Hyperpigment/melasma and microdermabrasion
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free skin care · Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:28 pm

Recently because of medication I have had a lot of acne on my forehead, which I squeezed which turned into scabs/light scars, etc. That combined with the sun I got some darkening on my forehead that usually comes every summer and fades for the rest of the year with some white spots in between.

The darker pigment/melasma type darkening is quite dry and almost flakes off.

I was wondering, would microdermabrasion help this at all or make it worse? Honestly I look at my forehead and just think that a blast of exfoliation would make it all smooth and nice and take away any flaking, etc.

What do you think?

EDIT: I should say that I had been taking MSM for the past 1.5 months and I think it even made my pigment darker and more white spots. So I stopped it.

I was also thinking of buying Vivier Vitamin C serum.

Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:34 pm

Hi pele,

I've been undergoing medical microdermabrasion treatments coupled with SkinTx lightening products. The treatment nurse supported the research I've done on the internet; hydroquinone is one of the best ingredients to lighten sun/age spots. That being said, coupling it with an exfoliating program list microdermabrasion speeds it up a little. My skin is looking a little better every day and the texture is even tightening up.

There is one drawback though; you'll be shedding for a few days post-treatment. I began shedding 2 days after the first treatment but it didn't take long to subside and wasn't really all that bad.

Lastly, remember your sunscreen (30 spf or better). We're all guilty of going out without it sometimes but some meds can make you very photosensitive. That is likely the cause of your hyperpigmentation.

Well, for what it's worth... that's my 10 cents.

Cheers,
yuhu32

free skin care · Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:50 pm

yuhu32 wrote:

Hi pele,

I've been undergoing medical microdermabrasion treatments coupled with SkinTx lightening products. The treatment nurse supported the research I've done on the internet; hydroquinone is one of the best ingredients to lighten sun/age spots. That being said, coupling it with an exfoliating program list microdermabrasion speeds it up a little. My skin is looking a little better every day and the texture is even tightening up.

There is one drawback though; you'll be shedding for a few days post-treatment. I began shedding 2 days after the first treatment but it didn't take long to subside and wasn't really all that bad.

Lastly, remember your sunscreen (30 spf or better). We're all guilty of going out without it sometimes but some meds can make you very photosensitive. That is likely the cause of your hyperpigmentation.

Well, for what it's worth... that's my 10 cents.

Cheers,
yuhu32

I'm scared to use Hydroquinone b/c I'm afraid it might make my darkening worse. I did use it for a bit a few years ago and didn't really get any effect (good or bad) but I didn't use it for that long.

I use sheisedo 50 on my forehead every day now.

Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:54 pm

It does take quite a while for hydroquinone to really start working but the effects can be rather dramatic over time. Obagi and SkinTx to name a couple are medical-grade skincare lines that have shown some great results. It's worth asking your dermatologist about. Make sure that you are getting at least a 4% concentration of hydroquinone in your lotion/serum/cream.

Best of luck!
yuhu32

free skin care · Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:49 pm

Micros really do help on light scars and also help speed the turning over process. Just take it slow and not too aggressive.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:12 pm

I've got a similar combo of problems (hyperpigmentation/melasma w/ minor acne, and my dermatologist warned me about microdermabrasion. If you're fair & prone to broken capillaries as I am, apparently microderm. can make the problem worse.

For me, glycolic peels (at 70%) plus the Obagi-C system have helped. I've also tried the salycic acid "beta peel", which had great results, but at the expense of my having to hide indoors for five days due to shedding - yuck! Not for the faint of heart, or those who have to appear in public soon.

free skin care · Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:19 pm

legallyblondemel wrote:

I've got a similar combo of problems (hyperpigmentation/melasma w/ minor acne, and my dermatologist warned me about microdermabrasion. If you're fair & prone to broken capillaries as I am, apparently microderm. can make the problem worse.

For me, glycolic peels (at 70%) plus the Obagi-C system have helped. I've also tried the salycic acid "beta peel", which had great results, but at the expense of my having to hide indoors for five days due to shedding - yuck! Not for the faint of heart, or those who have to appear in public soon.

Well, I'm prone to broken capillaries b/c of my medication right now, but usually I'm not. And I also have fair skin. I refuse to do a glycolic peel on my forehead, and like I mentioned, I'm a bit hesitant to try any Hydroquinone b/c I have read on the melasma board that it makes pigment worse in the end....I don't know though, when I used the Hydroquinone before it didn't make it worse or better, so maybe I'm okay on that end?

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