would not choose plastic surgery because I don’t particularly hate anything about myself. My boobs have held up nicely, I don’t have terrible stretch marks, I’m just fine with how I look and I think that’s a super healthy attitude. But, this melasma is REALLY getting to me.
For those of you who don’t know pregnancy mask or melasma is extra pigmentation on the face that occurs in about 20 percent of women during pregnancy. Although it is much worse when exposed to the sun. One dermatologist wrote an article about sun damage being the actual cause and pregnancy making it worse. Either way I’ve got it.
I confess to frequent sun worship as a teen and young adult, but I never had this. After my daughter the pregnancy mask went away, just as the doctors said it would, after a few months. But, now my son is 14-months-old and I’m still a freaking leopard face.
There is no cure. That’s what kills me. I can try oodles and oodles of creams and potions that all cost a ton of money and probably won’t work. I can try laser treatment that will likely not be consistent across the face and may, in fact, cause scarring. So, some spots and some scarring – how is that better?
Foundation, cover-ups and concealers, I’ve tried bunches of them but they only make it worse. They don’t cover the dark spots, but make the light spots look like I’m gobbing on the wrong color of foundation.
Even with all these facts I’m begging anyone out there to tell me about some miracle cure. I’ve read about this chemical Hydroquinone, but it’s photosensitive, which means you can not be in the sun at all or you’ll turn into a beet. Then, I’ll be a spotted beet. It’s summer and I’m fun mommy so I can’t avoid the sun altogether.
Hi,
I have melasma and I have been trying lots of natural stuff. like MSM, vitamin C, Apple Cider, etc. etc. What I really think is helping me now is Grapefruitseed extract, 5 times a day 15-20 drops. The longer you have had melasma, the longer it takes for you to see a difference, but for me something is finally working! It is clearing up. Some say melasma is a fungal related condition and grapefruitseed extract is just the natural remedy to attack fungus and yeast in your body. Read more on the earthclinic website..
About grapefruit seed extract: I recommend doing a bit more research on that product. I bought some to try, and read about it further after purchasing. As a result, I returned the stuff to Whole Foods. Apparently it is NOT a natural product, and the benefits seen from it are thought to come from the very unnatural preservative that they say is “naturally” occurring”. Anyway, check out the studies if you don’t want to use something unnatural, as GSE does not appear to provide benefits naturally.
Some info on GSE: (have to wait for the links to be apporved, eh?)
http://www.terressentials.com/truthaboutgse.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapefruit_seed_extract
http://www.treasuredlocks.com/trabpringrse.html (scroll down the page to read about GSE)
Hi io (like the moon of Jupiter?) Yes, it is safe during pregnancy, but you must start only after the first trimester. also, a tip- do not rub it in, just placea thin film over face, then wait for it to dry thoroughly before applying your sunblock.
I was cleaning out some files and came across this from dermadoctor that explains the biology of melanocytes and melasma. If you haven’t seen this before it’s an excellent explanation of how melasma is triggered and what defenses we have against it:
http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/newsletter271.asp?WID=%7BA79051D8-1CFC-474D-A6DC-9C5CFB7917EA%7D
sasha. thank you for the research and tips – i appreciate your help. i’m still waiting for the serum to arrive, impatiently. it’s reassuring to hear you’re having such good results with it – and happy you found something that works for you. and yes, io, after the moon of jupiter – people rarely know that! thank you again.
P.S. io- physiogel anti-inflammatory cream is a great one to use with the iklen cos it is totally soothing and is made up of skin-identical ingredients. It has also worked wonders for my wrinkles. Remember to be patient- takes at least 8 weeks to start working, but it is a long-term solution. I intend to use it for years. Good Luck!
P.P.S io- had a monster crush on Carl Sagan at school! he he.
Anyupdates on Jaioli? Just curious if the people who tried it with success have had the melasma come back? Also, what are you doing to maintain the results? Mine has cleared quite a lot, just wondering how to keep it from coming back now!!
Heather,
It works. Day 27 for me and the lightest it’s ever been. How long has yours stayed away?
Heather/Leah – do you have kids yet? Wondering if mercury can be passed from mother to child if I plan on getting pregnant within the next year? Have you had any sort of side effects mercury-related?
Hi Guys, I had quit using the Jiaoli for a couple of months and had only used it on and off for a couple of weeks (not every day). I did have good results but found that my skin was darkening up a bit again. It is winter and dark and rainy where I live so this is probably because I have a high amount of stress in my life. I do wear an Spf 30 sunscreen every day. I started using the jiaoli again about 2 weeks ago every single night (cream #2) and cream #1 most days but have skipped a couple since my skin doesn’t seem to absorb it very well. I have been putting moisturizer on first (I didn’t do this the first time I used it) and it doesn’t seem to be making me as pink this time. I mentioned to my family doctor that I was using it and the concerns about it containing mercury. His response was that a small amount of mercury on your skin is definitely not as risky as ingesting it. since I was already getting blood work done he ordered a test for mercury levels also – I will keep you posted as to the results and like I mentioned before if anyone wants to see the before and after pictures from the first time I used jiaoli – email me and I will send them to you. info at modtoddesigns dot com
Tracy, is there any way for me to post my pictures right on here? what if I email them to you, would you post them?
