Melasma is a very common skin condition, and I’ve got my fair share too. Especially during and after my last pregnancy. For this post I tried to see if the microcurrent device ZIIP Halo could help. Since ZIIP has two programs especially developed for hyperpigmentation.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by ZIIP Beauty. And of course, all opinions are my own.
I’ll share my own experience of melasma, and my own before and after photos from using ZIIP specifically for this purpose during two weeks.
I’ll also go through why melasma is such a tough nut to crack. And how you can prevent it from developing or getting worse.
This is what my post will cover:
What is Melasma?
Melasma is a specific type of hyperpigmentation, characterized by symmetrical brown or brownish-grey patches on the face. In some cases it can also occur on the neck, arms or chest.
Melasma does not cause any pain or itching and is totally safe. But it can be quite annoying for those of us who have it. And it can make you look older even if you don’t have wrinkles.
People, especially women (about 90%), from Asia and Middle Eastern seem to be more prone to melasma. And very often, melasma is inherited. It is a complex type of hyperpigmentation which can have several causes besides genetics.
What triggers melasma?
As already mentioned, genetics play a big role. The other main contributors are hormones and light (uv-light and blue light).
Melasma is common among pregnant women due to the hormone estrogen. And among nursing women due to hormone progesterone. Melasma is also seen in some women who are on hormonal contraception.
Ultraviolet radiation plays a huge role since UV rays (as well as blue light) stimulate melanocyte growth and increase production of melanin. Which causes pigment.
This means sunlight, screens, birth control pills, pregnancy, and hormone therapy can all trigger melasma. Stress and thyroid disease are also thought to be causes of melasma.
Zinc deficiency is shown to be a contributor to melasma too and there is a significant relationship between melasma and low levels of zinc in the body. I recommend anyone who has melasma to have a blood test to see zinc status.
My own experience of melasma
My melasma started to arise on a small scale when I was about 35. And after my last pregnancy at 44, it got a lot worse. For me, it’s only been located at the top of the cheeks, going upwards like two bananas. Nowhere else on my face.
I tried red light that only made it worse. I have tried microneedling, but that did absolutely nothing. I have not tried any laser or IPL since those can make melasma worse. I have also tried tons of different serums and creams but none has been effective for me. Often they are also too harsh for my skin so I have had to stop using them.
After my last pregnancy, I haven’t tried anything except for ZIIP Halo. And during this time, and a couple of years ahead, I’m breastfeeding big time. The breastfeeding hormones are of course my big challenge when it comes to my melasma. And I must admit i was skeptical if i would see any results at all with ZIIP.
Tip: See my post about busy mom hacks if you are short on time just as I am these days.
Does microcurrent help with hyperpigmentation?
In general, at-home-microcurrent-devices won’t help with hyperpigmentation. But the device ZIIP Halo has two programs that are especially developed to even out skin tone. It can therefore help with melasma and other hyperpigmentation issues. ZIIP Halo has also been tested in a clinical study to improve hyperpigmentation (as well as wrinkle improvement).
To learn more about what ZIIP is, I recommend you check out my previous blog post about ZIIP. It goes into details about this device and the different programs it offers. I’ll also go through how it can help tighten and plump for skin, and give you a natural face lift.
How I used ZIIP Halo for melasma
There are two programs for uneven skin tone; Electric tone and Problem solver. Problem solver is mainly for acne but has been shown to be very powerful against melasma and other skin disorders such as rosacea. I used both of them (one each time), every other day, for two weeks straight.
Since I only have melasma on the top of my cheeks, I only used the programs for two minutes in total per session. One minute per cheek.
Before I used these targeted treatments, I did a session with the program Founder’s favorite. This program only has nanocurrent which helps with skin regeneration and will therefore help with any process of skin improvement.
My results: Before & After photos
So these are my personal results after two weeks. I must say that I am both surprised and impressed. I actually didn’t expect much at all in two weeks, but I got a clear reduction of my melasma.
This has motivated me to continue with these programs. And I wished I had tried this sooner!
Discount code
If you want to try ZIIP for yourself, the code ZIIPWITHANN will give you 10 % off, year round.
If you live in the US you’ll shop your here at ZIIP Beauty. If you live elsewhere, go to Currentbody here.
I hope you found this post helpful! As always, let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Until next time, love your skin!