There's no question that there are numbers topical treatments on the market meant to fade dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and melasma.
Some require a doctor's prescription and supervision and some do not.
These topicals are often meant to bleach the skin, and as a result, they can be quite harsh.
People with sensitive skin sometimes have difficulty tolerating them and, in an awful irony, these treatments often make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which you probably know isn't good if you have this skin condition (since the sun makes it worse.
) Also, these topical treatments are said to thin the skin over time, potentially making an already difficult problem even worse.
So, many people become interested in trying to treat melasma from the inside out.
They hope that if they take the right vitamins and supplements, they might see an improvement and can avoid the harsh treatments that work directly on the skin.
People often ask me which, if any vitamins work best for this type this condition.
Although I certainly don't advocate just taking a bunch of supplements and hoping for the best (as this could potentially be dangerous,) I will discuss this more in the following article.
Vitamins Often Used For Melasma: Many of the supplements used for this condition are antioxidants.
This are taken in the hopes that they can counter sun damage.
The most commonly used are vitamin C and vitamin E.
C is also sometimes taken with an iron supplement because this is said to counter too much copper, which many feel is a possible contributor to hyper pigmentation.
Folic acid is also sometimes tried because it's theorized that women who are pregnant or on birth control pills sometimes have a deficiency.
People will often take vitamins that are known to generally be good for the skin hoping that this will also be effective for the uneven skin tone.
Examples are aloe vera, biotin, and co-enzyme Q10.
Supplements Meant To Counter A Fungal Or Candida Issue: There are some people who feel strongly that melasma is related to yeast overgrowth, candida, or fungal issues.
So, many supplements that are tried here are meant to address and counter this.
Examples in this category are MSM, grape seed extract, grapefruit seed extract, garlic, and oil or oregano.
Of course, if you suspect that you have a medical issue, it's a good idea to ask your doctor rather than to just guess at this.
Combining Vitamins With Topical Treatments: In my opinion, the right vitamin for your situation is worth a try.
But I see too many people throwing a bunch of different supplements at this condition and, when they do or don't get a result, they have no idea what is working and what isn't because they are using so many different things.
This really doesn't do much good.
I also people taking huge dosages of things would could do more harm than good.
I believe that both topicals and vitamins can have their place, although I don't advocate harsh products.
But, it only makes sense that you have to have the right treatment for the right cause.
From my own experience and research, I believe that different people have different causes for their melasma.
Sometimes, it likely is a yeast or fungal issue.
Sometimes, it's my opinion that there's potential hormonal issue.
And other times, it appears to be a dermatological issue.
And some lucky folks (like myself) have more than one issue at play which can make treatment more difficult and long lasting.
For me, combining topicals with the sensible use of the right vitamins and supplements has produced the best results.
It's important to discuss any concerns with your doctor and to have patience.
Melasma treatments can take a while before you see the results that you've been hoping for, but it's my experience that if you stay the course and find the right treatments, the results can eventually appear.