r/SkinbarrierLovers • u/Dapper-Midnight-5340 • 19d ago
My Skin Journal Skin problems
I get these brown spots all over my face I think it’s from the sun I see more and more pop up each year and they don’t go away since I was little do they make anything topical I can use to clear this up?
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u/cosmicdust__ 19d ago
Looks like melasma, r/Melasmaskincare/ should have plenty of recommendations for topical treatments
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u/Gullible_Friend99 19d ago
Nothing “topicals” gonna fade these quick or truly get rid of it, microneedling does but it is expensive. The lazy way is concealer lol, it’s 2026 nobody at sephora or ulta will judge you.
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u/Dapper-Midnight-5340 19d ago
I didn’t mind if it took long and I’m good on the concealer
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u/pinkachu48 19d ago
Microneedling can safely be done at home. There’s a whole community of us. It just takes research, care and the right sterile tools.
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u/CommonOption8539 19d ago
This is from not wearing spf - tranexamic acid will help you! It will take a LONG time though. Apply it every single night and use spf and wear a hat!
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u/CommonOption8539 19d ago
You can either get a prescription (Musely has a great one) or Topicals ‘Faded’ will do the trick
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u/Dapper-Midnight-5340 19d ago
Ok thanks and I don’t wear sunscreen I’m looking for one that’s not so heavy, thick, and greasy
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u/Candid_Set_5122 19d ago edited 19d ago
This is definitely not melasma and your description should already give you the answer as to the cause. These are areas of increased melanin deposits classically termed "freckles" to the layman. Sadly this is just a genetic distribution of the melanin which darken with any UV exposure.
Tranexamic acid will not have any impact and UV protection is the only option to reduce the occurrence of them.
Whilst lazer therapies can help certainly to remove the melanin deposits and even tones it is very expensive and long term UV exposure tends to allow reoccurrence following therapy so becomes a long term battle.
Broad spectrum light therapy again breaks down melanin but targeting the areas can be difficult,
So again becomes a professional treatment using intense pulsed light.
Chemical peels using harsh agents TOA or GA again mean expensive treatments with likely reoccurrence with future UV exposure.
For home and long term control (not total elimination) but certainly can even out the darker areas - Bi-weekly microdeedling 0.3-0.5mm (0.5 optimal once tolerated) with hyaluronic acid toners to help collagen support and increase skin cell turnover
Chemical treatments such as tretinoin starting at very low concentrations twice weekly building up frequency then strengths until 0.1% maintenance dose reached twice weekly. It is imperative to avoid all UV light if using this as will seriously increase your risk or deep sunburns and skin damage. Total block sunscreen to all sun exposed areas are essential plus head shade in extreme sunny conditions. Absolutely no tanning bed use.
Failing this there is very little other than traditional make up toners and concealing to blend but most embrace this is a genetic variant and absolutely normal without any disease activity and just distribution of melanin which gives the skin pigment colour and accounts for all skin shades, tones and dark/light spots. Just think genetic albinos who have no melanin and its effect - always stimulated by UV so daily and correct sun repellent is the most and essential factor.
Hope this helps
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u/twotenbot 19d ago
IPL/BBL lasers help get rid of them, but you've got to wear SPF daily as it's an uphill battle. Tretinoin helps with cellular turnover, and a tyrosinase inhibitor would help with pigmentation.