discolorations

[fsuarez]

a white discoloration has formed on the tip of my nose (i'm Hispanic), and it perfectly surrounds a dark spot. this is a new development, but i have had something similar to this on the bridge of my nose for a few years. any ideas of what this could be? it really bothers me and was wondering if there was any product out there that i could use to darken it. i was thinking about putting some self tanner just on those spots, but being as though i've never used a self tanner before...perhaps there's something better you could recommend. i wouldn't want to make it look worse.

just recently a few dark spots have appeared on my cheeks and nose. i was wondering if they could be related to the birth control pills that i take. i've been on Ovcon since 9/04. is it even possible to start seeing side affects of this medication so later after the fact that i began the taking it?

and finally. i had laser surgery just over one month ago to remove a broken blood vessel on my face that was result from a cyst. the red is completely gone, but what is left is a dark area. my dermatologist gave me Aclaro to bleach it, but i'm a little afraid to use it. i definitely don't want to make it look worse? how safe is it? are the effects permanent? i was wondering if perhaps i should wait a while longer before using it to see if it might go away on it's own. it doesn't seem to be going away, but again, it has only been one month. what do you think?

thank you so much!

[fsuarez]

oh well the possibility of the Ovcon being the cause of the dark spots didn't occur to me until just the other day. and i really wasn't worried about the white discoloration at first. i mean, i thought (or at least hoped) it would just go away on it's own, but just a week ago it became much more white (and much more apparent). and my next appointment with my dermatologist isn't until October, so i just thought i'd ask. it'd be nice to be able to cover them up in the meantime, but i'll definitely ask her what i can do about it when i see her. thanks!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

To take your last question first, pigmentation from something like laser surgery usually takes several months to go away on skin of color, but it does so on its own.  Lightening creams like Aclaro usually don;t add much.

As to your earlier questions, someone would have to see them in person to answer you properly.  Since you already saw a dermatologist who performed laser treatment on your face, may I ask why you didn't ask these questions of him or her?  

In any case, that's what you should do, I think.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff