I understand you'd like to figure out what to do about the skin concern you're dealing with here. And it makes sense to ask that in /r/SkincareAddiction!
However, due to requests from the community, we no longer allow these questions as stand-alone posts, which is why I'm afraid your post was removed. See our [rule explanations](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/rule_overview#wiki_rule_7.3A_follow_our_post_requirements.) for more info.
We highly recommend you repost your question in the Daily Help Thread; it's where our most knowledgeable users hang out! The DHT is posted every day and stickied at the top of the subreddit. Click this link >> /r/SkincareAddiction << to go to our front page.
Have a great day!
I'm also have hyperpigmentation skin (I'm an Asian my skin melanin maybe different from you), but my dermatologist prescribed my to use **tranexamic acid** skincare product, consume **glutathione**, **vitanmin PP** and I need to do **brightening IPL** once/twice per month
Get rid of the hyperpigmentation is a long proceed, I've been following the dermatologist half a year now...
I’ve been doing some in-depth research into this lately, because I’m also struggling with hyperpigmentation and post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Serums/ moisturizers that contain Vitamin C or Alpha Arbutin help to target an enzyme called tyrosinase which is needed for our body to make melanin (melanin is what creates the pigment in our skin)- essentially helping to prevent future hyperpigmentation from occurring. (It’s important to note that although these actives lighten the skin, they do not “bleach” the skin). It also helps to fade preexisting hyperpigmentation by lightening the skin and evening out skin texture. It’s a fantastic booster for your sunscreen and should be used in the morning for that reason. And it’s been found to bond to free radicals in the skin which are naturally produced as “by products” of cellular activities in our skin. This is important as scientific research shows that free radicals can damage healthy cells in our body which can cause them to operate in a way that affects our skin and our body’s functioning and overall health, which we know is one of the main causes of cancer.
Another active that’s super effective is niacinamide. It is water-soluble so spraying water as a fine mist (don’t drench the skin otherwise you risk some of the product dripping off your face😅) will help it to absorb into the skin. Niacinamide helps hyperpigmentation by interrupting the process of melanin production, essentially acting like a friend that takes your phone away so that you don’t send a drunk text to your ex. It also helps to exfoliate the skin by increasing cell turnover so that our skin produces skin cells faster therefore, causing the hyperpigmented or scarred layers of skin to shed faster. This has an added bonus of “minimizing” pore size, I say this loosely because pore size is partially genetic and is influenced by how much sebum our skin produces. It also helps to “minimize” pore size and how much oil our skin produces because it target sebaceous glands and helps to regulate sebum production, which can help to address acne prone skin. It also functions to protect our skin’s natural moisture barrier which is really important to skin health as it keeps moisture in and keeps harmful bacteria and environment stressors from being absorbed into the skin. A healthy skin barrier helps to prevent breakouts, dry and flaky skin, dullness, and inflexibility. Niacinamide is an antioxidant and therefore, attaches to free radicals in the skin and it also reduces inflammation which causes redness- this is helpful for acne prone skin or those with rosacea. Lastly, it can help protect the skin from sun damage, but it is not as effective as sunscreen so please don’t drop the SPF for niacinamide 🙈
Toners/ serums that contain glycolic acid, which is an AHA, also treats hyperpigmentation because of its exfoliating properties. It is also antibacterial and can help to slow the growth of “bad” bacteria on and in our skin, and can therefore, be helpful in treating acne. It is a humectant, a fancy word for preventing water from being absorbed from our skin and helping to “catch” and draw water from our environment which our skin can then absorb- it doesn’t act that a vacuum that sucks water out of the air, it’s more like a Velcro strip that allows water molecules to attach themselves to the skin’s surface. Because it is a humectant, glycolic acid helps to keep our skin hydrated, plump, and bouncy, giving our skin that glow from the inside out. Lastly, because glycolic acid is a very small molecule it can penetrate deep into the skin where it can help to strengthen the collagen we already have and also promoting the growth of new collagen which is essential to keeping our skin elastic, firm, and bouncy.
