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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Aclaro
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Aclaro
by fsuarez, Nov 15, 2006 12:00AM
hi,
i had laser surgery five months ago, but still have a dark discoloration from it (i have olive skin tone). how long could it take to go away? or is it now permanent?
i've been prescribed Aclaro to help fade it, but haven't yet used it in that area. i did however use it on my chin to help fade a dark mark that my doctor said it would also help with. however, it did nothing. my concern is that while i was on it (after the initial red irritation went away) it made the mark darker. and as soon as i stopped using it, the mark returned to it's initial color.
my regular dermatologist is away on pregnancy leave, so when i asked another doctor in her office about this she said that it wasn't normal for my skin to become darker while on this medication. and that it was very strange to have such a reaction when i should be getting the exact opposite reaction. yet at the same time she said to keep using the Aclaro. i'm confused. is this normal? should i keep using it?
also, my regular doctor said to only use the Aclaro for six months or less (depending on how i see it progressing) and then stop all together, and just avoid the sun as much as possible because exposure will make the mark come back. but this new doctor says that i will always have to use it. so who is right?
f.y.i. i used it for six months, only because i couldn't see it progressing, since (again) it actually became darker. perhaps that wasn't long enough?
and one last question. can Aclaro lighten surrounding skin that you don't want to lighten if it comes into contact with it? i've been very careful about applying it, in fear of accidentally bleaching my natural skin color.
thank you so much!
i had laser surgery five months ago, but still have a dark discoloration from it (i have olive skin tone). how long could it take to go away? or is it now permanent?
i've been prescribed Aclaro to help fade it, but haven't yet used it in that area. i did however use it on my chin to help fade a dark mark that my doctor said it would also help with. however, it did nothing. my concern is that while i was on it (after the initial red irritation went away) it made the mark darker. and as soon as i stopped using it, the mark returned to it's initial color.
my regular dermatologist is away on pregnancy leave, so when i asked another doctor in her office about this she said that it wasn't normal for my skin to become darker while on this medication. and that it was very strange to have such a reaction when i should be getting the exact opposite reaction. yet at the same time she said to keep using the Aclaro. i'm confused. is this normal? should i keep using it?
also, my regular doctor said to only use the Aclaro for six months or less (depending on how i see it progressing) and then stop all together, and just avoid the sun as much as possible because exposure will make the mark come back. but this new doctor says that i will always have to use it. so who is right?
f.y.i. i used it for six months, only because i couldn't see it progressing, since (again) it actually became darker. perhaps that wasn't long enough?
and one last question. can Aclaro lighten surrounding skin that you don't want to lighten if it comes into contact with it? i've been very careful about applying it, in fear of accidentally bleaching my natural skin color.
thank you so much!
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Nov 15, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 15, 2006 12:00AM
Aclaro (hydroquinone) is not very effective at lightening marks left from irritation such as surgery. Time does a better job.
Hydroquinone can rarely make skin darker. Since it's not helping you anyway, I think you ought to stop and consult your dermatologist for further instructions. But time is the best healer of these things--the medicines we have for lightening skin aren't very potent.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Hydroquinone can rarely make skin darker. Since it's not helping you anyway, I think you ought to stop and consult your dermatologist for further instructions. But time is the best healer of these things--the medicines we have for lightening skin aren't very potent.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
