And I don't have budget for laser also

nothing topical seems to improve my melasma so I’m at the point now I just want to hit it with a cosmetic treatment and then try maintenance with topicals . I’m really not sure where to start or what others have had success with. Any help would be appreciated. Lasers face peels I’ll consider anything

Hi everyone,

I have a similar skin tone to Zendaya (don’t know the technical shade but my skin tone is exactly like hers) and i’ve had dark spots on the temples of my forehead for going on 9 years. I’ve tried just about everything besides a laser because most things aren’t recommended for my skin type or i’m afraid that it’ll make them worse.

I just started currently using Tret 0.025% and want to eventually move up to 0.5%.

I’m wondering what prescription would help more (the two in the title) i’ve tried a non prescription version of hydraquionone before and it was ok, the problem is i don’t like that it lightens everything else too, which sort of makes my skin also not even. Is that just the cost of using it. I’ve also read that prescription azelaic acid can produce the same results but at a slower rate without bleaching just that spot, does anyone have any experience with that

TLdr: i use tret and im wondering if i should use azelaic acid or hydraquionone additionally, but i don’t like that hydraquionone makes skin that’s fine brighter.

I’ve fought worsening and improving melasma since I was pregnant with my now almost 6 year old. Adding two other children since then, breastfeeding all three of them for 16 months each has had my hormones all out of sorts on a constant basis, living in Atlanta with my 2 oldest had sun exposure at a constant unavoidable high. I’d tame it and then one day without a hat would undo months of progress. It got to its worst at the end of this summer, while still breastfeeding, going through a relocation, etc. The before pictures are September 1. The afters are today, October 26. I’m so glad to have the befores of the flare at what felt like my lowest and its worst.

AM Routine:
1x 225mg oral txa.
Water wash.
Sunday Riley Pink Drink.
Eucerin serum.
15% Azelaic acid.
La Roche Posay tinted physical sunscreen.

Repeat layer of Eucerin serum mid-day when possible.

PM Routine:
1x 225mg oral txa.
Wash with Cerave hydrating facial cleanser.
CosRX snail mucin.
Tretinoin 0.1.
Drmtlgy night peptide cream