Corrin,
Yes, most definitely, PLEASE post your test results. I never got red or even really peeling with using it.
Leah, how much fading do you think you achieved (%) with Jaioli? Also, are you still using transreservatrol and do you think it has helped at all?
Hi Jennifer,
Well, I looked again to answer your question and believe it or not, 95% faded. I was using J to just get some relief from it being there all the time while I try to figure out how to get RID of it forever with the naturopath. Good gracious thats a process. I’m doing saliva hormone testing now. I have already done GI tract testing, extensive blood and urine testing, checked for celiac disease (no), adrenal testing, and thyroid testing. I still take quite a concoction of supplements, I don’t think the trans played a major role in where it has been clearing. Once I complete the hormone testing and the naturopath gives her total recommendation, I will share if you like. It will be based on my test results, but some of you may have similiar results as well. I have very low iron, very low Vit D (shocker), slight hypothyroid, etc. It’s irritating to learn all these things but I think no one tests perfectly, without something off balance. My goal is to try and balance what is off, and see if that corrects what is showing on my skin, melasma. In the meantime, the J amazes me, really, I don’t even have yellow coverup on lately. I’m just obsessed right now with this one pimple on my chin and so haven’t really focused on melasma, isn’t that refreshing though!!!! I just want to enjoy feeling comfortable around people with a zit or melasma, that’s all.
I’m glad I’m doing the hormone testing though because I’m 43 and have PMS and rough periods and sometimes sweat at night and occasional adult zit, irritability, some tiredness, etc. and with this testing I want to use some hormone cream to correct this balance, I’m sure I will need something here too. All this testing while trying to resolve melasma has great side health benefits like this, that’s the good thing. If you treat deficiencies now, you might avoid disease later.
Hi All!!!! Question about “Iklen”… those of you using it are you using the serum or the cream? It is quite pricy also. I Googled Iklen and found that there are a few different products. Also where are any of you that are using the product odering it from. I live in Canada whether that makes a difference I don’t know as long as the shippment is let through from whichever country it is sent from. If any of you gals are having success or not can you please post your results and how you are using the product. Also, can you get some sun exposure and be able to maintain the lightening results with continued usage. So many questions and hoping that there is something to help keep the melasma lighter if nothing else. Thank you all!!! Wiahing you ALL a fantastic week!!!
Hi Marie! The serum is for lightening, the cream is for maintenance. There is also an enzyme exfoliating mask, but since it is, as you say, expensive, that is unnecessary. The company also produces a supplement which is also unnecessary since it is comosed of all the stuff we all take anyway. You use 2 squirts and cover your face with a light film of the stuff. it has the consistency of water. Then wait about 15 minutes for it to fully react with the skin. then just add your normal moisturiser, sunblock, make-up, etc. Yes, the results take time, but are cumulative. But I would not suggest ever going into the sun without sunblock. sun exposure is unfortunately a no-no with people that have our condition. But say, I had two days recently where I had to spend the whole day in the scorching African heat. When I got home, my face was red. I applied the iklen, as usual, and the next morning there was no darkening. I buy it from my local chemist, so am afraid I cannot help with the logistics of purchasing online. Good luck!
Hi Sasha!! Thank you so much for the info. With the serum being used for lightening, once you’ve reached a desired result do you keep using the serum for lightening purposes on a daily bases? And do you use the serum first followed with the maintenace cream? Do you use each product twice a day? The websites that I’ve seen on the product have very little info on product and how to use it and so on. Also how long does a bottle of each of the product last you. I wish it was available at our chemists here. It sure would make life easier rather than going online to put in orders. Yes, as for the sunscreen I know it is a must. I use a sunscreen called UV Natural. It’s a company based out of Australia and is all natural product and uses zinc oxide. Your outing in the hot African sun does show that the Iklen product does work. I know the sun becomes our enemy but it is nice to hear that you were out there in the sun and the melasma did not darken. How long have you been using the product? Thank you again for replying and filling me and others in with valuable info. Cheers and enjoy the rest of the week!!
Hi Marie! I have been using it for about 2 and a half months, and my mom told me the other day my skin looks much better, and I feel that too- now I can just use a light base and feel quite normal. One bottle lasts about 1 month if you use two squirts to cover your face. If you use one squirt, you can stretch it out to two months. It just has to be a thin film. Yes, you use it twice a day. Yes, you are supposed to go off the serum and onto the cream once you have achieved the desired results, but I like the serum, because it is light and concentrated and you can follow it up with the moisturiser of your choice, so I intend to carry on using that indefinitely. There is not much difference in price between the two anyway, and it is totally safe. But that is a matter of preference, I guess. Good luck!
