Hyperpigmentation/bleaching/Glycolic?

[Maycoco]

Hi All dont know if i will get a reply to this. Just wondering if there is anyone out there who had success with removing hyperpigmentation after using bleaching products. Im a black female who has polycystic ovarian syndrome. Ive been shaving my chin for years and now i have a lot of hyperpigmentation to that area. Being the clever girl I thought I was I then used a product called Sure Whiite which is a bleaching cream with Kojic Acid and BHA and some kind of fast gel which really didnt do a thing but to me just changed the texture of the skin to that area. :scared: that was about 8 months to a year ago. Im now undergoing glycolic acid peels which I have every week. And was recommemded 6 - 8 peels. So far my face seems a lot worst then when I went in there i.e. Ive got dark marks where I didnt have any but in saying that they do look superficial and since then the peel is left on for 10 minutes instead of 15 I guess it was a bit of trial and error to find out what my skin coudl take. I understand that my skin might have to look worst before it looks better but what I want to know is has anyone who has used bleaching creams in the past (whether with Kojic Acid or Hydroquinine) still had success with peels. As the nurse who is doing my peels did mention that those that used bleaching creams (mainly with hydroquinine) very rarely get success with peels because the damage has been done to the skin - but as I dont think Ive used any hydroquinine for the last 10 or more years Im hoping I should be OK). Good or bad I want to hear what Ive got coming. Im thinking that at worst there will be no change whatsoever apart from the nice soft feeling skin. And touching wood the dark marks will have gone soon because at the moment I have to put even more make up on!! :icon_sad:

PS. Happy 2007 to you all

 

[monniej]

hi maycoco, i'm monnie from michigan. welcome to mut!

wow! sounds like your skin is really freaking out! what's the longest time you've had between procedures?

 

[Maycoco]

Hi Monnie thanks for the welcome message. Wish I had stumbled upon MUT before...!

Yes my face is freaking out but I think that might be because the "peel" was left on too long at 15 minutes which I gather was their standard time. Its now left on for 10mins. I was recommended on having a peel every week and also to have 6-8 peels. From all the research Ive done it does sound like sometimes the face might look worst before it looks better.

Today I have to say I had quite a lot of peeling and it does look like things are changing in that area albeit ever so slightly. So I guess Ill just have to continue with the next few peels in the hope that the monster that Ive become will soon make way for the beauty I really am!!! :laughing: Im even taking pictures just to remind myself from what i started out like and hoping that i can see some real progress.

MC

 

[DC-Cutie]

I've suffered from hyperpigmentation for about 2 years now and this is what my derm recommended - and it;s working

- I get microdermabrasion and a mild lactic peel once a month

- I cleanse my face with Dessert Essence Thoroughly clean (this stuff works like I dunno what, but leaves my face really soft, it's all natural too)

- daily I use Tri-Luma & Phyto+, by Skinceuticals (used for hyperpigmentation, contains Arbutin & Kojic Acid. Much better than hydroquinone)

-everyother day I use Retin-A micro to help skin cell turn over

- moisturizer - at night I use emu oil, leave my skin soft

- in the morning, I apply SPF65 sunscreen and a small amount of moisturizer

I can also tell you that it will get worse before better, but you may want to check the %level of glycolic peel. some skin tones, especially women of color, don't mesh well with glycolic acid, lactic acide is much better for our skin. The peel should be left on for no longer than 5 minutes...otherwise it can cause your skin to burn. Have you ever thought of doing at home peels?

Most importantly - be sure to use sunscreen that blocks both UVA & UVB rays. I use this one: Fallene, Ltd. - Total Block® Clear SPF 65

Hope this info helps, if you have more concerns let me know...

 

[Leza1121]

Hi Maycoco,

Welcome to MUT. I hope some of the advice you received will help you.

 

[monniej]

personally, i don't subscribe to the "get worse before it gets better" mind set. my suggestion would be to let your skin rest abit. it seems like you've had alot of procedures over a short period of time and your skin may not know how to react. a bit of time might help it normalize somewhat. have you seen a dermatologist? that would be my next suggestion. i would seek a professional opinion before continuing. i've heard of women of color experiencing permanent scaring from being too agressive with peels and exfoliants. i've had some success in correcting my hyperpigmentation problems with having been quite so agressive, jmho~ good luck and post some pics if you can!

monnie

how long did it take before you saw improvement with your regime?

