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What Causes Patches Of Skin To Turn Tan, Dark And Scaly?

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Posted on Thu, 11 Jun 2015
Question: my hands are extremely dark and scaly and my face is tanned as well. suggest medical treatment to have a even skin colour. My body has a wheatish complexion.I use moisturiser regularly . I see that using sun screen lotion makes my skin look more tanned and greasy. Also area around the hips and buttocks are very dark compared to other parts of the skin.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Broad spectrum sunscreen + glycolic acid based cream

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthacermagic

I have gone through your query and I have understood it.

UV A part of the electromagnetic spectrum is mainly responsible for tanning.

First and foremost you must use a broad spectrum sunscreen, on all exposed skin including face, throughout the day.
A sunscreen should be broad spectrum to be effective against UV A. It should re-applied every 2-3 hours.
Neutrogena's ultrasheer dry touch sunblock with an spf of 50+ is one such example of a broad spectrum sunscreen and would be available over the counter.
Sunscreen would not reduce already existing XXXXXXX but would help in preventing it and fading it faster along with pigment reducing creams.

At night you may use a cream containing one or more of pigment reducing agents like glyolic acid etc on areas which you feel are darker than your normal skin tone.

Mechanism of action of glycolic acid is exfoliating of pre-existing melanin. Glycolic acid is also hydrating and therefore would moisturize as well as reduce scaling.

Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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What Causes Patches Of Skin To Turn Tan, Dark And Scaly?

Brief Answer: Broad spectrum sunscreen + glycolic acid based cream Detailed Answer: Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthacermagic I have gone through your query and I have understood it. UV A part of the electromagnetic spectrum is mainly responsible for tanning. First and foremost you must use a broad spectrum sunscreen, on all exposed skin including face, throughout the day. A sunscreen should be broad spectrum to be effective against UV A. It should re-applied every 2-3 hours. Neutrogena's ultrasheer dry touch sunblock with an spf of 50+ is one such example of a broad spectrum sunscreen and would be available over the counter. Sunscreen would not reduce already existing XXXXXXX but would help in preventing it and fading it faster along with pigment reducing creams. At night you may use a cream containing one or more of pigment reducing agents like glyolic acid etc on areas which you feel are darker than your normal skin tone. Mechanism of action of glycolic acid is exfoliating of pre-existing melanin. Glycolic acid is also hydrating and therefore would moisturize as well as reduce scaling. Regards