Sun damage/hyperpigmentation

[QwertyGirly]

I have one area on my cheek about 4mm across, which has darker pigmentation. It has gotten worst in the last 24 months or so, but it has been checked twice by GP and it's just a sun spot - hyperpigmentation it's nothing dangerous (although we are monitoring it).

I've looked at various products that would help fade it, including products from The Ordinary range, vitamin C creams, but I am not sure what works and what doesn't. Any recommendations?

Can I jump in here and ask a question ? My cheeks look brown in places, it like I’ve got lots of freckles joined up or age spots. Is that hyperpigmentation ?

I think so, but if there is a lot of changes it's better to have it checked by GP. And use factor 50 sun cream. I use this one www.superdrug.com/Skin/Sun-Care/Face-Sun-Cream/NIVEA-SUN-UV-Face-SPF-50-Q10-Anti-Age-%26-Anti-Pigments-50ml/p/752456

@DinosaurDiana yes that sounds like hyperpigmentation from sun damage. I have the same. I am in same boat OP and was just about to start my own thread about this. It really bothers me and at 43 I find it is quite ageing too.
I always wear sunblock and started wearing a sun hat when I walk the dog/ garden etc. It seems to have stopped it getting worse but I would love the damage to go away.
I also have discolouration from where I have had acne years ago - skin surface is even but dark patches will not go away. Maybe my skin is more prone to these sorts of things.
Really hopeful someone has the answers for us

Thanks. I always use the Boots Face one as it doesn’t sting my eyes like other sun creams.
I shall watch this post with hope that someone comes along and shows me how to get rid of it !

Are you both wearing sun screen every day, and if so is it ok under make up ?
I must admit that I only wear sun screen if I’m abroad.

Obagi nu derm.
Hydraquinoine.
Laser.
That's it. Over the counter doesn't work.

@DinosaurDiana yes I use sunscreen factor 50 every day. Goes on under my make up

There are lots of products aimed at hyperpigmentation and melisma it seems to be chemical scrubs and retinol type treatments that speed up cell turnover.....however if you use these you really need to wear spf every day. I like paulas choice aha and bha toner and I like biore watery essence spf. Susan yara of mixed make up is worth googling as she talks quite often about different treatments for hyperpigmentation. Hope this helps.

Hydroquinone and retinol prescribed by Dermatica. Mine disappeared within about 4 months.

I started using the new Dermalogica dark spot serum a few weeks ago.

It is slowly breaking it up.

As my facialist warned, it does get worse before it gets better!

Not cheap but seems to last forever, I've been using the small trial size for weeks!

I researched and used so many products for a couple of similar sized areas of pigmentation on my cheek. One I got rid of after using various dark spot correctors, vitamin c serums, hydroquinone, liquorice/niaciamide/azaleic acid/retinol products. You name it, I've had it in my skin care routine over the years. The 2nd spot was more stubborn and the only thing that got rid of it, and quite quickly, was Tretinoin. Started with Skin and Me then moved to Dermatica for the higher dose

I had some few bad ones that developed while I was pregnant and consulted with a skin clinic. They advised laser or hydroquinone, saying laser probably wouldn't work (and I did a trial test and confirmed it didn't do much).
For several reasons I didn't go ahead with purchasing the products. Instead I just made sure to have a very strict regular routine with acids and vitamin C in the evening, plus sunscreen in the morning. It has worked for me. Two years on and no sings of the sun spots coming back.
They will likely come back if I get exposed to the sun without a very strong spf (I am very active, like the outdoors and -preCovid- use to travel often to sunnier countries) but I know where they are now and will be extra careful.
My advice is to begin using brighteners from September rather than from now as the skin gets more sensitive to sun damage when you apply them. It's a process that works best in winter...

Have some IPL laser sessions. Work a treat.

@user1471523870 what acids did you use please?

Dermatica Hydroquinone and Tretinoin and factor 50 mineral sunscreen every day even in winter. I had a freckle exactly like you describe and its gone now along with a big patch on my forehead. It does take a few months to work so bear with it.

As an aside a darker patch which feels velvety to touch is a sign of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and it often doesn't have symptoms before that.

I had a sun spot the size of a 5 pence, I used vit c from the ordinary, Alphah liquid gold and retirides ( Retin A) which I brought from abroad , it took a good year, but it's hardly visible,I couldn't say which item did the work, but I still use them all now and also a good spf, it was around 5 years ago and its never come back.

@lindyloo57 do you remember which product from The Ordinary you use? They have two main Vit C products, one is Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone and the other one is Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%. Thanks

@QwertyGirly I use the vit c 23%+ spheres 2% I use it in the morning.