Hi Sasha!! Thank you so much for the info. One question, are you using the serum only and not the cream? Thanks again. Have a great day!!!
hello everybody, I am from Portugal and I discover this website on searching for information about a melasma treatment that my dermatologist recommended today: Dermamelan. I must say that my melasma is not to bad, it started some years ago, mainly above my lip and with some treatment (including hydroquinone and other acids) it became a bit better and after with IPL I reached a satisfactory result and I stopped treatments and always avoid sun and use a lot of sun block. Meanwhile after the 2007 summer it began to appear on my forehead and I went back to treatments in February, again acids and hydroquinone, interrupted during 2008 summer and restarted in September 2009 but although the spot became lighter it has not disappeared and my dermatologist recommended this treatment, but it is very expensive, around 750/800€. Anyone already tried and had significant results? Please find hereby some web links with information about it: http://www.skingenesis.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100&Itemid=28
http://www.hadleighclinic.com/treatments/pigmentation-problems/pigmentation-problems-intro.html
Thanks and all the best
Eduarda – Portugal
yes, the serum only. I asked the woman who represents the company, why not use them both together, and she replied that it would be a waste of money. from what I understand, it works by creating an enzymatic reaction in the skin, and thus inhibiting the melanin, and for this, only a certain amount is needed. Using both is overkill. She was quite technical, but that was the general gist of it. So, its either/or.
Hi All!!! Thanks Sasha for your response to my questions. I am having a hard time finding IKLEN product online. There is one site but it seems to be for US ordering only. The site doesn’t give a phone number. Other online order sites are from Europe. How can I order this product from the US? Anybody else using IKLEN SERUM PRODUCT that has a phone number or a site that will take Canadian info upon making the order??? Thanks all!!
Hey guys, just wanted to update you on the jiaoli. I went to the doctor last week and got the results from my blood work back – my mercury levels were absolutely normal. so, still not sure whether it’s true that mercury is in the jiaoli but it didn’t seem to make any difference anyways.
There is a website that I found where you can order Iklen. They are in France I believe but I emailed them and they ship to the US. I’m not sure where you are Marie, but if you email them, they will respond.
w w w. leguidesante (dot com)
I haven’t ordered mine yet, but I think I will. Right now I’m doing the Jaoli – have noticed some lightening – some redness though too, so I haven’t done the upper lip yet – too scared!! This is only day 8 for me – but I’m feeling hopeful.
Leah – how is Jaoli going for you? Any adverse reactions? I haven’t had any except for some minor redness but no pain or even stinging.
Julie – I didn’t have any issues at all with the J. I really only used the light color though and not the yellow. I think it works. It has for me unless some vitamin I’ve been on, kicked in. Doesn’t make it go away, just lighter, a lot. Other stuff I take is making it go away.
Corrin – thanks for the post on no mercury issues in your blood from Dr. That is useful. And you’ve used for 30 days or longer? Still?
I read an article that said that if you want to test a product for mercury, you simply place some in your palm, and rub it with something which contains gold. If it turns grey, that indicates the presence of mercury, the darker the grey, the greater the concentration.
have decided give natural sunlock another go. I used it a couple of days, wondering all the time if my skin was looking too white from the minerals, but, strangely enough my mom told me my skin was looking great and my boyfriend said the skin on my face felt better to touch, and was looking better too. I cannot get hold of uv-naturals, but my local health store has badger sunblock. Can anyone recommend this? Anybody had any good/bad experiences with it?
Hi,
There is a book out there called “What skincare companies an dermatologists don’t want you to know, written by Nancy Holloway-Prince. It is a e-book and it costs about 13 dollars I think. There is a lot of usefull information in it. But, it only adresses the problem on the outside. To get rit of melasma you should adress the internal problem, in most cases hormonal or a intestinal problem. In my case, the melasma is slowly clearing up when finally I tried Grapefruitseed-extract, 3 times a day 20 drops. It is better if you get capsules to put it in because it tastes horribly bitter! For the outside skin part I am scrubbing everyday 2 times a day with honey and cornmeal (or buy a natural scrub if that is easier) and I use an exfoliating peel made from lemon, orange, grapefruit and sugar!
There is also this other e-book, the skinlighting report which also has a lot of helpful information in it for melasma and other hyperpigmentation problems!! Good luck to you all! Have patience and you will persevere and winn the battle!!;-)
Have you tried MSM, GrapeSeed Extract, Zinc and massive amounts of Vitamin C.
