VALLEYGIRL
2004-07-12, 04:37 AM
Hello all!
Havent been here in a long time but I know how we all suffer from dark spots on our complexion as a result of acne and/or sun exposure. I wanted to share some products that have worked for me.
I had extremely BAD hyperpigmentation. I jacked up my face with a home microdermabrasion kit and had large dark marks on my face.
Most of the 2% hydroquinone creams that you can purchase over the counter are either for minor spots from acne, innefective or take 6 months to a year to fade marks.
One product that works very well for acne spots is Dermaclair Gel. You can find it at many beauty supply stores and it costs anywhere from $3-$5. Thery also make a soap that contains hydroquinone that when used with the gel fades your spots even faster. If you can not find this product locally you can purchase it online at guesso.com.
My hyperpigmentation was beyond the help of the Dermaclair. So I reached out to a black dermatoligist named Dr Pearl Grimes. Although i feel she is expensive, I highly reccommend her. She is an international specialist on vitiligo and hyperpigmentation. She is a very nice lady and her skin is flawless and I can not guess her age. If you live in the Los Angeles area and feel that you have tried everything please pay her a visit.
She gave me 10% hydroquinone cream in a hydrocortisone base which faded my spots in under 10 days! (The hydrocortisone helps the hydroquinone reach into the top layers of the skin)
She compounds this formula herself so you can not get this from most dermatoligists.
Her website is pearlgrimesmd.com
If you are not in the LA area and feel you need this, I would suggest you call different dermatoligsts and ask if they do compounding formulas to treat hyperpigmentation. Make sure they use a hydrocortisone base to get the best possible results.
Another derm that does compounding in LA is Dr Carla Herriford. I have not been to see her personally but I know she offers 8%, 10% and 12% hydroquinone in a hydrocortisone base. Her base is an ointment base as opposed to Dr. Grimes base which is the cream hydrocortisone base.
(dont know if it makes a difference) I also know her prices are a bit more reasonable that Dr Grimes. She charges $35-$40 for her skin bleach where Dr Grimes charges $75-$85 for her skin bleach.
Her website is facebydrcarla.com.
Another place again in the LA area that I reccommend is Lady Dee's Corrective Skincare Studio. It is in Beverly Hills and many black celebrities are clients. (Nia Long, Jaime Foxx)
She sells a product called Super Skin Lightener that turned me two shades lighter! She does not divuldge her ingredients but this stuff is potent. Her products are nigerian beauty secrets I was told. She did say that you must keep this product refridgerated and that it does include hydroquinone and AHA. I will let you all know it lightened my entire complexion but did not do much for my dark spots as I was told to apply all over and not spot treat. They also sell a hydroquinone lotion that I did not find effective. My cousin also used it and said it did not do anything for her.
If you do not live in LA you can call and speak to Sharon the esthetician or Diane, the owner. You can tell them you skin problem and they sell the products via mail order only if you are referred by a patient. Unfortunately they do not have a website but the phone number is 310 659 7082. You can tell either Diane or Sharon you are a friend of Shelley's.
And lastly on the greatskin.com website you can purchase 8% and 10% hydroquinone. As far as I know these do not have a hydrocortisone base (they do not list ingredients) but the 10% is extremely potent. It lightened one spot after 2 applications. On the website you will not need a prescription but you will need an online consultation. They also offer %10 hydroquinone in a %0.1tretinoin (Retin-A) base. I am sure that this will be very effective and make your skin peel. I must note that I only purchased the %10 HQ not the one with the retin-A. The bleach creams sell for $63-$73
Ok I hope I have covered everything. To sum everything up, I think that the HQ from Dr Grimes with the hydrocortisone base was the best for MY particular stubborn case of hyperpigmentation. You may not need something that strong. I do not work for ANY of the business I listed above ....just trying to help my sisters out and help them achieve beautiful flawless skin!
Also please remember when using any kind of bleach cream you MUST wear sunscreen or the spots will return.
If you sleep near a window without heavy drapes and do not wake up shortly after the sun rises you will be exposing your skin to UVA rays which penetrate glass and not helping your hyperpigmentation. Same for if you do a lot of driving and your windows are not tinted. Sounds crazy but this is what I learned from the derms and estheticians who treat bad complexions.
So good luck and remember if my skin which was horrible can be restored then there is hope for everyone else.
Valleygirl
PS I reccomend the above derms for hyperpigmentation only. I can not say how they are for the treatment of acne.
