I still remember how I use to love summer and my beautiful tan, especially on my face.
My olive skin tone gets a great golden tan and I use to love to sport a healthy glow. My face was my main priority, no sunblock, just a hat to protect my hair from frying.
My complexion without makeup has always been ghostly, almost ill looking. I've always had to wear makeup to look decent, so summer was my time to change and look naturally healthy.
Little did I know that all those years, all those summers, I was provoking what today is my battle with melasma.
Although some of us are more prone to melasma genetically, I still wonder if I could have avoided my condition. Taking a closer look at my family, I have noticed that my main spot (lentigo), is also present in my father and brother, but located near their temple, almost going unnoticed, especially in a male.
So for those of you going through the same struggles with melasma...Do other members of your immediate family have any signs of melasma?
I have ruled out birth control and hormone dysfunction as my causes.
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Updating my progress I am glad to inform everyone that this summer has been a success and I have not noticed any further darkening.
I wear sunblock and my spf waterproof makeup even to the beach (where I live).
At night I continue to apply as directed by my doctor, my lightening cream with 4% hydroquinone, and afterwards I apply Quintessence Serum C Antioxidant and Firming Drops, also recommended by my doctor. I thought the latter of the 2 was an additional product he was adding on to my tab to increase his income, but it has proven to be an amazing product and one which I will definetly add to my regular regimen even after my treatment is completed.
By the way a little goes a long way and the bottle although small last for awhile, I have had mine since April and is only half empty. The ingredients are Glycerine, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Asorbic Acid, Aqua, Propylene Glycol, phenosythenol, Trietthanolamine.
I need to schedule a follow up appointment with my doctor at the end of the summer.
