There is no doubt that there are numerous topical treatments on the market aimed at fading dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and melasma. Some require a prescription and supervision and some do not. These topicals are often intended to whiten the skin and can be quite harsh as a result. People with sensitive skin sometimes have a hard time tolerating them, and in a terrible irony, these treatments often make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which you probably know is not a good thing if you have this skin condition (since the sun makes it worse). ) Plus, these topical treatments are said to thin the skin over time, which could make an already difficult problem worse.
Therefore, many people are interested in treating melasma from the inside out. They hope that if they take the right vitamins and supplements, they can see improvement and can avoid harsh treatments that work directly on the skin. People often ask me which, if any, vitamins work best for this type of condition. While I’m certainly not advocating just taking a bunch of supplements and hoping for the best (as this could be potentially dangerous), I’ll discuss this more in the next article.
Vitamins often used for melasma: Many of the supplements used for this condition are antioxidants. This is taken in the hope that they can counteract sun damage. The most commonly used are vitamin C and vitamin E. C is also sometimes taken with an iron supplement because it is said to counteract excess copper, which is considered by many to be a potential contributor to hyperpigmentation.
Folic acid is also sometimes tested because it is theorized that women who are pregnant or taking birth control pills sometimes have a deficiency. People often take vitamins that are generally good for the skin in the hope that this will also be effective for uneven skin tone. Some examples are aloe vera, biotin, and coenzyme Q10.
Supplements intended to counteract a fungal or Candida problem: There are some people who strongly believe that melasma is related to yeast overgrowth, candida, or fungal problems. Therefore many supplements tested here are meant to address and counteract this. Examples in this category are MSM, grape seed extract, grapefruit seed extract, garlic, and oil or oregano. Of course, if you suspect you have a medical problem, it’s a good idea to ask your doctor rather than just guess at this.
Combination of vitamins with topical treatments: In my opinion, it is worth trying the right vitamin for your situation. But I see way too many people launching a bunch of different supplements for this condition and when they do or don’t get a result they have no idea what works and what doesn’t because they are using so many different things. This doesn’t really do much good. Also people taking large doses of things could do more harm than good.
I believe that both topicals and vitamins can have their place, although I do not 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’s probably a yeast or fungus problem. Sometimes, it is my opinion that there is a possible hormonal problem. And other times, it seems to be a dermatological problem. And some lucky people (like me) have more than one problem at play that can make treatment more difficult and long-lasting.
For me, the combination of topicals with the judicious use of the right vitamins and supplements has produced the best results. It is important to discuss any concerns with your doctor and to be patient. Melasma treatments can take a while before you see the results you hoped for, but in my experience, if you stay the course and find the right treatments, results can show up eventually.