I love the sun, but the sun does not love me. I am from the generation where we went to the tanning bed in high school. At the time we thought we were not damaging our skin because we were told tanning beds were much safer than the sun and it was a responsible way to be tan. In the south, we all love to be tan!
In my early 30's I started noticing sun spots on my face. This was so upsetting because sun spots can age you faster than wrinkles. I hate to wear foundation and nobody wants to walk around with spots and blotches on their face. I went to many different spas and I was told different things. I finally went to the dermatologist. They told me it was melasma. Melasma is basically caused by female hormones and there is not really a cure, per se. The dermatologist told me that Vi Peels might work. I spent several hundred dollars and never saw any significant results from the Vi Peels. I was frustrated! I started researching laser treatments. Some of my friends said they had good results with lasers. I figured I would give it a go so I had the Limelight laser procedure done a couple times. This is a light pulse laser. I thought I was seeing major results. Unfortunately, the results were not lasting and it ended up damaging my skin more than helping. The spots not only came back worse, but they were more blotchy. I also started noticing white spots on my skin. Again, more money spent and it made my skin worse. Soooooo frustrating!
A couple of my friend's have been going to a place called The Skin Clinics so I thought I would give it a whirl. They have a nurse on staff and examined my skin thoroughly. (They offer free consults!) They were very honest and said that the depigmentation is likely permanent and was caused by the laser. I do have sun spots, which you can treat with laser, but I also have melasma. Hence, there is not an easy fix.
I have currently teamed up with The Skin Clinics to try a new product regime and treatment plan of peels and facials. I will keep you all posted on my progress. Pictured below are my before pictures and I hope these look much better in a few months. If you suffer from melasma, please do not get laser treatment until you do major research go to someone who has a history with treating your skin. Everyone's skin and reactions are different. Make sure to go to someone who will develop a game plan unique to you and your skin! Consults are a must before doing anything to your skin! If it sounds too easy and too good to be true, it probably is...
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