Melasma in Women With Darker Skin Tones: Here’s Why It’s Often Worse (With Images)
Melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation that occurs more commonly in people with darker skin tones. Explore the causes and learn how to treat melasma.
Tri-Luma
Used for Skin Discoloration
Used for Skin Discoloration
Tri-Luma is a cream that's used for melasma, a condition that causes dark patches on the face. It contains three active ingredients: fluocinolone (a steroid), hydroquinone (a melanin synthesis inhibitor), and tretinoin (a retinoid). They help lessen skin inflammation, lighten the skin, and promote new skin growth to help improve skin appearance. Tri-Luma is applied onto the dark patches on the face once a day. But side effects like skin redness and burning are common. It can take about 1 to 2 months of treatment to see results. Tri-Luma is only approved for adults. It's not approved to treat hyperpigmentation due to other reasons.
What is Tri-Luma?
What is Tri-Luma used for?
- Melasma of the face
How Tri-Luma works
Tri-Luma is a combination of three ingredients. These ingredients work together to help treat melasma on the face.
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Fluocinolone is a corticosteroid. It works to lessen skin irritation and inflammation.
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Hydroquinone is a melanin synthesis inhibitor. It works by blocking the skin cells from making melanin, which is what gives color to your skin. This helps fade dark spots.
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Tretinoin is a retinoid. It's a form of vitamin A that helps speed up skin cell turnover. This helps replace old skin cells with new, healthy ones.
When does Tri-Luma start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Tri-Luma |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Corticosteroid / Melanin synthesis inhibitor / Retinoid |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Tri-Luma
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Skin redness (41%)
- Skin peeling or flaking (38%)
- Burning feeling on the skin (18%)
- Dry skin (14%)
- Itchy skin (11%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Acne
- Skin irritation
- Spider veins
- Extra sensitive skin
- Numb feeling on the skin
- Changes to the color of your skin
Tri-Luma serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reaction: swelling of your face, eyes, lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing; severe itching; skin rash; hives
- Severe skin reaction: severe burning, swelling, or skin irritation
When do Tri-Luma possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Brief skin reaction (redness, burning, itching)
Dry skin
Brief skin peeling
The following Tri-Luma side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Redness, peeling, drying, itching, or burning of the skin
Less common
Darkening of normal skin color
irritated skin
rash
Incidence not known
Blistering, crusting, or flaking of the skin
burning and itching of the skin with pinhead-sized red blisters
lightening of normal skin color
redness and scaling around the mouth
severe redness, soreness, or scaling of the skin
thinning of the skin with easy bruising
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$294.57
GoodRx discount
$227.92
Pros and cons of Tri-Luma
Pros
- Only need to apply once a day
- Combines three separate medications into one
Cons
- Might take 1 to 2 months of use to see results
- Can cause redness and peeling skin
Pharmacist tips for Tri-Luma
- How to use Tri-Luma: Use Tri-Luma once a day, at least 30 minutes before bed. Gently wash and pat dry the melasma areas on your face. Then, apply a thin layer of the cream to the areas and about one-half inch around each area. Lightly rub it in into an even layer. Afterwards, wash your hands to prevent it from getting in your eyes or anywhere else.
- When you apply Tri-Luma, be sure to avoid the areas near your eyes, nose, mouth, and any open wounds. Also don't put the medication into the vagina. These areas are sensitive and can get irritated from the medication.
- Don't cover the treated skin with a tight bandage after applying Tri-Luma. This can raise your risk of skin reactions like burning, itching, irritation, dryness, and thinning of the skin.
- Don't apply Tri-Luma more than once a day. Using too much or using it too often won't give you faster or better results. Instead, it could irritate your skin even more.
- Itching, dry skin, or a burning feeling on the skin are common side effects after applying Tri-Luma. These skin reactions are usually mild. But call your care team if they get worse or become uncomfortable. Also call them if you notice a rash because this might be a sign of an allergic reaction.
- Maintain a good skincare routine. It should include a gentle cleanser and moisturizer. Using a moisturizer in the morning after you wash your face can help relieve dry skin from Tri-Luma. It can also help protect skin irritation from hot or cold weather. Keep using moisturizer as needed during the day if your skin stays dry. It's also okay to use make up over the treated area during the day.
