Best way to lighten upper lip melasma?

[Anonymous]

I swear my upper lip is getting darker and more noticeable by the day (especially in warm indoor light) and it’s totally embarrassing - my 7yo pointed it out the other day. I’m 48.

What has worked for you? And how long did it take? Sunscreen alone (3x daily) is not making any difference. Should I be using zinc?

Ideally Im looking for something I can do at home while possibly trying to get an appointment to see a derm.

Thank you so much!

[Anonymous]

What helped me:

Switching birth control to a low estrogen pill (Yaz)
Retin-A/Tretinoin
Daily Sunscreen
Always wear a hat

It took about 2 years to completely go away.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and the sunscreen I use is Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen.

[Anonymous]

I had some darkening areas above my lip, and the dermatologist prescribed a special cream. But she was very clear I could only use it for a certain number of weeks before it started to cause problems – so I filled the prescription, but it sits unused in my closet. Sorry for a probably very unhelpful answer but I wanted to let you know that there is something a dermatologist can prescribe.

I upped up my sunscreen use and started using skinceuticals discoloration defense – I think maybe it helped?

[Anonymous]

Are you on birth control? I can't use birth control for this reason.

Tretinoin helped mine a lot, plus a lot of peels and sunscreen.

[Anonymous]

Tretinoin + hydroquinone (for a short time) - get from Musely telehealth
Tranexamic acid orally (also from Musely)
Exfoliate with AHA a few times a week
Sunscreen

Mine completely went away

[Anonymous]

Cosmelan peel! Find a provider who offers it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had some darkening areas above my lip, and the dermatologist prescribed a special cream. But she was very clear I could only use it for a certain number of weeks before it started to cause problems – so I filled the prescription, but it sits unused in my closet. Sorry for a probably very unhelpful answer but I wanted to let you know that there is something a dermatologist can prescribe.

I upped up my sunscreen use and started using skinceuticals discoloration defense – I think maybe it helped?

What was the “special cream?”

[Anonymous]

I'm early 40s and I dealt with this for 2 years (2020-2021). I don't know but it just went away on its own. It was so embarrassing, but I probably noticed it more than a random person would. I tried a few different dark spot lightening serums but they didn't work. The only thing that worked was time for some reason. I'm sorry this isn't much help but that's my story!

[Anonymous]

-Vitamin C
-Sunscreen, including on your lips and around your mouth. I also use chapstick with sunscreen in it when I'll be outside, and I make sure it does AROUND my lips.
-wear a hat in the sun
-retinol

This has helped my melasma quite a bit.

[Anonymous]

BBL treatments significantly reduced my melasma. Of course I also wear sunscreen daily and hats when I am in the sun.

[Anonymous]

Your dermatologist will help. Everything else isn’t nearly as effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and the sunscreen I use is Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen.

Thank you! I will try this.

[Anonymous]

My mom used hydroquinone cream and it worked well for her. The patches haven’t come back.

[Anonymous]

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair cream dramatically improved my melasma. I used heaping amounts daily, and my dermatologist noticed the difference. We were both surprised with how well it worked.