I have been suffering with melasma for years - first diagnosed by a dermatologist. He told me didn't know what it was from - sold me obagi and IPLs. When it first started, 2002, I just had brown patches - then horrible patches crouped up on my checks, nose, and chin. I was able to keep it at bay with skin lightening - cal/mag/zinc/ The problem became worse recently.

I started dating a man who lived in another state, and he would visit me every month and a half. When we first started dating, my melasma was barely noticable. Everytime we saw each other, by the end of our time together, my melasma was full blown, and my skin looked as though it was melting. Again, we wouldn't see each other - my skin would look better (even great) - and then when we were together and it was full blown etc....

The last time he was with me was Oct 30th 2010. The night before, I started to feel very weak and lightheaded - my muscles could barely hold me up - my back started hurting with excruciating pain. I woke up the next morning and the sun bothered my eyes, my back was hurting, and I was super dizzy. Something similiar had happened a previous time we were together, but not as intense. I found a pill that was almond/oval shaped that didn't belong to me under some of his papers that I moved off a table. I put the pill in my pocket went out for a little while to run an errand without him. I googled the pill that said C5 on it - it was cialis - the side effects matched the ones I 'd had the night before to a T. I confronted him about slipping it in my wine, he called me pyscho, and left immediately.

My point is that my skin (melasma) came out in full force. In addition, my skin became bronzed, my chest reddened, and i had additional brown spots all over my chest, arms, and back. In some areas, it looked as if my skin had melted.

I looked up Cialis -it activates Nitric oxide - which is a skin and vessel relaxer. I am wanting feed back from anyone else that had something like this happen - if they are aware of it. A man I dated for years before when my melasma symptoms started, took v!agra just because he wanted to. I am wondering if there is some correlation between nitric oxide ED drugs, and my melsma.

By the way - my melasma and the "melting", "bronzing", and "brown spots - are almost gone - just taking cal/mag/zinc and time.

Want to add

Interesting findings about people with morgellons having low nitric oxide levels - this is dangerous because these people will prob try to take supplements to increase their NO levels. It may decrease the itching symptoms, but will continue to expand the cells of the skin and organs - which is very dangerous. I think Nitric Oxide is low because the body doesn't want or need it. My theory - If one's body is over hydrated with water - the body expels any further water into the body through urine ...same with NO (it is synthesized inside the body when it is needed)- since it was over induced into the cells with synthetic cialis/ed drug, the body compensates by shutting synthesis of more NO off because it just needs acytecholine to contract cells to proper size....(I read that magnesium inhibits nitric oxide, but have not done extensive research on that mineral)
Recent melasma (skin hyperpigmentation) clinical trial are finding large amounts of NO within the individual cells....supports my theory about Melasma also being caused by ED drugs....