Sun spot treatment for 20s skin
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Sun Mar 20, 2011 10:23 am

I'm an avid reader but rare poster on the forums. I hope someone here will have a few ideas about my problem.

I'm in my early 20s and I've always had sun spots. By the time I was 10, they had popped up in various parts of my face and I've gotten used to them over the years (I think they give my face character haha) They've faded quite a bit but all of the sudden I got a new one on my chin.
So...

1) Does anyone know the sudden cause of it? I use suncreen religiously (thanks to this forum I'm aware this is THE most important step)

2) A recommendation for a spot treatment or new regime that isn't too harsh on my 20s skin.

Thank you in advance!

free skin care · Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:44 pm

I think you should use a good Vitamin C product, one that contains l-ascorbic acid, in the morning.

free skin care · Sun Mar 20, 2011 11:40 pm

Which sunscreen do you use?

I would recommend a hat or parasol and maybe Sunpill or Heliocare.

Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:01 pm

I've been using Neutrogena Ultra sheer spf 30 for a while but I think it might be too oily for my skin. I'm planning to switch to Elta MD once it runs out or Josie Maran's Protect Daily Sun Protection Argan Oil Infused SPF 40+

I am tempted to try clinique's dark spot corrector to see if it will help lighten the spot. Has anyone tried this with good results?

free skin care · Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:21 pm

Hmmm, I looked at the active ingredients of the Neutrogena you mentioned, and I'm not convinced that they're sufficient against UVA rays (avobenzone is more stable with octocrylene, and octinoxate destabilizes it a bit). And UVA are the ones that cause dark spots. I think switching to Elta MD (they're mostly zinc-based) is a great idea.

I used a whole bottle of the Clinique Even better when it came out last spring, and it didn't do a thing for me--in fact, it made me break out a bit. Three summers of SPF 15 plus a broad-brimmed hat, on the other hand, did me a world of good!

Mon Mar 21, 2011 2:02 pm

rockhugger wrote:

Hmmm, I looked at the active ingredients of the Neutrogena you mentioned, and I'm not convinced that they're sufficient against UVA rays (avobenzone is more stable with octocrylene, and octinoxate destabilizes it a bit). And UVA are the ones that cause dark spots. I think switching to Elta MD (they're mostly zinc-based) is a great idea.

I used a whole bottle of the Clinique Even better when it came out last spring, and it didn't do a thing for me--in fact, it made me break out a bit. Three summers of SPF 15 plus a broad-brimmed hat, on the other hand, did me a world of good!

Thanks rockhugger. I'm looking for a good physical sunscreen in time for summer so I'll be sure to give Elta MD a try.

In the meantime, would it be suggested to try a peel (say Juice Beauty's apple peel) along with a lightening product? I'm hesitant to use a peel on my skin and have never tried it before.

free skin care · Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:55 pm

You're welcome.

I understand your hesitation to use a peel. I don't have any experience with that myself, but I have thought about getting peel in a derm's office.

Here's what has worked for me on my freckles, besides the hat: one winter I used an AHA product for several months (about 8%, I think); and now I'm 6 months into tretinoin cream, which is supposed to really kick in for the pigment at about a year, and I'm already noticing some brightening and evening of my skin tone; and I use Paula's Choice 2% BHA/2% hydroquinone lightening gel as a spot treatment only, and off and on, on the few distinct freckles I have left (it was too harsh for me to use all over).

But seriously, the hat! Smile

The hat took them from dark freckles to maybe 80% gone, and now with the rest of the stuff they're maybe 90% gone.

free skin care · Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:59 am

Wishing Well - At your young age, I'd highly recommend you consider using only natural sunscreens. There is a lot of info on the Internet about chemical sunblocks degrading in the sunlight and actually causing brown spots. Take it from me, one who has been battling brown spots on fair skin for over 20 years. I recently read about Suntegrity which I plan to try next.

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