It’s nearing the time of year when I like to be outside all day, every day. Between working in the yard, mowing, walking, porch rocking, patio sitting, baseball and soccer watching, I’m outside A LOT. I noticed a few years ago that I was starting to get melasma on certain parts of my face. Melasma is dark colored patchiness brought on by sun and heat. I asked on stories the other day what has worked for others and I got so many responses, I decided to dump them all in one spot. The crazy part is, almost all of the 75 responses were different!!! Now I’m even more confused – ha! Here is how to manage melasma (according to my readers).

My Melasma History

Before we get started with your answers, here’s a little back story. I am 41 years old. I grew up in the day when you had tanning salon memberships. Cringey to think about now, but it’s how it was. When we went on beach vacations, the goal was to become as tan as possible! We used very light sunscreen, if any at all! Fast forward all these years later and I have so much sun damage, sun spots, wrinkles, and now fighting melasma. Mine always goes away in the winter and comes back in full force in the spring/summer.

Let me also say, I’m super confident and comfortable in my own skin. Of course, I want to be healthy and glowing, but this isn’t something that keeps me up at night. It’s just something we go through as we age! My mom is 65 years old and has never had anything done to her face, and she’s the prettiest 65 year old I know! I just thought if there are things I could/should be doing for my melasma, I’m interested in hearing!

Seeing a Dermatologist

I see a dermatologist every year. She’s really sweet and tells me my face actually looks good for my age. When I mentioned the melasma last year, she prescribed Hydroquinone cream (4%). Several people mentioned this in the answer box, but this did not work for me. I used it for 8 weeks and after not seeing results, I stopped. Apparently Melasma isn’t curable, just manageable. I also learned that it’s not only exposure from the sun that makes it flare up, but also just heat in general. That explains a lot because I’m usually really good about hats and sunscreen and sunglasses!

Let’s get started with the responses from all of you! And one side note…people were mentioning that melasma flares up during pregnancy because of hormonal changes. I am on the pill, which can most definitely be a contributing factor. I’m not interested in coming off of it (I use it to manage heavy periods – sorry for the TMI)! I will only be posting repeat answers once! Thanks for all of your responses!

What Worked for How to Manage Melasma

BBL Laser
Lira Serums
@jordanharper_np (many people mentioned following her on Instagram + blog)
Rodan and Fields the Yellow
Beauty Counter Resurfacing Peel
Cosmelan Peel
Hydroquinone + retinol
Enzyme Peels
Clear and Brilliant Laser Treatments
Vitamin C Serum (medical grade)
Micro Needling
BBL Full Face Treatment
Chemical Peels
Castor Oil
Mary K Vitamin C+E
Monthly Facials with Hydroquinone PCA Peel
Retin A (can’t be in the sun with this, use during winter months)
Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector
Even Tone by Skin Better Science
Caudalie Brightening Essence and Serum
Vitamin E
Fraxel Treatments
Palmer’s Face Oil
Peels + SPF
Close the Sunroof (this is easy and free!)
Skin Medicinals Rx
Going off birth control + age
Azelaic Acid
Moxie Treatment
Musely
Halo + Fractora
Mega Babe Beach Paint
Sotoks from Limelife by Alcone
Obagi No. 3 + Elta MD SPF (I just ordered some of this SPF)
IPL
Pure Zinx Sunscreen
Ambi
Red Light Therapy (if local to Kansas City, we have a local place called Red Spectrum Health!)
Koji Pads
Lactic Acid
Bleecheaze Cream + Elta Sunscreen + CE Ferulic
Obagi ZO Skin
Ice Roll Face to Keep Temp of Face Down (love this and have an ice roller already!)

I hope this was helpful on your journey for how to manage melasma. I go see my derm again this summer and will chat with her more! For now, I sill be ice rolling to keep the heat down, using daily SPF, hats, etc. Can we all agree that aging has it’s perks! I love getting older and wiser and have all the life experience and the laugh lines. All the things on my face represent where I’ve been. I’m not trying to “fix” myself, just become the best version! XO

SHOP: Hat, Sunscreen, Ice Roller, Sunnies