How can I safely manage oily, greasy skin and dark spots?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

For oily skin with dark spots, this is an irritating situation since even if you cleanse your face and use serums, there is no change. At this age, this is a very prevalent skin type, but it can be controlled using the appropriate skincare regimen.

Use the foaming cleanser on your face twice a day to cleanse your face. After cleansing, you need to apply a moisturizer that does not contain any oil and is non-comedogenic. Even oily skin needs moisturizing, and otherwise, it may start producing more oil. A Niacinamide serum may be continued in the morning only, as Niacinamide helps regulate sebum production and strengthens the skin barrier.

Starting a sunscreen is an excellent and essential step. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily in sufficient amounts even while staying indoors, and repeat application if exposed to sunlight for a long time. It is very important to use the sunscreen regularly to avoid further darkening of pigmentation and make skin brightening treatment effective.

Azelaic acid 10% gel or cream may be included in the regimen for oily skin, dark spots, and skin brightening. A pea-sized amount should be applied all over the face in the evening once per day. In case of initial skin irritation, begin using the product once in two days for the first one or two weeks, and then use it daily. Azelaic acid reduces oiliness, clears clogged pores, lightens dark spots, and improves skin tone.

Dark spots on the forehead will usually be visibly better after 4–6 weeks of consistent application of Azelaic acid along with regular application of sunscreen. Harsh scrubbing, excessive facial washes, and alcohol-containing products should be avoided since they tend to exacerbate oiliness and dark spots.

As to hair loss, the most common causes of hair loss are androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium, either due to stress, nutrient deficiencies, or other lifestyle factors. As topical application of Minoxidil 5 % was already tried but showed no results, reconsideration of the causative factor is advised.

What I would recommend:

• Full blood count (FBC).
• Serum ferritin.
• B12 vitamins.
• Vitamin D.

Thyroid hormone level test, in addition to clinical examination of the scalp, should be done before restarting/revising the treatment.

Photographs of the scalp from frontal and lateral perspectives would be helpful in differentiating telogen effluvium from androgenetic alopecia and further treatment.

This regimen should be applied regularly for six to eight weeks to evaluate the changes. In case of irritation, decreasing application frequency would be better than stopping the therapy completely.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.