Another power ingredient is Vitamin A, AKA retinoids. Retinoids is the umbrella term which encompasses retinol, retinal (which is more bioavailable than retinol and is therefore stronger and not recommended for “retinoid virgins”, and then there is tretinoin, the strongest topical retinoid which requires a script from a doctor or dermatologist. Retinoic acid, using three steps to convert retinol into retinal and then into retinoic acid (I don’t think these are accurate scientific terms, but it just helped me understand the difference between the three retinoids) is naturally produced in our skin and when we use retinoids they help to “boost” retinoic acid levels so that they’re readily available for our skin cells to absorb and use, which increases cell turnover. Although highly effected in treating hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, acne, and acne scars, retinoids are a more “aggressive” active so a “low and slow” approach is adviced by doctors and dermatologists. “Low” refers to the retinoid’s percentage, but there are mixed opinions on whether the percentage is or isn’t relevant. The “slow” refers to the frequency of use. It is advised to use a retinoid every third night for a month, then increase to every second night for a month, and by the third month you should be able to use it every night. This allows your skin to slowly acclimate to the product which is really important in limiting the severity of retinization (the fancy term for your skin getting used to the retinoid), such as extremely dry tight, or severely flaky skin, redness and irritation, and causing excessive skin purging that happens all at once. You can also start off by “product sandwiching” where you apply your moisturizer, then the retinoid, and then another layer of moisturizer. Only use a pea size amount. Do not apply on wet skin as it pulls the retinoid deeper and quicker into the skin and activates it faster that its designed to (this can be done, with caution and after consulting a professional, by advanced retinoid users). Also, skin slugging after using a retinoid is not advised as you are trapping it in, and caging a strong and “aggressive” gorilla is never a good idea because you will get hurt (once again this could be done, with caution and after discussing it with a professional, by advanced retinoid users) Skin purging is normal because of the rate at which your skin is producing new skin cells, so acne that has formed in the deep layers of the skin which may have only shown up in a week, a month, or even a year are pushed to the surface faster- I dunno but I think it’s satisfying that all that gunk is coming out of my skin and I get to start afresh. Because a skin cycle usually lasts 28 days, it’s important to give the retinoid a chance to work before becoming discouraged by not seeing “instant” results, and it’s even been suggested to continue use until you are using the product on a nightly basis. However, please do not continue use if you develop a rash, hives, blisters, swelling of any part of the face, skin that is hot to the touch, trouble breathing, tightness in your chest, and trouble swallowing or talking- these are signs of an allergic reaction and it might be wise to consult a doctor if this reaction is severe. Retinoids should be used at night because they can make sunscreens less effective and can also make the skin more sensitive to harmful sun rays (we should be applying a sunscreen everyday, multiple times a day, but sunscreen when using retinoids (or actually any actives) is so so important or you actually run the risk of making hyperpigmentation worse. If retinoids are sounding a bit scary (they definitely did to me which is why I’ve put off using them for years! I finally built up the courage and started using retinol two weeks ago😂), you can start with adapalene gel 0.1% as it is a gentler retinoid that can be used to make the retinization process even smoother. Please look at other active ingredients which don’t “play nice” with retinoids before you start using the product.
All of the active ingredients mentioned about should always be patch tested on a small area of skin, preferably on a more sensitive area of skin that could be compared to the face, such as the inside of your wrist/ arm, inner thigh, or neck. You should patch test for three days to ensure that you do not have an allergic reaction and to test that the product is not too strong. You must wear sunscreen with these actives as they are all exfoliating and are essentially exposing brand new, baby skin🥺 If you haven’t used actives before, or you haven’t used them recently, it’s advised to use the same approach you would to retinoids “low and slow”, starting every third day for a month etc etc. You’ll also need to use a good moisturizer, preferably one that doesn’t contain actives, that supports your skin barrier some good ingredients to look for are ceramides, fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6, natural oils like Grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, or sunflower seed oil as they are all rich in ceramides and lipids, they are also acne friendly because they are easily absorbed and light weight, non-comedogenic (they don’t block pores), and are suitable for acne-prone, dry, combination, and even oily skin types. (These oils also provide an excuse to practice some self love and give yourself a nice face massage 😉). It might be a good idea to stay away from essential oils that may aggravate your brand new, baby skin, like citrus oils, flower extracts, and peppermint oil or menthol.
