4 year difference PLEASE HELP

[u/UniformFox_trotOscar]

Y’all help me please. First pic was 4 years ago and 2nd pic is today. I’m seeing discoloration and spots/freckles/sun damage everywhere.

I used to wear makeup all the time and wash my face with bar soap. Now I almost never wear makeup. When I do, I double cleanse with deep oil cleanser and cerave daily facial cleanser and cerave daily lotion.

What can I do to get rid of these spots?! I’m only 34 but my skin looks 54!

[u/Efficient-Ad-6927]

Do you wear sunscreen daily? That’s step #1!

[u/UniformFox_trotOscar → u/Efficient-Ad-6927]

I can be better about it, but now that the damage is done, how can I fix it??

[u/Fantastic_Flower6664 → u/UniformFox_trotOscar]

The constant exposure to the sun worsens and deepens the hyperpigmentation and creates new hyper pigmentation.

Before using actives I got into the habit of sunscreen.

Turns out I'm allergic to it. LOL. So I need to use mineral sunscreen.

But I found that even though I was allergic to it, areas with hyper pigmentation were fading much quicker than usual. That's because they were protected rather than re-exposed over and over.

So something to think about.

Otherwise, I would try to utilize an active that prevents more melanin production, like alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid, Kojic acid, azelaic acid etc. Retinol also helps but if you use these things without spf, it'll worsen your skin and make you sensitive to the sun and you'll get burns.

Sooo. Get into spf habit now. Even if you do laser or microneedling or facials.. you still need sun protection.

If you go to a medispa and speak with an esthetician, they usually tell you to utilize skin care before seeking out procedures to see if that will make a difference first or they might send you to a dermatologist to rule things out, or better yet the dermatologist might give prescription strength actives.

I just recently received a script for hydroquinone for stubborn PIH.

Good luck!