Most of my patients have at least one brown spot. Sun damage or brown spots are a common problem for which my patients commonly come to me seeking advice. Right now is the perfect time to be working on your skin tone and fading away those brown spots. Before you start working on getting rid of discolorations on your face you should have them checked by a dermatologist. There are some skin cancers that often times can be mistaken for a normal freckle, liver spot, pimple or wound. Women commonly suffer from melasma which is brownish-gray patches often found on the forehead, cheeks and upper lip exacerbated by sunlight and/or hormones. Right now(winter) is the time to get aggressive with melasma. Unfortunately, most people come to me when they are tan and their melasma is worse during the summer when treatment options are more limited. Most patients’ goal should be for melasma to stay the same during the summer and to improve during the winter. With this cycle melasma will fade as time goes on instead of getting worse and worse over the years. After you #getnaked for a good skin cancer check here are some things your dermatologist may recommend for you to help with unwanted benign discolorations.
1. Sun protection- This includes sun protective clothing, sunscreen, avoiding the hottest part of day and seeking shade when possible. My favorite sunscreen right now is SkinMedica Total Defense and Repair. It protects against UVA, UVB and infrared rays. It also has antioxidants in it which improve fine lines and wrinkles. Oh and did I mention it comes in a tinted too?!?! It’s 3 products in one and feels like a powder going on, not a greasy sunscreen.
2. Retinol- Because what doesn’t retinol do? It will help take away damaged skin, including lightening and brightening those brown spots. Everyone not pregnant or breastfeeding should pick up one of these. I use a pea size drop of the SkinMedica Retinol 0.5 mixed with equal part of moisturizer to my entire face every other night during the winter for good tolerability.
3. Lytera- Lightener and brightener extrodanaire. This is my favorite product to put on at night. It’s smooth and creamy and luxurious. I use it for all the post inflammatory discolorations I have left over from acne. I use it morning and night. Next time you are checking in at the clinic, nonchalantly examine Daisy’s skin (she’s one of our AMAZING front office staff that helps you check in). She loves Lytera. We can show you her before and after pictures of Lytera after just 4 weeks and it’s crazy how lightened her brown spots are!
4. Chemical Peels- We do a lot of trichloroacetic acid peels at the clinic which are a middle of the road peel. It penetrates deeper than a light peel but doesn’t have the downtime of a deep (phenol) peel. You can’t be tan when you have a peel done. Chemical peels can cause discolorations or scarring so I highly recommend you have your peel done with a dermatologist experienced in chemical peels. TCA peels can help with discolorations, blemishes and fine lines.
5. Heliocare-This is a pill you take that is made from the extract of a fern called polypodium leukotomos. It’s an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from sun damage. It’s not a sunscreen so you still need that but it does help your skin be protected from the damage the sun can cause.
6. ATV laser- Certain skin types and certain brown spots can be lasered. Some are not good candidates. Melasma isn’t treated effectively with laser but if your problem is just one small brown spot then the laser may be a good option for you. You do have a blister-like sore and as it heals it takes the spot with it.
7. Hydroquinone- This is a prescription “bleaching cream”. You can only use it for 3 months and it can’t be used during the sunny months of the year or it could cause discoloration. Most people don’t like the smell of it but I still keep it in my bag of tricks.
8. Make-up- Sometimes you just need a little mineral based make-up to cover those spots up. Our cosmetic concierges have an awesome make-up room with great products at JD. If you’re in the market call and schedule a free consultation with them to check it out. Jane Iredale really does have my heart.
I hope these tips help you all out. I would love to evaluate all your skin needs. Cosmetic Dermatology really is a happy place. We are concentrating our efforts on spreading JOY this December at Johnson Dermatology so I will leave you with this Swedish Proverb…..
Shared joy is double joy!
Hope I’ve shared the skin joy with you this week, Nina