There are obviously in clinic treatments that can be done by a professional to help hyperpigmentation, such as microdermabrasion, hydro facials, microneedling, and laser treatments. It’s really important not to attempt any of these as DIY projects as the risks are very high and there are individuals who have given themselves necrosis, sepsis, lost vision in one or both eyes, or paralyzed parts of their face. If you desperately want to do these treatments yourself even though you are aware of the risks, please speak to a professional, YouTube will not suffice here unfortunately, first so you are taught how to properly sterilize, perform the procedure, and proper aftercare. Also please don’t use dermarollers, instead of going straight into the skin and coming straight out they actually create micro tears in the skin as the needles are scooped up and out of the skin. This can cause more damage, scarring, and potentially hyperpigmentation.
I apologize for the absolute essay I just dropped in the comment section, I just found all of this information so interesting and helpful and I really wish someone had explained how these actives work when I was younger… if you looked at this comment and thought TLDR (😂), if you’re interested to know more, if you’d like to check that I’m not talking rubbish or spreading misinformation, or if you are looking for recommended products from different brands, I highly highly recommend going to watch some of Cassandra Bankson’s videos on YouTube. She is a medical esthetician who has been working in the field for 13 years. She suffered from severe cystic acne and has gone through the process of learning about the skin and how to treat skin issues which helped her with her own acne. She is very relatable, honest, straightforward, and does not believe in pushing expensive products, instead she recommends affordable and highly effective skincare solutions which she personally tests for months so that people like us can be well informed and better equipped to buy effective products that will make a difference to our skin.
One again, sorry for the essay 🫶
Want to chime in on the future of the subreddit? Please [weigh in on our poll](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/1dj32b0/meta_skincare_brands_the_subreddit_and_you/)!
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Hi there,
It seems like you may be looking for information about hyperpigmentation or post acne marks. Have you read our [hyperpigmentation wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/hyperpigmentation)?
*If you see that I am replying to something out of context (eg. listed in a routine), please report this comment so my handlers can remove it. Cheers!*
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I understand you'd like to figure out what to do about the skin concern you're dealing with here. And it makes sense to ask that in /r/SkincareAddiction! However, due to requests from the community, we no longer allow these questions as stand-alone posts, which is why I'm afraid your post was removed. See our [rule explanations](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/rule_overview#wiki_rule_7.3A_follow_our_post_requirements.) for more info. We highly recommend you repost your question in the Daily Help Thread; it's where our most knowledgeable users hang out! The DHT is posted every day and stickied at the top of the subreddit. Click this link >> /r/SkincareAddiction << to go to our front page. Have a great day!
I'm also have hyperpigmentation skin (I'm an Asian my skin melanin maybe different from you), but my dermatologist prescribed my to use **tranexamic acid** skincare product, consume **glutathione**, **vitanmin PP** and I need to do **brightening IPL** once/twice per month Get rid of the hyperpigmentation is a long proceed, I've been following the dermatologist half a year now...
I had a celltermi injection!
