Hormonal imbalance? Or healing crisis?

Hi:

I could use some input/help. I've been doing a master cleanse -- yesterday was my eighth day. It was a modified MC, in that I used agave syrup instead of maple syrup and didn't always use the lax tea. But other than that, it was pretty much straight up.

I began the cleanse to help with melasma, a skin discoloration that's linked to hormonal imbalance (women often get it while pregnant or taking hormones). But yesterday my melasma started getting worse, spreading and darkening. I'm not sure what to do... part of me thinks this may be some detox/hormonal release that my body is going through, part of me thinks "this cleanse is unhealthy and messing me up!"

Last night I broke protocol with some orange juice and some cucumber, pepper and arugula juice. Now I'm not sure what to do...if I should get back to the cleanse protocol and assume the worsened skin is part of the cleansing process, or if I should begin with the OJ and figure this cleanse was not right for my particular issues.

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

jiminy Tweet