Im on a pause....

Long time since my last update!

I didnt feel my last bit of Pigmanorm helped at all, and I took a pause. No flaking at all for 2 weeks:D

I havent gotten my new tube yet, so Im just waiting.

I cant go in the drugstore at get it right away. Small country and strict rules. Im sure they are made for a reason. I did get a prescription from my hospital in mail, so Im very happy! Its not the normal rutine. 

This is how I normally can get a hold of ONE tube:

Doctor appointment:  14-21 days waiting  About 50 dollar

Doctor refferal in writing to the hospital:  3-4 months waiting   About 50 dollar

The prescription is printed on a special prescription for animals. VERY spesial treatment I would say!

No drugstore have it in stock:  1-2 weeks   Price tube: About 80 dollar

A new tube? Same routine all over again.

I can get Obagi Nu Derm today if I want for about 1000 dollar, a lot of money.  

Pigmanorm is one cream(easy), somewhat stronger, a lot cheaper and doesnt have extreme sideeffects. ...but Obagi did get the results I wanted - quite fast.. ugh.. Im not sure what to do.. 

I want to be free of this dicease!!

I gonna start over next wednesday!

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My town by the North Atlantic Ocean:)

Halloween!!

My oldest boy dressed like a zombie and had a 1,5 hour trip around the block with his scary friends. 

No tricks by the way, no no no.. just be polite and everybody gets candy;)

He got enough candy for a while and its like this every year. Generous neighbours:)

Mom, dad and baby brother had enough fun with a pumpkin. Scary? Not this one!

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Three weeks in..

Red on the spots

Uh, slowly progress girls! 

It seems like my camera has lighten my forehead, Im not this pale?! I cant see any difference daily, - thankfully I got a camera to document this, Im sure I would have given up a long time ago without it!

My skin got irritated again and I havent used it every day. Its normal, and its recommended to slow down a day or two when it happens. Still some flaking, but never in the same amount as Obagi. 

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The horrible storm "Sandy/Frankenstorm" in western US is hitting right now, 

we are following closely on TV and net. Scary!!

We hope everybody gets thru alive!

Its winter, and the candle lights are going to be used daily here, cosy and relaxing ;)

Im gonna continue yet another week on Pigmanorm;) See ya!

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The snow arrived no matter what!

Brrr...!

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Link to basic info about Melasma

Im googling from time to time, and today I came opon this site. The basic about Melasma updated 2012 ;)

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I havent been to the drugstore yet, - better get moving! Hopefully it doesnt start snowing, but it did hail a couple of hours ago...bad bad bad.. I havent spike tires yet, so the snow better stay away! 

Psst! Its easy to leave a comment you dont need to confirm, - or just choose what you think below ;)

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Two weeks in..

This picture is taken from an different angle!

Gaahh! Im starting to loose my morals!

 I havent been consistant this week, used it only about 50%. My spots are stuck!

Luckily the sun isnt shining to much or strong anymore, so I can be outside with good conscience. 

It is mid fall and the forrest is yellow, red and brown, my favorite time of the year! Our temperature is approx 4-8 C during the day but falling weekly, and next week we will change our cars tires to winter, spike-tires(state law). We might see snow any day.. brrr...

I still need to use sunscreen throught the winter, that so weird! We normally dont do that cause we dont get any color. The sun is "cold" and feels just annoying cause its low in the horision. Difficult to drive at times, - dont see anything! Scared to hit an pedestrian any day! 

Im just emptying my Pigmanorm, and need to go to the drugstore with my new prescripion from my doctor.

My Pigmanorm has lasted 6 months and now its starting to get "old" brownish cream. Maybe its why I dont get any big effect? 

The same happende with Obagi, so be aware of expire dates!

Pleace write to me if you have any questions, and pimp my morals ;)

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One week in..

It has an effect, but had hoped for more! Im a little red on the last picture to, because I flaked 

and got quite red a couple of days this last week.  

I must try one more week ;)

This is what I use daily right now. Morning and night.
* Tretinoin cream (Retin A)
* Pigmanorm
* Obagi sunscreen SPF 35

Pleace contribute if you got pictures, or write a comment about your experience of these products :)

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Today..

This is me today.. Im still white in the middle of my forehead, pretty sure its a part of this disorder now.

Im using Pigmanorm(5% Hydroquinone) right now, and have been using this occasionally through the summer. 