- Be sure to use sunscreen every day and wear protective clothing outside, even during the winter and on overcast days. Tri-Luma contains tretinoin, which can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. This can make it easier to get sunburns. Also, the sun and other sources of ultraviolet (UV) light can make your melasma worse.
- Avoid harsh skin products while using Tri-Luma. Don't use medicated or abrasive soaps or cleansers or skin care products with alcohol. Also don't use other retinol products unless a healthcare professional says it's okay. These can sting, dry out your skin, or irritate your skin more. Ask your pharmacist or a dermatologist for help choosing gentle skin care products.
- Tri-Luma might improve the appearance of melasma, but it isn't a cure. Once you stop using this medication, your melasma might come back. Speak with your prescriber or dermatologist about long-term treatment options for your melasma.
- If you use birth control: Talk to your primary care provider or obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) about your birth control options. It might be a good idea to use a non-hormonal option. Hormonal birth control, like the pill, can cause your melasma to get worse.
- If you become pregnant while using Tri-Luma: Tell your prescriber right away. This medication might harm the baby and raise the risk of birth defects or death.
- If you plan to breastfeed: Talk to your prescriber or a lactation consultant. There isn't enough information to know if Tri-Luma is safe to use while breastfeeding. In general, it's important to be careful to avoid getting the medication onto your child. Your prescriber or a lactation expert can give you more guidance and help you choose safe feeding options.
- How to store Tri-Luma: Keep the tube of cream in the refrigerator (36ºF to 46ºF). Make sure not to let the medication freeze.
Risks and warnings for Tri-Luma
Tri-Luma can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Allergic reaction
- Risk factors: Sulfite allergy
Tri-Luma contains a sulfite, which can rarely cause a serious allergic reaction. Let your healthcare team know if you have a sulfite allergy.
Get medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction after using Tri-Luma. Watch for hives, a rash, swelling of the lips or tongue, or trouble breathing.
Blue-black darkening of the skin
- Risk factors: Black people
Tri-Luma contains hydroquinone, which might cause blue-black patches to appear on the skin over time. This might be more common if you're Black, but it can also happen to people of any race. In some cases, the discoloration can become permanent.
Call your care team as soon as you can if you notice unusual changes in your skin color or if your melasma gets worse. This effect might be easier to manage when it's caught early.
Change in adrenal hormone levels
- Risk factors: Using Tri-Luma for a long time
Tri-Luma contains fluocinolone, a steroid. Using steroid medications for a long time can cause more of the medication to be absorbed into your body. In rare cases, this can affect your body's natural adrenal hormone levels.
Changes in your adrenal hormone levels can lead to high blood sugar. It might also lead to symptoms of Cushing's syndrome, like muscle weakness and easy bruising. And if you suddenly stop using Tri-Luma after long-term use, you might feel very tired, weak, or have stomach upset.
Be sure to use Tri-Luma as directed. Don't use it for a longer period of time than your prescriber instructed.
Skin irritation and other skin reactions
- Risk factors: Weather extremes, like very hot or very cold
Skin irritation is common with Tri-Luma. This can include skin redness, peeling, dry skin, itching, and mild burning. They're usually mild and happen where you applied the medication on the skin.
Tell your care team if these skin reactions become severe, bother you too much, or don't go away. It's especially important to let them know if these reactions happen on areas where you didn't apply Tri-Luma.
Tri-Luma dosage
The average cost for 1 tube of 30g of 0.05% of Tri-Luma is $227.92 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 22.63% off the average retail price of $294.57. 
Tube of cream
Tube of cream| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30g of 0.05% | 1 tube | $227.92 | $227.92 |
Interactions between Tri-Luma and other drugs
Tri-Luma may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Tri-Luma. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aminocaproic Acid
- Aprotinin
- Bemiparin
- Chlortetracycline
- Demeclocycline
- Doxycycline
- Eravacycline
- Lymecycline
- Macimorelin
- Meclocycline
- Methacycline
- Minocycline
- Nadroparin
- Omadacycline
- Oxytetracycline
- Rolitetracycline
- Sarecycline
- Sargramostim
- Tetracycline
- Tigecycline
- Tranexamic Acid
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
How much does Tri-Luma cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Tri-Luma (brand)
$227.92
Tri-Luma contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Tri-Luma will not be safe for you to take.
- History of allergic reaction to either fluocinolone, hydroquinone, or tretinoin alone
What are alternatives to Tri-Luma?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Tri-Luma. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Tri-Luma
Tri-Luma images
