Pigmentation on face

[Italianmeringuebuttercream]

Hello I have noticed that last year on holiday I started to get dark patches on my face (cheeks, nose and forehead) I have an olive complexion and tan easily but always wear at least spf 30 on my face. It faded somewhat over the winter but since I've been enjoying the sunny weather this week its come back and is getting bigger! I have since bought ultrasun face spf 50 but i feel its too late for that now! Is there any way of erasing the marks? I've heard that the contraceptive pill can exacerbate the problem but I dont want to stop taking that as it works for me. I have rather sensitive skin too which might make things harder....
Does anyone have any ideas? Many thanks in advance

[Onesipmore]

Hi, I get this too. Dont think theres any easy fix. it can be hormonal, but once there its hard to fade during the summer months. Good luck

[Bigpaintinglittlepainting]

I’ve battled pigmentation for the last decade! It runs in my family unfortunately and I really wish I’d treated it when I was younger. A mixture of laser IPL and retinol is what I’ve used so far. Now I can’t have my laser, which doesn’t get rid of it permanently just fades it to nothing and then it comes back, I’m going to trial Dermitca, so fingers crossed that will work. Great reviews and many people have sung its praises on here.

To stop it getting worse and as a preventative you must wear factor 50sfp for uva and uvb every day

[Italianmeringuebuttercream]

Thank you. Yes I'm definitely using spf 50 every day from now on. Laser is probably out of my budget though! I'll look into retinol products more. I also need to invest in a hat but that's a whole other thread as my daughter vetoes every single hat I try on!

[browzingss]

Not the same but I get post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, a temporary dark mark after a minor abrasion or spot. I noticed that spot marks on my face fade quite fast but marks on my legs take several months - I just attribute this to the difference in skincare.

So essentially keep your skin well hydrated with skincare and always protect it with a high spf to prevent the area from darkening further, also think about products like glycolic acid or azelaic acid to help fade the discolouration.

[Fluffycloudland77]

You need dermatica, no point trying anything non prescription.

[Italianmeringuebuttercream]

Thanks I'll look into dermatica.

[Bellebelle]

I started to get this a few summers ago - also olive complexion and have always tanned easily but started to find that even being out in slightly sunny weather led to patches of darker pigmentation on my face with the worst being on my top lip.

I now use vitamin C on my face everyday (Inkey list is good), retinol at night and spf 50 every day - I use Dr Sam Bunting’s and follow the instructions to use a lot more than you’d think.

Also a wide brimmed hat all the time when out in the sun on holiday.

It’s a pain but has worked to get rid of it and stop it coming back.

[Mischance]

I am the same - olive skin and pigmentation when in the sun. And when I was pregnant.....!! - unbelievable! Big brown butterfly all across my face.

What did I do? - nothing at all. I just ignored it - no-one seemed to care, least of all me.

[Mrsmorton]

Sunscreen every day even in winter. At least SPF 30. I get a fucking moustache as soon as I don't put sunscreen on.

[cinammonbuns]

It’s probably melasma. Hard to fade with over the counter products. SPF 50 is best to stop it worsening in summer

[Italianmeringuebuttercream]

@cinammonbuns yes I think you're right. @Mischance obviously I care which is why I posted to ask for advice! I

[silver1977]

I sympathise op, I have battled the same problem since the birth of my 1st child 14 years ago. I tried IPL but that made it worse in my case so I wouldn't recommend it. I ended up paying a private dermatologist and investing in the Obagi Nu-derm programme, it was brilliant and my skin was amazing and clear! It did cost ££'s though.

Over the years it has gradually come back in different areas, I can't afford Obagi again but know from using it before that the hydroquinone and tretinoin are the main products to fight it so signed up to Dermatica. They send me a pre-mixed cream of those 2 ingredients however I don't think it's as effective. I'm 3 months in so sticking with it for now.

As others have said spf50 is a must, every single day regardless of the weather. Keep your face out the sun if possible and find that hat!

[NotInTheMorning]

Agree with everyone else, SPF is key but it sounds like you’ve got that covered!

Caroline Hirons has covered pigmentation on her blog, there are some tips in the video here which might help you: www.carolinehirons.com/2017/05/im-dealing-pigmentation.html

[Mixingitall]

Aldi Lacura Caviar Night Cream has taken all of the skin pigmentation away, it’s around £7 and amazing! My face is soo much better for using this. I used to use the dermalogica, and it’s the same as the Aldi cream.

[corpsebrid3]

Obagi is you can afford it.
Sunscreen a must to prevent it getting worse.
Then a lot of patience using creams to fade

Alumier EvenTone serum
Skin tech blending bleaching
Neostrata pigment controller

Retinol can help too

[CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate]

I read somewhere that a shielding sunscreen is better if fighting hyperpigmentation. A zinc based sunscreen that repels rays instead of absorbing them. Going to try this myself. I have black skin and was told I should wear factor 30 everyday but have malasma and thinking I need to go up or try the zinc based ones. Difficult to find one that blends though.

[Onthetrain75]

As someone above said, Obagi Nu derm. Personally I don’t think anything else works apart from laser, but that can remove all the pigment so you end up with white patches instead...I’ve tried most things. Would only recommend obagi.

[bobstersmum]

I have had this for the last few years too! Goes away in winter. I tan really easily and so before I have realised that it's sunny enough to tan it appears. Last year I used total sunblock on my forehead as that's the problem area for me, it did help. It does look quite bad otherwise, almost like like I'm dirty! I did consider getting a fringe cut but I think my hair is too thin at the front.

[zoop1]

I started getting this and mentioned it to my GP, who suggested switching to a different contraceptive pill. The new pill was just as acceptable to me and the chloasma/melasma soon faded after the switch.

[Halfstonehomerun]

I had this, high oestrogen pill to control acne and resulted in pigmentation. I decided to stop the pill and after a long long while (and every day spf) it has gone. Expected a resurgence in pregnancy but thankfully not! I guess I’d advise you to investigate if your pill and change it (not necessarily stop it ) in the first instance.

[Halfstonehomerun]

Sorry investigate as in, is it a high oestrogen like yasmin or dianette (might be showing my age here!) and see if there’s a different one.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I got pigmentation on my forehead and around my eyes after having the contraceptive implant which is progesterone. I cannot express how annoyed I was at that.

I’ve been wearing spf 50 every day since 1999. I should have skin like alabaster .

Vitamin c powder in my sunblock and retinol 0.2% from the ordinary is fading it. Nicanamide and prescription azaelic acid did nothing for it though.

[orangeblosssom]

Agree: sound like it's melasma.

Try Finacea and continue sunscreen.
Oestrogen and sunlight make it worse.
Will improve after menopause.
Avoid the combined oral contraceptive pill.

[Barkingfuckingdogs]

Yep, obagi nu derm regime. It's the most effective on the market. It's expensive and makes you peel like snake but it's fantastic.

[user1471523870]

Same here. Olive skin and battling hyperpigmentation for the last 10 years. No matter how better it goes in winter, it always comes back in summer. I do wear spf 50, however I also like spending time outside (I have an allotment, I run, I go on beach holidays, parks etc) and I end up tanned eventually. Tan = hyperpigmentation.
I went for a first trial appointment with a renown beauty center and been told basically nothing will fix it but a very expensive cream (I can't remember its name but it's the only proven solution for it). I was willing to go for laser but been told it's not an effective solution.