Havent been here in a long time but I know how we all suffer from dark spots on our complexion as a result of acne and/or sun exposure. I wanted to share some products that have worked for me.
I had extremely BAD hyperpigmentation. I jacked up my face with a home microdermabrasion kit and had large dark marks on my face.
Most of the 2% hydroquinone creams that you can purchase over the counter are either for minor spots from acne, innefective or take 6 months to a year to fade marks.
One product that works very well for acne spots is Dermaclair Gel. You can find it at many beauty supply stores and it costs anywhere from $3-$5. Thery also make a soap that contains hydroquinone that when used with the gel fades your spots even faster. If you can not find this product locally you can purchase it online at guesso.com.
My hyperpigmentation was beyond the help of the Dermaclair. So I reached out to a black dermatoligist named Dr Pearl Grimes. Although i feel she is expensive, I highly reccommend her. She is an international specialist on vitiligo and hyperpigmentation. She is a very nice lady and her skin is flawless and I can not guess her age. If you live in the Los Angeles area and feel that you have tried everything please pay her a visit.
She gave me 10% hydroquinone cream in a hydrocortisone base which faded my spots in under 10 days! (The hydrocortisone helps the hydroquinone reach into the top layers of the skin)
She compounds this formula herself so you can not get this from most dermatoligists.
Her website is pearlgrimesmd.com
If you are not in the LA area and feel you need this, I would suggest you call different dermatoligsts and ask if they do compounding formulas to treat hyperpigmentation. Make sure they use a hydrocortisone base to get the best possible results.
Another derm that does compounding in LA is Dr Carla Herriford. I have not been to see her personally but I know she offers 8%, 10% and 12% hydroquinone in a hydrocortisone base. Her base is an ointment base as opposed to Dr. Grimes base which is the cream hydrocortisone base.
(dont know if it makes a difference) I also know her prices are a bit more reasonable that Dr Grimes. She charges $35-$40 for her skin bleach where Dr Grimes charges $75-$85 for her skin bleach.
Her website is facebydrcarla.com.
Another place again in the LA area that I reccommend is Lady Dee's Corrective Skincare Studio. It is in Beverly Hills and many black celebrities are clients. (Nia Long, Jaime Foxx)
She sells a product called Super Skin Lightener that turned me two shades lighter! She does not divuldge her ingredients but this stuff is potent. Her products are nigerian beauty secrets I was told. She did say that you must keep this product refridgerated and that it does include hydroquinone and AHA. I will let you all know it lightened my entire complexion but did not do much for my dark spots as I was told to apply all over and not spot treat. They also sell a hydroquinone lotion that I did not find effective. My cousin also used it and said it did not do anything for her.
If you do not live in LA you can call and speak to Sharon the esthetician or Diane, the owner. You can tell them you skin problem and they sell the products via mail order only if you are referred by a patient. Unfortunately they do not have a website but the phone number is 310 659 7082. You can tell either Diane or Sharon you are a friend of Shelley's.
And lastly on the greatskin.com website you can purchase 8% and 10% hydroquinone. As far as I know these do not have a hydrocortisone base (they do not list ingredients) but the 10% is extremely potent. It lightened one spot after 2 applications. On the website you will not need a prescription but you will need an online consultation. They also offer %10 hydroquinone in a %0.1tretinoin (Retin-A) base. I am sure that this will be very effective and make your skin peel. I must note that I only purchased the %10 HQ not the one with the retin-A. The bleach creams sell for $63-$73
Ok I hope I have covered everything. To sum everything up, I think that the HQ from Dr Grimes with the hydrocortisone base was the best for MY particular stubborn case of hyperpigmentation. You may not need something that strong. I do not work for ANY of the business I listed above ....just trying to help my sisters out and help them achieve beautiful flawless skin!
Also please remember when using any kind of bleach cream you MUST wear sunscreen or the spots will return.
If you sleep near a window without heavy drapes and do not wake up shortly after the sun rises you will be exposing your skin to UVA rays which penetrate glass and not helping your hyperpigmentation. Same for if you do a lot of driving and your windows are not tinted. Sounds crazy but this is what I learned from the derms and estheticians who treat bad complexions.
So good luck and remember if my skin which was horrible can be restored then there is hope for everyone else.
Valleygirl
PS I reccomend the above derms for hyperpigmentation only. I can not say how they are for the treatment of acne.