uneven skin tone.. recommendations?

[searchand_dstry]

I have very uneven skin tone on my face & I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for OTC lotions or anything of the sort for it? I'd really love to go to the dermatologist, but right now that isn't an option because of medical insurance complications... :wacko:

 

[BellaBella]

Is it from sun damage or from taking bc pills? Sun damage I like using aha (alpha hydroxy acids) 7-10% concentration, if you can find it anymore. BC pills you might be better off with a fade cream, but in both cases it can take months to really see a difference. And use sunscreen!

Vitamin A products and work well too - but they can cause peely- dryness. (So can aha's) Look for Retinoin or Retin A type ingredients.

 

[Caitlin]

I started using Aveeno Daily Scrub a few years ago and love it. It has helped to clear my complexion from little blemishes and fixed uneven tone and it makes my skin really soft. I don't have sun damage or acne, so I don't know how it would help with that.

It is really gentle too, I have pretty sensitive skin and don't have a problem with it. You can find it at Shoppers, Wal-Mart, etc for under $10.

 

[searchand_dstry]

Is it from sun damage or from taking bc pills? Sun damage I like using aha (alpha hydroxy acids) 7-10% concentration, if you can find it anymore. BC pills you might be better off with a fade cream, but in both cases it can take months to really see a difference. And use sunscreen!

Vitamin A products and work well too - but they can cause peely- dryness. (So can aha's) Look for Retinoin or Retin A type ingredients.

I used to take BC pill for a few years, but I had this before that. I believe when I was younger & saw my dermatologist she said it was sun damage. I use a moisturizer with sun screen in it now, but when I was little I never bothered unless my mom made me do it.

I'll look around & see if I can find anything with those ingredients in it. What exactly is a fade cream?

 

[searchand_dstry]

I started using Aveeno Daily Scrub a few years ago and love it. It has helped to clear my complexion from little blemishes and fixed uneven tone and it makes my skin really soft. I don't have sun damage or acne, so I don't know how it would help with that.

It is really gentle too, I have pretty sensitive skin and don't have a problem with it. You can find it at Shoppers, Wal-Mart, etc for under $10.

I think someone actually told me to try Aveeno so I'll look & see what I can find!

 

[moon]

I like Neutrogena Healthy Skin lotion with Alpha Hydroxy, and I just bought Even Better foundation from Clinique that I like very much so far.

 

[pinkdaisy]

Alpha hydroxy acid is good, but I have this cream called tretinoin (its not OTC, its Rx but really good) that fades acne scars, sun spots, etc.

However since youre looking for OTC, try alpha hydroxy acid or glycolic acid. I've personally found (although I dont know whats in it) that Garnier's Fresh Toner (in a little green bottle) has worked really well to get rid of my pink acne scarring and blotchiness.

 

[alpayton]

I suspect a condition called melasma. I personally have this and am treating it with Tri-Luma cream (prescription). It is fading the dark patches that I have, which are currently located on either side of my forehead. They started coming up about a year ago, and have progressively gotten worse/darker. I'm just 32 years old, so when I went to my OB/GYN this last year, I mentioned it to him when I saw a pamphlet on melasma on the counter. He definitely thought that melasma was right on target and prescribed the Tri-Luma for me. You may want to get in touch with your PCP and see if they'll write you a script for Tri-Luma or even see if they have some samples of it for you to try. http://www.triluma.com/TrilumaCream/default.aspx

 

[searchand_dstry]

I suspect a condition called melasma. I personally have this and am treating it with Tri-Luma cream (prescription). It is fading the dark patches that I have, which are currently located on either side of my forehead. They started coming up about a year ago, and have progressively gotten worse/darker. I'm just 32 years old, so when I went to my OB/GYN this last year, I mentioned it to him when I saw a pamphlet on melasma on the counter. He definitely thought that melasma was right on target and prescribed the Tri-Luma for me. You may want to get in touch with your PCP and see if they'll write you a script for Tri-Luma or even see if they have some samples of it for you to try. http://www.triluma.com/TrilumaCream/default.aspx

I don't even have a PCP right now. That's my whole problem. I recently got new insurance through my employer & they assigned me a doctor (my normal doctor doesn't accept the plan). I called to make an appointment with that doctor and they gave me LOADS of trouble on how I needed to be referred and what not.. it was really ridculous. I called my insurance company & they are supposed to send me a new card with a new doctor, but that hasn't come yet.

I actually have the opposite of you. I have light patches on my temples & cheeks, normal skin tone on my forehead and chin & I have red across my whole "mask" area. My mom has rosacea so I suspect the redness & breaking out on my cheeks is from that, but I don't think uneven skin tone goes along with that?

 

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

If it is rosacea there is a new product that you can get over the counter and it works better than what they usually prescribe for rosacea. It is Prosacea and you can get it at CVS drug stores. It costs about $10.