How can I fade two darker patches on my face?

[Coffeepot72]

I’ve got two small areas of slighter darker/discoloured skin on my face – most likely due to age/sun exposure. Can I buy any sort of cream or lotion to lighten these areas, or is this something for a dermatologist, or some sort of invasive treatment? I don’t think I need facial peel or anything like that, just some sort of lightening treatment?

Retinol

Is retinol a product or a procedure?

Hi, OP, sorry, been really short yesterday was still at work.

Retinol is a liquid product. Google about brands such as paula's choice or the ordinary.

I started with 0.5% retinol from the ordinary and then built up from there. I had a terrible sun mark and it faded eventually!

Best of luck!

Azelaic acid also good for lightening darker patches. Mine is prescription but am sure there are probably OTC products available!

Retinol and always wear factor 30+.

Go to a dermatologist and request a broduct containing hydroquinine. Obagi is effective. I’ve used a prescription product called pigmanorm. It worked but there are some initial side effects (redness and flaking skin) and it must be used sparingly. SPF 50 + sunscreen is essential. You don’t have to live with dark patches but you’ll need to see a dermatologist who can prescribe to obtain a really effective product.

Try these ...

Really excellent

There's a Clinique product for exactly this which contains, I think, citric acid. I have been applying it to a patch on my face for months. It has made no difference.

I had IPL to get rid of a couple of darker patches and some broken blood vessels. It worked.

Obagi

Do you need a dermatologist to prescribe Obagi? Or can you buy Obagi products online (if so, which one/s for dark patches)?

Yes you should have a prescription from a derm for Obagi, however I have purchased from elsewhere before, I had previously seen a derm and used all the Obagi prodcts so knew how it all worked and how my skin would react.

The main 2 ingredients you need are hydroquinnone and tretinoin 0.1% (retinol). And lots of SPF 50!!!

I would not recommend IPL for dark pigmentation. It can make the problem worse, it did for me! An expensive mistake.

I joined dermatica for some dark patches on my face. They are a bit like glossybox in that it's a monthly subscription. They prescribe tretinoin and hydroquinone and stuff.
But you must use sunscreen on your face

Thanks silver!