I wonder if I must use Tretinoin(Retin A) at the same time..

Im starting today and Im gonna take daily pictures and post a follow-up in a week :) 

According to the spot I believed had dissapeared.. well Im not so possitive, but still dont know what happend. Im gonna watch it a bit more :)

Do you have before - after picture of you treatment? Pleace send me a picture! I can edit it if you cant do it yourself. (making it anonymous, just using a part of it)

mymelasma@gmail.com

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Obagi Nu Derm flaking

Visible side-effect. 

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My treatment using Obagi Nu Derm

Obagi NuDerm is quite expensive. It didnt take away my dermal Melasma, but faded it a lot as you can see. But it did remove epidermis Melasma that probably was hormon-related after giving birth - for sure. 

My skin wasnt as oily as seen on first picture, I had just put lotion on it!

The biggest difference in color happend in the first 14 days.

To sum up this skin system - excessive flaking, redness and soreness. Some days very bad, some days better. But it did help, and it did reduce wrinkles and tighten my skin. So Im very satisfied.

I can tell you that even a part of this dermal Melasma over left eyebrow disappeared just recently(about 14 days ago). I peeled of a thicker skinflake than normally and it was colorfree underneath. I was kinda shocked!

Usually the flaking is thin skin, so I cant see any huge daily difference of flaking. This flake seemed like several flaking-layers in one.
I didnt get sore on this spot. 

Im gonna watch it carefully a while to see if its gone forever, cause I wont tell lies about this or give anyone false expectations.

Maybe I just desperately want to see difference in my Melasma and have been dreaming this?! 

I gonna try the same procedure on another part of my Melasma from tonight. Just to check if it really can happen again:)
Im gonna update!

http://www.obagi.com/patients/product-line/nu-derm


Update 28 may 2013, 2 years after use

This system helped me get rid of Chloasma(hormonrelated "Melasma") but didnt help for my Melasma. It did help reduce the spots but they reappar in the sun anyway. I did use it for 40 days, not 4 months that is recommended, be aware of that..  
My best advice, always use sunscreen - even on rainy days!
I hope you will find our way of handling this illness, Im still struggling;)
Pleace tell me your experience, girls around all the whole world stops by this post;)

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This was me - august 2011

Yeah.. I got it really bad!

I apologize for not plucking my eyebrows before I took this picture!
I was to busy worrying about my Melasma at the time.. ;)

My Melasma occured a month after my second birth january 2011. It wasnt just my forehead, but chin,
chick and some on upper lip. All affected area is this dark or darker than this picture.
The midpart of my forehead got lighter without any reason as seen on this picture. I have noticed this on some Melasma-pics online.
I guess its a part of the disorder..

In the beginning I believed I got the pregnancy mask(Chloasma), and Im sure I did.
(Brownish spots - Epidermis Melasma)
The darker spots over each eyebrow didnt completly go away, an did re-occer this year.
(Greyish spots - Dermis Melasma. Difficult to get rid of, no cure at this time..)

My normal summer skincolor is supposed to be like the color on right side of
the picture by my hairline. Im white, but get easily tan.

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 I used SPF 15 daily right away, but it didnt stop evolving. I used foundation on top every day to cover it.
I googled hyperpigmentation a lot during this summer and noticed is was an disorder.

My first treatment was fresh pineapple. I cut pieces of pineapple and rubbed the juice in my spots. (Im not sure it had an effect, I didnt have the patience to wait long. I had read this tip online)
I will share pictures of parts of my face showing the progress of getting pale using Obagi Nu Derm.
Its not a cure, but a bleach prosess using Hydroquinone and Tretinoin(Retin A). Hydroquinone might be harmful, so always check with our doctor before you start using it!

Always use high sunscreen if you believe you got this disorder. SPF 15 was to little, at least 30 and up, and the best protection sunscreen contains Zinc oxide, Titanium dioxide or Parsol 1789(avebensone).
I use Obagi SPF 35 with zinc. It isnt enought for me..

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Welcome to my blog!

Hi!

Im a woman from Norway who struggle with Melasma. I know im not alone in this world!
I live at the top of the world, cold klimat but the sun still shines occasionally;)

Be aware that Im not writing in my native language but use my english learned in school and after viewing american/britannic series/shows for two decades. Im sure it will occur many grammatical errors!

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