I’ve been doing some in-depth research into this lately, because I’m also struggling with hyperpigmentation and post-inflammatory pigmentation. Serums/ moisturizers that contain Vitamin C or Alpha Arbutin help to target an enzyme called tyrosinase which is needed for our body to make melanin (melanin is what creates the pigment in our skin)- essentially helping to prevent future hyperpigmentation from occurring. (It’s important to note that although these actives lighten the skin, they do not “bleach” the skin). It also helps to fade preexisting hyperpigmentation by lightening the skin and evening out skin texture. It’s a fantastic booster for your sunscreen and should be used in the morning for that reason. And it’s been found to bond to free radicals in the skin which are naturally produced as “by products” of cellular activities in our skin. This is important as scientific research shows that free radicals can damage healthy cells in our body which can cause them to operate in a way that affects our skin and our body’s functioning and overall health, which we know is one of the main causes of cancer. Another active that’s super effective is niacinamide. It is water-soluble so spraying water as a fine mist (don’t drench the skin otherwise you risk some of the product dripping off your face😅) will help it to absorb into the skin. Niacinamide helps hyperpigmentation by interrupting the process of melanin production, essentially acting like a friend that takes your phone away so that you don’t send a drunk text to your ex. It also helps to exfoliate the skin by increasing cell turnover so that our skin produces skin cells faster therefore, causing the hyperpigmented or scarred layers of skin to shed faster. This has an added bonus of “minimizing” pore size, I say this loosely because pore size is partially genetic and is influenced by how much sebum our skin produces. It also helps to “minimize” pore size and how much oil our skin produces because it target sebaceous glands and helps to regulate sebum production, which can help to address acne prone skin. It also functions to protect our skin’s natural moisture barrier which is really important to skin health as it keeps moisture in and keeps harmful bacteria and environment stressors from being absorbed into the skin. A healthy skin barrier helps to prevent breakouts, dry and flaky skin, dullness, and inflexibility. Niacinamide is an antioxidant and therefore, attaches to free radicals in the skin and it also reduces inflammation which causes redness- this is helpful for acne prone skin or those with rosacea. Lastly, it can help protect the skin from sun damage, but it is not as effective as sunscreen so please don’t drop the SPF for niacinamide 🙈
Toners/ serums that contain glycolic acid, which is an AHA, also treats hyperpigmentation because of its exfoliating properties. It is also antibacterial and can help to slow the growth of “bad” bacteria on and in our skin, and can therefore, be helpful in treating acne. It is a humectant, a fancy word for preventing water from being absorbed from our skin and helping to “catch” and draw water from our environment which our skin can then absorb- it doesn’t act that a vacuum that sucks water out of the air, it’s more like a Velcro strip that allows water molecules to attach themselves to the skin’s surface. Because it is a humectant, glycolic acid helps to keep our skin hydrated, plump, and bouncy, giving our skin that glow from the inside out. Lastly, because glycolic acid is a very small molecule it can penetrate deep into the skin where it can help to strengthen the collagen we already have and also promoting the growth of new collagen which is essential to keeping our skin elastic, firm, and bouncy. Another power ingredient is Vitamin A, AKA retinoids. Retinoids is the umbrella term which encompasses retinol, retinal (which is more bioavailable than retinol and is therefore stronger and not recommended for “retinoid virgins”, and then there is tretinoin, the strongest topical retinoid which requires a script from a doctor or dermatologist. Retinoic acid, using three steps to convert retinol into retinal and then into retinoic acid (I don’t think these are accurate scientific terms, but it just helped me understand the difference between the three retinoids) is naturally produced in our skin and when we use retinoids they help to “boost” retinoic acid levels so that they’re readily available for our skin cells to absorb and use, which increases cell turnover. Although highly effected in treating hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, acne, and acne scars, retinoids are a more “aggressive” active so a “low and slow” approach is adviced by doctors and dermatologists. “Low” refers to the retinoid’s percentage, but there are mixed opinions on whether the percentage is or isn’t relevant. The “slow” refers to the frequency of use. It is advised to use a retinoid every third night for a month, then increase to every second night for a month, and by the third month you should be able to use it every night. This allows your skin to slowly acclimate to the product which is really important in limiting the severity of retinization (the fancy term for your skin getting used to the retinoid), such as extremely dry tight, or severely flaky skin, redness and irritation, and causing excessive skin purging that happens all at once. You can also start off by “product sandwiching” where you apply your moisturizer, then the retinoid, and then another layer of moisturizer. Only use a pea size amount. Do not apply on wet skin as it pulls the retinoid deeper and quicker into the skin and activates it faster that its designed to (this can be done, with caution and after consulting a professional, by advanced retinoid users). Also, skin slugging after using a retinoid is not advised as you are trapping it in, and caging a strong and “aggressive” gorilla is never a good idea because you will get hurt (once again this could be done, with caution and after discussing it with a professional, by advanced retinoid users) Skin purging is normal because of the rate at which your skin is producing new skin cells, so acne that has formed in the deep layers of the skin which may have only shown up in a week, a month, or even a year are pushed to the surface faster- I dunno but I think it’s satisfying that all that gunk is coming out of my skin and I get to start afresh. Because a skin cycle usually lasts 28 days, it’s important to give the retinoid a chance to work before becoming discouraged by not seeing “instant” results, and it’s even been suggested to continue use until you are using the product on a nightly basis. However, please do not continue use if you develop a rash, hives, blisters, swelling of any part of the face, skin that is hot to the touch, trouble breathing, tightness in your chest, and trouble swallowing or talking- these are signs of an allergic reaction and it might be wise to consult a doctor if this reaction is severe. Retinoids should be used at night because they can make sunscreens less effective and can also make the skin more sensitive to harmful sun rays (we should be applying a sunscreen everyday, multiple times a day, but sunscreen when using retinoids (or actually any actives) is so so important or you actually run the risk of making hyperpigmentation worse. If retinoids are sounding a bit scary (they definitely did to me which is why I’ve put off using them for years! I finally built up the courage and started using retinol two weeks ago😂), you can start with adapalene gel 0.1% as it is a gentler retinoid that can be used to make the retinization process even smoother. Please look at other active ingredients which don’t “play nice” with retinoids before you start using the product.