 

[DC-Cutie]

it took amout 1 month before i saw a difference in the hyperpigmentation, but my skin texture, I saw a change in about 2 weeks after the micro derm and retin-a. I get compliments all the time on my skin now. My family and friends even noticed the change during the holidays /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I do a gree that agressive peels and exfoliants can make your situation worse.

 

[Maycoco]

Thanks DC-Cutie for the information. I too have the Skinceutical Phyto+ to break up the hyperpigmentation which I use with the Glytone cleanser and nighcream I have to use daily. I haven’t used hydroquinine is years as I know a lot of UK practices do not recommend this product and in some European countries this has been banned. I know the UK are trying to do the same as there are many many people out there who have damaged their skins from this product.

Personally I would rather they had started at 5 minutes for the first peel then go on from there up to 10 minutes or whatever. They only reason they neutralized that area was because I told them it was starting to feel hot and they then noticed it had gone pink!!! I did ask my dermatologist about the dark marks and why I had them and she said it could be old sun damage which might make a bit of sense. As two years ago I did the “home peel†(hence the reason Im not doing it this time) and I noticed that although my face was peeling slightly and with the protecting of my skin with suncream. I still managed to get a tan in certain areas which is the same area that ive now got the dark marks in – albeit it looks a lot worst.

I use a factor 50 suncream – which I put on 2-3 times a day – more because parts of my face is all dry and peeling - I can wash, reapply suncream and then makeup.

The peel is only 10.2% which they told me they use on black and asian skins as this seems to have good results. I think on white skins it is 30% and upwards.

Although a see a lot of people on this site do their own peels – Im now too scared to try it again – but in saying that perhaps I should. Ive got another peel this week which I will continue to go to – as of today I can see that the texture of the dark marks has changed which should in theory mean this will peel off in the next couple of days (I hope) – assuming there is no damage underneath I will continue with what they have recommended. As it seems 10 minutes really does work for me – because my forehead and cheeks look amazing – most of the marks here have gone – in fact it looks the same colour as when I was in my teens.

Think I will read more on the lactic peel – not sure on the microdermabrasion as that sounds a bit too drastic for me. I might be wrong but I think with the glycolic or lactic peels they are less damaging than microdermabrasian but I might be wrong. I just don’t want to chance it at present.

Thanks again Monnie for your input. I know you said you don’t subscribe to getting worse before it gets better – but I do see this quite a bit on people reviews – although not all of them say that. As I can only have my friend’s skin to look at and to see what she started out with and how gorgeous her skin is now – no foundation now – her skin is flawless. !

It is my dermatologist that recommends the peels once a week – I just think that I’ve been unlucky as my friend had the same thing but no problems. Im going to have my 4th peel this weekend – and see how that fayres – if as I think the forthcoming peeling will get rid of the new dark marks then Ill continue if not I might suggest seeing them again once every 2 weeks. From what I gather from my dermatologist although she didn’t say the it will get better – she is not too concerned about how my face looks now as has said I should noticed the difference towards the end of the sessions – Im not sure what the chin area will look like towards the end but I can see a difference but will wait until the last peel to see how far its come but if its 50% better Ill be happy.

At the end of the day I went there for them to help me get rid of my hyperpig. To the chin area I was not expecting to get more marks.

And on the photo front – Ill wait until I do all the peels first .

Thanks Leza11121 for welcoming me.

Thanks again ladies for all the information.

MC

 

[monniej]

sounds like your derm is working with you and that's great! please keep us posted on your progress. it helps many of us feel more comfortable about being open to treatments that can really help!

 

[the heiress]

Tri-Luma is a life saver but it is expensive. Does anyone know a good over the counter bleaching cream or peel?

 

[monniej]

the best deal i've found to address hyperpigmentation without damaging my skin is the philosophy microdelivery mini peel. i just use the pads, but they have a kit that worked great for me. hope this helps!

philosophy: microdelivery peel

 

[chinadoll]

Anyone used the pads for dark spots?

 

[Flawless_Skin]

My advice, use a product with Kojic Acid on it. It will be beneficial no matter what race you are. Actually this product that I'm using was used by some African American who wants to lighten their armpit, knuckles and knees.Problems like Hyperpigmentation, Melasma,Age spots and acne scars are some of the problems that you cansolve using Kojic Acid base product.

 

[mehrunissa]

Is it really clear, or does it leave that funky white/purple cast behind? I can't seem to find a sunscreen that has both a high SPF and physical blockers that doesn't do that.