Hi, My face has a two-three darker tone than rest of the body. Even i go for facial every two weeks ..use sunscreens everything. I dont go out in sun also. Please help me what can i do to make my neck and face same colour tone.

Hi,

Is this a recent problem or has it always been like this? Can you provide a photograph of the face and an untanned area like the inside of the arms at your convenience?

•  face
•  body
•  skin tone

Patient asked followup Question: 12 years ago

Hi, I am sorry i cannot provide photographs.When i was child i was very fair. But from last 5-6 years, my face has become darker than rest of the body. Suggest me some herbal mechanism or some medicine for becoming fair.

Okay. Let me start by saying that it is only possible to lighten one’s skin shade one or two tones. This involves minimizing something known as delayed pigmentary tanning for patients with darker skin types. This is done through a combination of the following methods:

Chemical Peels - these are fruit acids, alpha and beta hydroxy acids which are used in various combinations to peel away the superficial tanned layer of the skin. Peels may only have one component like glycolic acid or salicylic acid or multiple components like retinol, lactic acid, mandelic acid, pyruvic acid, phytic acid etc. Peels can be short contact or leave on peels. Short contact peels are applied on the skin for 5-10 minutes and then neutralized. Leave on peels are left on for 2-6 hours and then washed off. These work deeper and typically cause more peeling of the skin which can continue for 5-7 days after the session. Peel sessions are repeated 2-3 weekly for 6-8 sessions after which maintenance sessions can be given once in 6 weeks.

Microdermabrasion - this involves removing the superficial dead layers of the skin with a machine that uses aluminum oxide crystals and a vacuum device. Sessions are spaced just like I mentioned for peels. Chemical peels can be combined with MDA for a deeper effect, but this is only done for advanced peels in patients who have been taking regular peels for many months.

Mesotherapy - this is a technique popular in Europe (particularly France) and involves injecting vitamins into the skin. This can de done superficially (called the ‘nappage technique’) or deep (‘point to point’ technique). Various vitamins can be used in isolation or as vitamin cocktails (e.g vitamin C, glutathione).

Whichever method is chosen it is very important to minimize sun exposure as well as use a good sunscreen (SPF 30 or more) 2-3 times a day (e.g 8 am, 12 pm and 4 pm) irrespective of whether you are going out or not.

In addition to all of the above skin care regimens containing hydroquinone, retinoic acid, arbutin and kojic acid are used at night and protective serums (e.g vitamin C serums) + rigorous sunscreen (as above) use in the day time. Please note that you should not use any of these on your own. Information provided in this answer is only for general purposes and you must always discuss them with your own doctor before trying anything. No herbal medicine or pill is effective in lightening the skin.

Please feel free to ask if you have any queries.

•  chemical peel
•  fair
•  dark

Patient asked followup Question: 12 years ago

Hi..thanks i wanted to ask whether oxy bleach is good.i have oily skin

Hi again,

Oxybleach is a skin bleach like may others available in the market. I do not recommend any of these for skin lightening purposes since they cause more harm than good in the long run.

Regards

•  skin
•  follow