Brief Answer:
Diet + Sunprotection + Medications

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.

After analyzing your query I can make out that you are really stressed about your over-tanning and pigmentation of the areas. It is sometimes really distressing for a young girl to have pigmentation problem.

Let me guide you regarding your tanning and pigmentation problem. There are two important factors involved in the pigmentation of these areas:

1. Genetical Melanosis: The pigmentation at the facial, neck, underarm and groin areas is genetically determined. To tell you simply, the darkness is due to the activity of melanocytes in the skin. These melanocytes are the cells which regularly produces color/pigment known as melanin in the skin. These are superficially present in the upper skin known as epidermis. This is a tendency in ourselves to get higher activity of these melanocytes at all these areas according to our genetic make up. It is seen on higher side in people of Asiatic origin than in white population. So accordingly in XXXXXXX skin it is seen on higher side as compared to white skin people.

2. Secondly face area is further darkened by the process known as "Post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation" or PIH. The facial area is prone for sun damage and it causes over production of melanin in the skin. This pigmentation is known as "sun tanning". So by the production of melanin in excess, the area gets further darkened over the years.

I can make out form your query that you used to swim by the age of 9 years thereby have had lot of sun damage.

Though our superficial skin gets renewed every 28 days but the tendency of over secretion of melanin takes long period of time to get reduced. Therefore before you think in this matter you should have enough of patience to see good results.

In my patients wth your kind of problem I guide them for a holistic approach of :

"Diet + Sunprotection + Medications"

- In diet you should have best of vitamin C and vitamin A containing fruits along with lot of liquids everyday. Vitamin A in diet helps to give you sun-protection internally while vitmain C in diet helps in reducing the activity of melanocytes.

- For sun-protection you can use any good sunscreen regularly according to your skin type. Apply it every 3 hourly if you stay out side other wise two time is enough if you are staying at home.

- For medications - there are a lot of things available in general market as well as in pharmacies claiming anti-tanning agents but I find most of these hazardous for skin. So I humbly request you to not to use anything without "STRICT" dermatological supervision.

If I were your treating dermatologist then would have prescribed a cream (under dermatological supervision) containing Kojic acid with arbutin and mulberry extract in it.

Alternatively Azelaic acid gel can be applied over the affected area of pigmentation. These are one of the best and safest creams to be applied. I suggest my patients to apply any of these creams in a very thin layer at night time only so that these should not be visible to naked eye. Apply at night time before sleeping.

I suggest you to meet a dermatologist near you to get best of guidance. Have good follow up for the same and specifically have patience to see the results.

I have seen that sun protection with good diet not only helps in renewing the skin better as well as works best to protect our skin.

I hope these informations will help you. I will be glad to reply any further queries. "Wish you good glowing skin"

Regards,

Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD- Dermatology

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Brief Answer:
Do not self apply any medication

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome again to the forum and thanks for your prompt follow up.

I really do appreciate your feelings and understand it well. As I said you should use any of the creams under strict dermatological guidance only. So it means you should get yourself examined personally by a dermatologist and accordingly get the proper concentration and combination of the above mentioned and other related best and safe creams. It would be requiring mutiple of months of period to see visible results. So you must have patience for good results.

I request you to not to self apply any creams because it requires close physical examination to get grade of pigmentation and accordingly alteration in doses. I beg your pardon that our forum is not to prescribe any medication but it is to help you out in best of suggestions to line up your pathway to perfect guidance.

I suggest you to meet a good dermatologist in your city who can analyze your grade of pigmentation and accordingly prescribe you the right concentration of creams.

Till that time you can follow good diet and sunscreen application to aid in improvement of your complexion from your side.

So just relax and do not worry.

I hope these information will help you. I will be glad to answer any further of your queries or if not then can close the discussion and rate the answer.

"Wish you good glowing skin"

Regards,

Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD- Dermatology

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