darker than before

[michealhelpme]

hi im a skin type 6 male, in the summer i tried to lighten my face i didn't use sunscreen and now im darker than before. i've waited nearly 6 months but it still the same. what shall i do? is there anything i can do to go back to my skin tone before i started.

[michealhelpme]

thanks, i went to the dermatologist last year december and they said they won't operate on me, because they said if i get lighter they may be patches all over my face and the skin tone won't be even.
maybe i could buy peels online and try them at home, if so which one would be best and how do i use them.

p.s. i just want to go back to my original skin tone i dont want to be lighter

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Since the darkening has occurred after tanning, so it is not permanent damage to the melanocytes. You should wear long sleeved cotton clothes and apply sun screen with a minimum spf of 30 atleast half an hour before going out in the sun. Avoid using any creams with bleaching agents but you can use creams with AHA or licorice. If the symptoms are severe then laser treatment or microdermarasion can be used.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.