How to treat dark pigmentation on the face caused after delivery?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the details provided from your end and I do understand your concern.

The concern you are facing is Melasma. Melasma is a pigmentation that is formed on the face mostly on both cheeks or even the forehead and temples due to sudden hormonal fluctuations. The other reasons include genetic susceptibility and sun exposure. As you have mentioned presence of the lesions following pregnancy, is due to sudden hormonal fluctuations that occur during pregnancy and lactation. Melasma can be reduced in intensity with medications but complete elimination is possible via laser treatments alone. As you have mentioned using Melanorm -f cream which is Hydroquinone which is a skin lightening agent, helps with reducing the intensity, when used for more than three weeks can cause an increase in pigmentation when suddenly stopped.

I suggest you the following

1. Any Hydroquinone, Tretinoin, Mometasone combination cream once daily in a very thin layer at night on the affected areas. Keep overnight and wash off in the morning. Hydroquinone works as a lightening agent, Tretinoin helps with mild peeling and Mometasone helps with reducing inflammation. Use only for 2 weeks and stop.

2. Kojic acid and Glycolic acid combination cream. After two weeks, start this cream instead of Hydroquinone. Apply a thin layer at night on the affected area keep overnight and wash off in the morning.

3. Sunscreen with SPF 60+. Use every day from 9 am to 5 pm on the entire face in a teaspoon quantity. Reapply every 2 hours since any sunscreen would lose its efficacy in two hours. Use even if at home. If going out, use 20 minutes before going out.

4. Tab Ascorbic acid 500 mg. Consume one tablet after breakfast and one after dinner for two months. Use only if not breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, kindly wait until you stop breastfeeding.

5. Capsule Vitamin E 400. Consume after dinner for two months. Use only if not breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, kindly wait until you stop breastfeeding.

6. Avoid sun exposure as far as possible.

7. Laser treatment with five sessions (one session per month) is the best treatment for melasma.

8. Niacinamide zinc serum. Use this serum at night after using facewash. Use three to four drops for the entire face. After 15 minutes of using the face wash, once they are dry, apply the creams mentioned above.

Melasma tends to form again in case of hormonal fluctuations and genetic susceptibility. Please follow the sunscreen routine.

I hope I could be of help. Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, you may apply the serum at night after using a face wash, wait for 15 minutes, and apply Hydroquinone cream in a pea-sized amount in a thin layer on the affected areas only (not the entire face). The serum is to be applied on the entire face. After two weeks, switch Hydroquinone cream with Kojic acid cream. Following two weeks, use the serum first after using face wash at night, wait for 15 minutes, and apply Kojic acid cream. This can be continued for eight-plus months. Any brands with the mentioned ingredients can be purchased as per availability in your country of residence.

I hope this helps. Take care.