Why do I have brown patches and spots on my face?
This is caused by overstimulated and irregular pigment production, known as hyper-pigmentation. Some contributing factors are sun exposure, heat, injury, hormone fluctuations and pregnancy.
How can I improve this condition?
There are medical grade skin care products and treatments effective in improving and controlling this chronic condition.
What are effective products?
Hydroquinone (HQ) is a result oriented product to help suppress the pigment production. This pigment begins deep in the basal layer of your skin. It is recommended to use HQ for no more than 5 months.
What are the concerns of using HQ for more than 5 months?
Long term use of HQ alone can become non-effective in treating hyper-pigmentation. Some studies have shown that there is a rare condition called exogenous ochronosis that was linked with prolonged hydroquinone use longer than 6 months. This can cause the skin to present with brown-grey or blue-black hyper-pigmentation and is very difficult to treat.
Should you immediately stop HQ if you’re using it for more than 5 months?
It is NOT recommended to abruptly stop HQ use, but to gradually wean off of it as you replace it with a medical grade NON HQ product such as Zein Obagi MD’s (ZO) Brightenex, Brightalive, or for a more mild condition, C-Bright maybe the best choice for you. The danger in discontinuing HQ without weaning off and replacing it with an alternative pigment regulator could result in rebound hyper-pigmentation which means you may develop more unwanted pigment as the suppression of HQ has been removed.
Where can I go to have someone help me get on the right skin care regimen for my specific concerns?
You will find 6 very caring and qualified Medical Aestheticians at Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery (pvps.com) able to improve skin conditions such as aging, hyper-pigmentation and acne by using medical grade products and treatments. You can also utilize our Nurse Practitioners for laser treatments such as the Halo and BBL, that can also help to fight hyper-pigmentation. Here at Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery you have a team of experts at your fingertips!
Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation (904) 273-6200.
Kim Lindsey - Aesthetician
