Laser for pigmentation on black skin

[Mumsanetta]

Anyone have experience of this and can share how it went? I’m worried about making it worse.

I already use retinol, vit c, lactic acid and niaciamide and while the texture and brightness of my skin is the best ever, the pigmentation isn’t budging.

If it’s a resounding no to laser on darker skin I’ll go with hydroquinone at Skin + Me or Dermatica, I just prefer quick results!

Photo of my forehead at a very weird angle to show what I’m talking about

There’s nothing wrong with the skin on your forehead. It looks perfectly fine.

Have you ever considered that labelling ‘pigmentation’ a blemish is making beauty brands a helluva lot of money? Look at how much you’ve already spent.

It’s incredibly sad that something has persuaded you that your skin is supposed to be a blank slate. It isn’t.

For maintaining skin the Dr Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser is revelatory, along with any serum and oil that suits you. But please - stop punishing your skin!

Thank you for your comment, appreciate your viewpoint but I’m quite happy to throw my money at beauty brands 😂

Oh, so am I! But not in the belief that there’s something fundamentally wrong with me that needs major (and ongoing) correction.

I'm using Dermica for melasma. I considered laser as well but like you I was worried about whether it would make it worse. The dermica product I ordered contains hydroquinone and tretimoin. It works as a skin peeling and skin lightening solution. I have seen some results. 'The Ordinary' also do their own skin peeling solutions. I have exactly the same pigmentation on my forehead as you do. I think it's called sun spots and is caused by the sun and UV rays so try to buy and use very good 50+ sunscreen to protect your skin even on cloudy days. I recently bought Eucerin 50+ pigment contol containing Thiamidol which is meant to help with pigmentation.

I don't like throwing money at beauty products either but when you have pigmentation really bad, like I do it does affect your self esteem and make you feel self conscious so you will research what you can do to combat it.

Thanks @Plainascanbe123, I suspect hydroquinone is the way forward. I’m pretty religious about sunscreen and use Ultra Violette SPF50 which I would highly recommend.

Okay.. I might give the Ultra Violette a try when my sunscreen runs out. Thanks

I forgot to mention that I've also tried Palmers anti dark spot and I've found it to be quite good. Best to get it in boots or super drug tho because I found when I bought it in the hair shop for done reason it wasn't so effective.

*some

OP
I have similar skin and really awful hyperpigmentation on my legs, from eczema. Like, I never show them but if someone sees them they ask "what happened".

I reacted badly to all creams and the dermatologist said that with generally delicate skin, she thought laser was too high risk for me and I could end up with worse marks.

have you had specialist advice? I think you look lovely but I appreciate, if it's bugging you, it's bugging you.

I saw my gp for my skin condition. Was referred to the dermatologist but the wait was long so I trued Dermica..

Try 'Balmonds' cream for excema. I've read good reviews about it. Apparently some people who have spent loads treating really severe excema with different products have found 'Balmonds' cleared it up in just a few days.

@Plainascanbe123 i signed up to dermatica but they will not prescribe the hydroquinone cream as apparently it can leave uneven skin tone in deeper tones after prolonged use. Bit annoyed by that as I was not intending prolonged use and surely they can just stop prescribing it!

I’ve heard that about and darker skin tones too. What about a led face mask with a green light setting? Afaik there’s no risk of patchiness on darker skins like rapid exfoliation can cause.

Oh really. I didn't know that. Maybe they don't want people to take the risks and making things worse. In that case you could try Palmers. It has worked for me. I could see results in about 5 days and it only seems to fade the dark spots. I haven't had any side effects.

uk.palmers.com/skin-success/238-anti-dark-spot-fade-cream-regular.html

I didn't know that was a risk. Thanks for saying that.

I tend to avoid most things as my skin is so sensitive but had a sudden freak out about ageing and got some Nip+Fab scrub, I will use it once a week or something.

I only know becuase my friend set up a salon using laser and her indian business partner couldnt use it. It's just a much more complex skin colour to work on than white skin is.

I got prescribed hydroquinone and was told I couldnt use it long term but it did get rid of the patch of hyperpigmentation the contraceptive implant gave me.

@Fluffycloudland77
Did the pigmentation stay off after you stopped the hydroquinone?
I have hormonal pill related pigmentation and it's bothering me more now than when it first appeared few years ago.
probably because my skin is a lot haggard looking as I am approaching menopause.
Thanks!

Yes it did. I was rightly pissed off about it too as I have applied sunblock every sodding day since I was 22. I had the implant taken out after 6 months as it caused cystic acne.

I'm post menopause so I think my melasma is hormone related because I didn't have melasma before that. I also use sunscreen everyday but I still have the melasma.. I think sunlight makes it worse.. And guess where it is? Above my top lip of all places, so it looks like I have a moustache. The Dermatica has helped a bit and it seems to be fading but it's happening really slowly. For now I just keep using the Dermatica, then 50+sunscreen and concealer.. Will have to do that til it fades away.. If it fades away. Sorry.. I think I'm my earlier post I said Dermica.. Its Dermatica.

I meant it's fading really slowly..

@Mumsanetta Do you follow Dr Natalia Spierings on Instagram?

She does a live q&a every week (Sundays maybe) on there and is very good. She is worth following and is no nonsense and debunks most treatments (she likes skin&me and dermatica).

obviously if you have a few quid then see her privately!

I use Dermatica and they do take me off hydroquinone after about 6 months for a break so I think that’s standard. Judging by your forehead I don’t think it would take that long to clear up. Mine was far worse and didn’t take long at all. I have also seen dark skinned ladies’ progress before and after on their IG/website.

Also,I’ve tried loads of high st stuff and nothing has ever worked. You need the good stuff

Thanks Marmitepot. I will give Dr Natalia a try!

@Marmitepot @Plainascanbe123 how do you use your hydroquinone? All over your face or just on the affected areas? Dermatica have now given me the hydroquinone and tretinoin cream but have stressed that it can lead to patchy skin so i’m a bit nervous about it.