Addressing Melasma – My Hormonal Skin Journey
What is Melasma?
Before photos. The start of my LED Light Therapy journey with Buoy Spa
Did you notice during pregnancy that your skin started to present with a cluster of darker spots? Perhaps, like me, you didn't see any changes in your skin pigmentation until after giving birth. It was a beauty therapist who pointed out a rather large cluster of dark spots on my forehead to me. How did I miss this!? That was when I first learned about melasma. Not a word I had ever heard before. I was told it was a hormonal skin condition brought on by pregnancy. Once you spot melasma on your face, you can't 'un-spot' it. In fact, I then began to see it all over my face.
Melasma is a skin pigmentation issue characterised by dark spots (either brown or grey-brown patches). It is nicknamed the "mask of pregnancy". The most common areas of the face that melasma affects are the forehead, cheeks, nose and upper lip.
I initially treated the melasma on my forehead with a vitamin C anti-dark spot serum and at-home dermal rolling. Being consistent with at-home dermal rolling and using a targeted serum helped even out my skin tone, and I was happy with the results. After some time, however, I noticed more obvious dark spots surface (not so much a cluster), I referred to these as 'melasma'. I considered it easier to lump any uneven skin discolouration on my face as being caused by hormonal changes triggered during pregnancy and beyond.
Sun exposure and a lack of vigilance with sunscreen did indeed exacerbate the problem. I have a fair to medium complexion; I can certainly burn in the harsh New Zealand sun. Still, I can also tan quite nicely, too, so for the longest time, I was lazy with wearing sunscreen, but it gets to a point when you look in the mirror (usually after having a child) and feel aged in a myriad of ways.
The skin never lies – the dark under-eyes, the sunken, dull skin look, uneven pigmentation, the forehead wrinkles, the ever-expanding crow's feet. Yes, it's all part of ageing, but I swear having children accelerates the process tenfold, where one day you wake up and look about eight years older than your biological age. But, I digress.... back to melasma.
Not only do hormonal changes trigger melasma, but the sun is also a culprit. Not to be confused with hyperpigmentation, which is the darkening of the skin due to excess melanin, which can be caused by various factors – sun damage, inflammation, and even certain medications.
This is where exploring red light therapy as a supplementary treatment for melasama comes in.
Exploring LED Light Therapy with Buoy Spa
My skin concerns extend beyond hormonal pigmentation issues – melasma, to include overall uneven skin tone, reduced collagen, and fine lines and wrinkles.
Now I know as a mum it’s hard (near-impossible) to carve out ‘me-time’ let alone time to commit to a series of treatments. For me to complete a cycle of 12 (the recommended number) of LED light treatments with Buoy Spa, I had to fit these into my mornings, right after daycare drop-offs. Buoy Spa were incredibly flexible with me, and I managed to squeeze in two appointments per week over the course of six weeks. A few of my LED sessions extended beyond the 30-minute appointment time to include an additional brightening facial (this was amazing and produced immediate results – check out the photos below). If you're not adding a facial treatment to your LED sessions, then the time spent in the spa is very efficient.
Red Light Therapy for Melasma
LED Phototherapy
The LED machine that Buoy Spa uses is the Dermalux Flex MD, a premium, medical-grade LED light therapy system designed to deliver clinically proven wavelengths to improve your skin health and help rejuvenate the skin. LED stands for (light-emitting diodes) and uses different wavelengths (colours) to treat various skin conditions and promote healing. LED light therapy is non-invasive, making it safe and gentle for most skin types. It helps stimulate collagen production, reduces inflammation, can target acne (with a blue light setting), and enhances skin radiance.
So, although my primary skin concern was melasma, I was also keen to see the additional benefits that LED could offer – like targeting fine lines and dullness, and encouraging brighter and more radiant skin (who doesn't want that!?). Plus – having 20 minutes of uninterrupted me time, as a mum, was most welcome. To be able to switch off and totally relax was in itself a very pampering experience. This was good for my mood and overall well-being.
It's important to note that there is no guarantee that LED light therapy can erase melasma, nor is there evidence to support it as a primary treatment for melasma, but all the additional benefits made the treatment course appealing to me, and if some of my skin discolouration could be reduced after 12 treatments, I'd be happy!
Midway point. Pre- brightening mask facial and LED treatment
Brightening mask – with the latest facial tool, which uses sound and frequency vibrations to deeply penetrate the product into your skin.
Post LED light treatment and brightening facial.
Post LED light treatment and brightening facial. Week 4 of my treatment course
The best LED wavelengths for treating melasma
According to the Maysama Blog, the best LED wavelengths for treating melasma are (and this does depend on your skin tone to start with, i.e., how fair or dark-skinned you are).
Red Light (620–660 nm), penetrates the skin at a more superficial level, usually up to 2-3 millimetres. It’s typically used for skin rejuvenation, targeting conditions like acne, wrinkles, and surface-level hyperpigmentation. Red Light is mainly absorbed by chromophores (light-absorbing molecules) in the skin, such as haemoglobin and melanin. This light was used primarily throughout my 12 treatments.
Near-Infrared Light (800-1000 nm): NIR light is commonly used for pain relief, muscle recovery, and deeper inflammatory conditions, but it’s also valuable for hyperpigmentation treatments in melanin-rich skin because it bypasses the melanin in the epidermis in dark skin tones, reducing the risk of melanin overproduction. Near-infrared light is largely absorbed by water and penetrates deeper into tissues, where it influences mitochondrial activity, promotes cell regeneration, and reduces inflammation.
The conclusion of my 6-week / 12-session LED Journey
Concluding thoughts
As with most things in life – there is no 'one-size fits all' to tackling melasma. For me, it's definitely been a journey. Starting with serums and at-home dermal rolling, to upgrading to consistent spa facial treatments. I'm a huge advocate of good skincare and a solid skincare routine: this includes properly cleansing my face every morning and evening, and using active ingredients in my serums. I also switch up my skincare depending on the season, as I find I need more nourishing products in winter and more hydrating products in summer. The biggest skincare lesson I've learnt at 37, is the importance of a good quality sunscreen – and actually applying it daily (this means through winter, too.)
If you're considering red light therapy to help treat your melasma or another skin condition – you might want to check out the following article on Maysama.
Overall, my LED red light therapy journey with Buoy Spa was really enjoyable, relaxing, and results-focused. My skin appears clearer, brighter and more rejuvenated.
"One of the key benefits of LED is the minimal downtime or aftercare required. Other than applying SPF and staying hydrated, it’s essentially a “red carpet ready” treatment".
Forehead focus – at the start of my LED journey. You'll see a spattering of dark pigmentation clusters. My skin is also lacklustre
Forehead focus – at the end of my 12-session LED skin journey. My melasma appears less noticable and my overall skintone appears more even. My skin also looks brighter and more dewy.
(Note: My 12th LED session did not include a brightening facial, so this photo was taken directly after just the LED treatment.)
Beautiful skin requires commitment, not a miracle
