subject: The Effectiveness Of Otc Skin Lightening Creams Exposed [print this page] After a period of 8 years, in an unlikely event, I was thrilled to be reunited with Nicole, my ex-classmate. I could only remember our convocation when we we received our honorary degrees in international business at Capital University. I wasn't trying to be mean but I could not stop looking at her liver spots on her face and shoulders.
One thing she did a lot over the years was spending time at the beach to get herself tanned. I believe this had caused pigmentation problems on her skin. So many people actually have this skin problem. No doubt getting a little sun is good but too much of it is really bad.
The skin brightening cream that my friend uses has alpha hydroxy acid as one of its ingredients. She bought it at a beauty shop. To her dismay, her skin still looks the same. That can be so frustrating.
The ideal treatment would be cosmetic surgery. However, that is not an option with her current financial situation. I can tell she still have hopes in finding an OTC remedy to fade her dark spots. So, is there really a product that works in getting rid of sun spots? I know I'm not the only one with this question.
If you want to know about skin care products, the best person to ask would be a dermatologist right? Well, most of them are of the opinion that OTC fade creams are useless and will not do the job well. I can understand why they say that. Just look at what is required for these OTC creams to go on sale. Compared to medications, there are no strict tests to past.
Mild treatments will not be effective on age spots that are the result of sun damage. You may have heard of laser resurfacing. Fraxel Restore Dual, Sciton tunable erbium laser and DOT Co2 are such treatments and commonly done by doctors when carrying out full face, neck and chest treatments. Intense pulse light (IPL), GentleLase laser and Q-switched Yag laser is what the doctors use of spot treatments. You want a cheaper option to laser, there is liquid nitrogen.
OTC creams look very promising with all their advertising. They convince you that they will solve your pigmentation problems but after trying it out, many don't deliver the promised results. On the other hand, the Obagi System seems to surpass people's expectations. Even some dermatologists recommend it. What I'm hearing is that it really helps with skin damaged skin and makes your skin look amazing enough for other people to notice a difference. So, there is hope after all. How does it improve your skin?
Obagi Nu-Derm System uses both tretinoin and hydroquinone to visibly lighten age spots. A combination of prescription product containing hydroquinone 4% or higher and retinoic acid or other retinoid derivative may deliver best results. This way is not super expensive. In fact, it is cheaper than other cosmetic treatments that treat serious pigmentation conditions. Furthermore, its results are backed by medical science.
Do not think the only sure way for you is through laser treatment. The Obagi System might exceed your expectation but you must first carry out their directions with exactness. If you really want to know whether the products work or not, you cannot use it however you like.
One of the main ingredients the Obagi system uses to fade your brown spots is hydroquinone. This chemical slows the production of melanin in two ways. With hydroquinone, your skin is prevented from synthesizing melanin because it blocks the enzyme needed for the process. It also disintegrates the structure of melanocytes, which are the cells that give us color. You need to be patient as the fading process does take some time. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could get rid of the spots within a few days? That's wishful thinking. I can feel your frustration.
You have to know though, that research indicates long term use of hydroquinone to be bad. There is risk of cancer. In certain countries, it is a banned substance with regards to over the counter beauty products.
What is the FDA's take on it? Well, they allow you to use it but not more than 3 months straight. This limit is not long enough to see results. It depends on the severity of your pigmentation issues. If the reason for your uneven skin tone is because of extreme sun exposure over many years, do you really expect your skin to heal within 3 months? So, what are you to do?
You don't have to rely on hydroquinone alone. When combined with vitamin C, retinol creams and glycolic acid, you have a more powerful treatment plan. These other ingredients can easily be found in skin care creams and serums. They may reduce the darkness of the lesions over time. What happens is those other ingredients help to get rid of dead skin cells on your skin's surface. This allows the hydroquinone to better penetrate down to the underlying layers of your skin. Just remember that it will take some time to see the reduction of the dark spots. After all that is said, we still cannot deny that in-office laser treatments may still give you better satisfaction. Maybe, you can approach your problem with laser and support that with other types of skin treatments such as face peels, microdermabrasion or even natural solutions. Sometimes, you have to tackle the problem using several ways.
If you age spots are stubborn and won't respond to your over-the-counter cream, you might need a stronger treatment method. The most effective treatments will be prescription creams such as Retin A and hydroquinone. Some people's skin may not be able to stand hydroquinone. It could get irritated. In that case, tretinoin cream may be more suitable. It is also pretty good at treating dark spots.
However, don't be surprised if you approach a skin specialist and they tell you that your pigmentation problem cannot be solved by their prescribed creams with 4% hydroquinone. It is hard to say as everyone skin condition is different. Some people's problem are mild while others are more severe.
So, when it comes to deciding what treatment to choose, it won't hurt to get the professional advise of a dermatologist first. Know the true nature of your age spots. Make sure it is not there because of some other health problem. Sometimes, the problem is runs deeper than we think.
You raise your cancer risk when you tan often under the sun. Even tanning beds are bad. Dark spots in itself do not pose a health risk. It doesn't spread like cancer. However, you do have to watch for changes to the spots. Those spots could lead to melanoma, or actual cancerous spots. There is no medical problem when it is just hyperpigmentation. What the sun does to your skin is the problem. The dangerous rays of the sun is what causes changes to your skin. Do not underestimate the harmful effects of the sun. People should not ignore this.
Your health insurance should cover the expenses involved in this type of skin evaluation. You have to say it is a medical dermatology visit. If your insurance does not cover the consultation fees or the doctor's clinic refuse to accept your insurance, don't worry as the consultation fees are reasonable.
If you are fortunate enough to find an OTC skin brightener that works for you, try not to let any more new brown spots emerge. Don't let your skin be exposed to the sun too much. Don't be lazy about putting on sunblock lotion. Look for lotions that protect you from both UVA and UVB and get one with sufficient SPF. Even if the blotches have faded, you must continue to use sunblock rigorously. Don't leave home unprotected. Let's say you managed to solve your skin problem. With continued sun exposure, it is likely your age spots will return. You better take my word for it. You'll notice a big difference when you pay attention to sunblock over the course of many months. If left alone, untreated brown spots can fade a little by themselves. Even so, don't be lazy.
If you are not happy with how the over-the-counter creams have fared so far and your financial situation becomes better, you should consider laser surgery to remove your dark spots. When the laser is aimed at the affected areas, the melanin pigments will disintegrate. This way the body can eliminate whatever melanin that is not needed without any difficulty. The melanin containing structures are broken down with the use of laser. It has the hydroquinone does.