Alot of women have tried these supplements to treat melasma – discussion forums etc you can view may help you decide whether you want to try.
just google MSM and melasma or treat melasma internally….
Hello everyone! It seems to have been a while since anyone has posted anything. I am wondering if anyone has any updates on jailoi? It doesn’t seem to be working for me anymore and I am wondering if anyone else if finding the same thing.
Corrin,
Not working for me either anymore, I quit using after about 30 days and then it just came back. So I am not using it anymore and am working still on internal cure.
I have read this blog now for the last couple on months. I have a dark stache and it seems to be getting worse. I tried the many products out there including tri-lumina. The trilumina gave a red peeling stache instead. I wasn’t sure which is worse. I’ve also tried jiaoli but only for a week because i thought the trilumina would work better. The jiaoli just smells funny to me. I can’t aford too many more products or makeup and like all of you I’m at the end of my rope. Any advice???
I think I have melasma. It’s very similar to the photos I have seen but much lighter, although it has faded considerably in the last few years, but it still depresses me as I used to have lovely even skin. I do take the contraceptive pill, but wasn’t pregnant or sunbathing but I was in the garden planting a lot in the hot Summers, so I think over a couple of years it came out. I try to stay out of the sun and wear a hat when gardening now. I do have spf 15 moisturisers but as my skin is quite spotty I tend to use the oil free ones which don’t have the spf in them hence why I try to avoid the sun totally.
I also tried a Glycolic peel but it made my spots ten times worse and my skin didn’t go back to normal for months.
I was listening to BBC 1Xtra which has a black show and the presenter asked the listeners to email and sms in which skin colour they preferred and most of the young black men responded with lighter skin being their preference. It seems that being female we’re pressured into wanting lighter skin, my friends all use NUR76 which lightens their skin and most of them do not tell anyone else that they use it. I guess wanting to be lighter is quite a shameful thing.
I was hoping for a breakthrough with melasma. I suffered from it since I was in my late twenties.Start4ed with contraceptive pills and it’s my twin since then.. And I am now in my late forties and my melasma is still with me. I am of southeast asian descent and it seems to be spreading all over my face and am so tired of using foundations in order to face the world half- decently. Sighhhh.. I went to a derma and eastheticians nothing seems to work.
There was one time that something worked with me for two years it was a “Magic Cream” but it returned more than ever after I exposed myself to the sun.. Oh, sunshine we will never be together again..another tragedy for my beloved face.. Now am dating a very nice guy and always concious of my face. I can’t seems to bare in front of him without being conscious about my hyperpigmentation aka melasma. I am more confident going out with him in the night just because the melasma is not so obvious. I tried everything possible that may work.., laser, microdrmabrasioon, all peels ..gee i might want to apply what the late Michael Jackson had done to his face? Where can i do that, any suggtestion? I used a lot of foundation FX brand Canada as I am in Canada and combined with studio Mac concealer. I feel like a dirty canvas. Why, oh why nothing worked. I have moderate to severe melasma and still experimenting with what not.. tablets and all, serum and all.. anything else there that may work with an asian complexion. I tried Jaoli it worked on my sister’s face but not on me. I went back to Magic cream..hmmm the Magic had been intercepted by unknown forces, means not even a slight illusion had its effect on my tired beaten face.I tried this Image products… say..,Kojic containing serum with a foul smelling yikes and all those so, so arbutin hmm can’t see any differences yet and it’s been like two months now? Now my latest strategy is to be enrolled in facial so i can order or get potent ingredients from wherever… I still want to have that brown pigments gone or at least lightens a lot as 48 is still young say… and am still actively dating sigh oh.. beauties what are your recent effective discoveries against melasma?
i am in the philippines and i had melasma and felt the very same way you guys did. tried everything except for the grapefruit seed extract because cant find any here. what worked for me? tea tree oil as base after using the cleanser with tea tree oil and the toner and finishing it with hbc perfecting cream. am not sure if the perfecting cream can stand on its own because i am afraid to get rid of the toner and cleanser and have melasma again. the feeling of erasing the stache is like waking from a nightmare! What a relief! The cost of the cream from HBC is only $8 and the toner and cleanser from Sensa is $2 each. Oh, the tea tree oil cost me $6. Total of $18 to $20 good for 3 months use is not bad considering the mental anguish that was erased along with that melasma.
I have suffered from melasma for almost 20 years and have it under control. You must use something daily (I scrub), taking vitamin C is good for your skin but it won’t get rid of melasma. On my website I have posted my before and after photos and those sent to me by women who have purchased my book “Secrets Skincare Companies & Dermatologists Don’t Want You To Know”. Please think about this…some black men also have melasma and it sure wasn’t from birth control pills. Birth control pills do not cause melasma. I am 55 years old and have gotten rid of my melasma, lines, wrinkles and bags with all natural ingredients.