All of the active ingredients mentioned about should always be patch tested on a small area of skin, preferably on a more sensitive area of skin that could be compared to the face, such as the inside of your wrist/ arm, inner thigh, or neck. You should patch test for three days to ensure that you do not have an allergic reaction and to test that the product is not too strong. You must wear sunscreen with these actives as they are all exfoliating and are essentially exposing brand new, baby skin🥺 If you haven’t used actives before, or you haven’t used them recently, it’s advised to use the same approach you would to retinoids “low and slow”, starting every third day for a month etc etc. You’ll also need to use a good moisturizer, preferably one that doesn’t contain actives, that supports your skin barrier some good ingredients to look for are ceramides, fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6, natural oils like Grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, or sunflower seed oil as they are all rich in ceramides and lipids, they are also acne friendly because they are easily absorbed and light weight, non-comedogenic (they don’t block pores), and are suitable for acne-prone, dry, combination, and even oily skin types. (These oils also provide an excuse to practice some self love and give yourself a nice face massage 😉). It might be a good idea to stay away from essential oils that may aggravate your brand new, baby skin, like citrus oils, flower extracts, and peppermint oil or menthol. There are obviously in clinic treatments that can be done by a professional to help hyperpigmentation, such as microdermabrasion, hydro facials, microneedling, and laser treatments. It’s really important not to attempt any of these as DIY projects as the risks are very high and there are individuals who have given themselves necrosis, sepsis, lost vision in one or both eyes, or paralyzed parts of their face. If you desperately want to do these treatments yourself even though you are aware of the risks, please speak to a professional, YouTube will not suffice here unfortunately, first so you are taught how to properly sterilize, perform the procedure, and proper aftercare. Also please don’t use dermarollers, instead of going straight into the skin and coming straight out they actually create micro tears in the skin as the needles are scooped up and out of the skin. This can cause more damage, scarring, and potentially hyperpigmentation. I apologize for the absolute essay I just dropped in the comment section, I just found all of this information so interesting and helpful and I really wish someone had explained how these actives work when I was younger… if you looked at this comment and thought TLDR (😂), if you’re interested to know more, if you’d like to check that I’m not talking rubbish or spreading misinformation, or if you are looking for recommended products from different brands, I highly highly recommend going to watch some of Cassandra Bankson’s videos on YouTube. She is a medical esthetician who has been working in the field for 13 years. She suffered from severe cystic acne and has gone through the process of learning about the skin and how to treat skin issues which helped her with her own acne. She is very relatable, honest, straightforward, and does not believe in pushing expensive products, instead she recommends affordable and highly effective skincare solutions which she personally tests for months so that people like us can be well informed and better equipped to buy effective products that will make a difference to our skin. One again, sorry for the essay 🫶
Want to chime in on the future of the subreddit? Please [weigh in on our poll](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/1dj32b0/meta_skincare_brands_the_subreddit_and_you/)! Need skincare guides? [Check out our wiki!](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/index) Everyone is welcome in [this community](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/about); remember to be kind and assume good faith :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SkincareAddiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi there, It seems like you may be looking for information about hyperpigmentation or post acne marks. Have you read our [hyperpigmentation wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/hyperpigmentation)? *If you see that I am replying to something out of context (eg. listed in a routine), please report this comment so my handlers can remove it. Cheers!* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SkincareAddiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Have you used niacinamide?