I am new here & very interested in removing the hair from my upper lip & a few strays(6) here & there. My problem is that I have Melasma on my upper lip also. Would electrolysis or laser be the way for me to go? I would prefer the electrolysis for the permanent removal. I so want this hair gone…but since I have not found a cure for Melasma, I don’t want to make it worse (darker or more of it). Can anyone offer me advice on this combination problem?
I feel very lucky to have stumbled upon this site. I’ve been suffering alone for so long & even hate to leave the house as I get stared at like a freak. I currently lighten hair with
bleach and end up with a blonde stash instead of a dark one.
Thank-you. I appreciate the time you all seem to take with your answers.
Who diagnosed the darkened area as melasma?
How did you get the idea that there is no treatment for melasma?
For your unwanted hair, try electrolysis.
For your melasma, speak with a dermatologist. There are plenty of products that lighten the skin, speed exfoliation and inhibit melanocyte production. Just make sure to wear sunscreen.
Melasma is a skin condition that mostly affects women, it causes dark patches or pigment. It’s different from age or sun spots. Many times, it’s hormonal & can be causes by birth control pills & other meds. In my case, it may be hormonal as I am perimenopause (pre-menopause).
To Arlene,
I have tried Obagi & tretonin, doesn’t seem to make much difference. In many Melasma sufferers, hydrocodone can make the area darker.I use LaRochePosey Anthelios Fluide Extreme 50 sun screen. I called & spoke to the Electrolysis Salon today. The lady has been doing electrolysis for 16 years & seems to have many sastified customers. She said she uses all three methods and it depends on the person as to which method she uses. She called her needle a probe. I’ll have to do more reading to see which method would be best for me. I’m wondering how many treatments it would take for an upper lip? Any estimates on number of visits??
it takes 9-12 months of consistent treatments to be done as long as you go in as soon as you see new hair pop up. consistency is important, which will reduce your overall number of visits.
You listed some good products and I am sorry that nothing has worked for you. If the pigment problems were primarily superficial (epidermal), those products would most likely have helped you. Since you are probably over 40, and cell renewal slows down, try using an AHA exfoliating product and sunscreen is a must.
You mentioned Obaji and am wondering how you found the product. Dr. Obaji has developed products and a technique to help those who have a lot of melanocyte activity. He offers courses to dermatologists and his students learn about the Blue Peel procedure that might be helpful to you. Do a search for him and you should be able to find a listing of dermatologists who use his methods.
How many electrolysis visits will you need? It all depends. Too many variables will determine that but I suggest you start with a 15 minute appointment and take it from there. If initially, you go weekly, you might be finished in about a year, more or less. As treatment progresses, your visits will be less frequent.
Visit several electrologists for the complimentary consultation and let us know how you are progressing.
How many electrolysis sessions YOU will need is dependent on how much hair you have, the structure of your hair, what method(s) you used to disguise the hair before starting electrolysis (waxing? tweezing? etc.), your hormonal vulnerability, your tolerance to the sensation of electrolysis, the speed of the electrologist and her skill level.
My average client is usually finished in a period of 9-12 months having had between 8-15 treatments. Severe cases can be 20-25 sessions (20-30 minutes) spread out over a year to 15 months. I like to give people some numbers as long as they keep “real” and understand all those variables listed in the above paragraph. I’m sure I left out a few other variables, but you get the idea. You may need clean-up sessions over the years to get new hair that was not problem hair when you started this process. So keep in mind that you may need your electrologist now and then for a few surprises that pop up over the years.