My Dermatica Skincare Review for Melasma with Tretinoin – that works!

After returning from holiday, I had full-blown melasma/hyperpigmentation from sun damage across my forehead and down the sides of my face. This was entirely new, and I didn’t know where to start. I felt frustrated, having to rely on foundation just to feel comfortable day-to-day, let alone leaving the house.

Luckily after investigating, I found Dermatica.co.uk who do skincare. I’ll go into details in my article about how their products have completely changed my skin.

I’d always had a slight discolouration on my forehead but going on a sunny holiday made the melasma so much worse. I was embarrassed as I didn’t have the right foundation to cover it, and I just didn’t want to wear makeup on holiday.

I had no idea what it was, so I Googled it and found it was melasma, which is a type of hyperpigmentation. Tretinoin, a prescription cream and a retinoid similar to retinol, can help treat melasma by speeding up cell turnover.

I’ve used the Dermatica tretinoin cream now for years and wouldn’t be without it. It took several weeks to see a difference, which is usual, and my skin has never looked better.

Table of contents:

Who are Dermatica, and how do they help?

Dermatica.co.uk offers a personalised skincare service tailored to your skin issue. Problems range from acne, scaring, ageing, rosacea and more. You get a monthly subscription based on your issue, with ingredients that change depending on your progress.

The Dermatica personalised formula can include strong prescription ingredients, such as Tretinoin, which can reduce melasma. Mine includes this and I started off on a very small dosage – 0.025.

I use Dermatica for my hyperpigmentation, but they offer personalised skincare for a range of issues:

• acne
• scarring
• ageing
• rosacea and more:

They sell skincare products that aren’t personalised, such as Vitamin C serum, glycolic face wash, lip balm, etc. See more on Dermatica.co.uk.

Your online account

You start your consultation online by answering questions and uploading photos. This allows the Dermatica team to review your details to ensure they recommend the right products.

It’s a personalised service, one of the main things I was looking for. I wanted something to help that was tailored to me and matched my skin; I didn’t want something random from Boots or The Ordinary (although I love them) that’d be too harsh and worsen my skin. I wanted something to help as quickly as possible.

What’s in your Dermatica personalised formula?

I’m using Dermatica to reduce melasma/hyperpigmentation.

The formula is personalised, meaning the formula changes as my skin does. I’ve used Dermatica since my first order in June 2023. My skin has had time to get familiar with the ingredients to reduce irritation before it increases with anything that could irritate.

• My formula: Tretinoin 0.05%/ Niacinamide 4%/ Azelaic Acid 4% Lotion

I’ve written about how tretinoin works separately. It’s great for skin turnover. The tretinoin in my formula has increased from 0.025% to 0.05% over the months as my skin has improved and could cope with a higher dose.

Before and after pictures

Throughout your subscription, you are asked to take photos to monitor progress. It’s pretty good to look back and see how your skin has changed.

From the first photo at the top of this blog back in November when I got home from holidays, I waited a few months as I wanted to finish all of my existing products. You are advised to reduce using other products with Dermatica as they can affect the results. You can still use SPF and makeup though, see more info further down this blog.

The lighting is different here but you can see a tiny difference. It says on the website it can take anything up to 8 weeks to see a change.

July, below, is probably the most dramatic change.

How long does it take to see results from Dermatica?

It says on the website results can take anything from 8-12 weeks. I saw a difference within 6 weeks but most noticeable after 2 months.

If you don’t see any results, you can contact them to discuss them, and they will look into changing your formula. If you don’t see a difference, I would double-check what else you are using – other products could stop Dermatica from working. Are you using enough product? I put at least one pump on each night before I go to bed.

How and when do you use Dermatica?

I put one pump on my face before going to bed with my regular moisturisers. I was using 2 pumps, but my skin went slightly sensitive, so I reduced back down to one 3-4 times a week.

I never apply on the same day as exfoliating as it would be too harsh for my skin.

When does it renew?

It’s a monthly formula, so I get a new tube each month. I also have Vitamin C on my subscription, which arrives monthly.

How much is Dermatica?

For your first month, it’s £2.90 then it increases to £24.90 unless you take out a treatment plan.

Get your first month for £2.90 from Dermatica.co.uk

Can you use other products with Dermatica?

They recommend you don’t, as it could stop Dermatica from working or interacting. You can still use it with SPF though, and make up.

Dermatica’s official stance is on their website:

The active ingredients that we use can increase the sensitivity of your skin. So, we recommend keeping your skincare routine simple. A cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen are more than enough during treatment. Exfoliants and toners containing salicylic acid, AHAs, BHAs, glycolic or lactic acids should be avoided. They can increase the sensitivity of your skin, and our treatments will help to exfoliate the skin. Products containing retinols can promote further peeling, and should also be avoided. Vitamin C can be used in the morning if you apply your treatment at night, and hyaluronic acid is fine to use. You will get a guide on how best to integrate your treatment into your current regime. Our dermatology team are also available when needed to check on any other ingredients.

In Dermatica FAQs

I’ve written about how tretinoin works separately as it’s a hardcore product and should be used with caution.

I hope this helps you decide on whether giving Dermatica is worth a shot! Email me if you have a question. I will continue to add updates to this article 🙂

UPDATE Sept 2024 – I’m still using my personalised formula which arrives each month. I also use the vitamin c, and have just bought for the first time their lip balm and exfoliating face wash.

What are the side effects of Dermatica?

The formula contains ingredients that can be quite harsh to skin if used too much. My formula contains tretinoin which is great for skin cell turnover, but that means using it with other acids can make skin very sensitive. I exfoliate often but never do on the same day as using this formula. I’m also careful to moisturise twice daily, even on the days I don’t use Dermatica.

Can tretinoin mess up your skin?

Yes it can. It’s a harsh ingredient, so using too much of it or using it with other ingredients (like BHA, ADAs) can make your skin sensitive. That’s why they start you off on such a low dose. It gives your skin time to get familiar with it, before they increase it.

What’s the difference between melasma and hyperpigmentation?

• Melasma: This is a specific type of hyperpigmentation that appears as larger, symmetrical patches, often on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip, and jawline. It’s commonly triggered by hormonal changes (like pregnancy, birth control, or hormone therapy) and sun exposure. Melasma tends to be more stubborn and harder to treat because it’s deeply rooted in the skin.
• Hyperpigmentation: This is a broader term for any darkening of the skin due to excess melanin production. It can be caused by acne scars, sun damage, inflammation, or injury to the skin. Unlike melasma, hyperpigmentation often appears as smaller, isolated spots or patches and responds more quickly to treatment.

Is Dermatica worth it?

Yes, absolutely!

I’ve been using the formula for nearly 2 years now, and although I don’t see much improvement to the melasma (it’s hardly visible), I can see other benefits. My skin isn’t grey, it looks fresh and I hardly ever have spots. I feel much more confident not wearing makeup, and going out without foundation is the norm for me.

I don’t mind the £24.99 per month price tag but if I wanted to change it, or skip a month, the online account is easy to use so changing it wouldn’t be an issue.

I also use the Dermatica SPF, Vitamin C, ceramide lip balm, glycerin gel cleanser, and I’ve just ordered for the first time their collagen complex.

Check out Dermatica.co.uk for your personalised skincare.