Dr. Deepti Shukla
Venereology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Here is the problem: It appeared that I stopped the "tyrosinase" activity of my skin with a product called "Alpha Arbutin", mistaking it with an other product. Since, the melanin on the highest surface of my skin completely dissapeared. I slightly begin a depression and a depersonalization after months to not succeed to recognise myself in the mirror because of the result not being very fitable with what my entourage and me used to appreciate. After hundred of solutions through other products (vitamins, stem cells for example) and sun tannings, nothing is like before. Would it be a miracle way to have my original skin back? As minor the problem sounds, it is a very important one to me. I just want to recover my normal epidermis.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern as this can be cosmetically unacceptable. Do not worry I will help you with your concern. Now you mentioned that you applied Arbutin for sometime and it has resulted in development of white patch. Yes, Arbutin works by inhibiting Tyrosinase enzyme but when you stop Arbutin application Tyrosinase resumes its activity again. So it is unlikely that you have developed this hypopigmentation due to arbutin application. Also you mentioned that it has been 8 months and color has not come back, so I am suspecting it could be due to some other cause. It may be post inflammatory hypopigmentation. But without seeing photos it is very difficult to comment and provide a definitive diagnosis. I would request you to please share a photo so I can help you in a better way.
I hope this has helped you. Please feel free to reach me again, in case of further queries.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
Sorry for the delay in my response. Unfortunately, the place where I am currently and the materials I have around me do not allow me to take high-quality pictures. Nevertheless, I am sharing a little visually weak example of my current situation via webcam. In this tiny picture, the left side shows my face, which has been treated with Alpha Arbutin, while the right side shows my hand, displaying my natural birth color. The Alpha Arbutin did exactly what it was created for, but unfortunately, it is not what I wanted, and having always been tanned adds to the disturbance.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Yes, the photo is not very clear (attachment removed to protect the patient’s identity), but it seems you have developed chemical or drug-induced leukoderma. It is not common with arbutin, so just check the cream that caused this; it must have other contents like Hydroquinone or something else. Now, onto the treatment, I am advising you to use two creams:
In leukoderma, pigmentation recovery varies greatly from patient to patient, and it takes time. So, just be patient with the treatment and do not set your hopes too high. You will see improvement, but nobody can guarantee 100 percent repigmentation of the natural color of the skin because, as I mentioned, it totally depends on how patients respond to treatment. Let us hope for the best and start applying the above creams. I need a follow-up in three weeks.
You can always come back and reach me at icliniq.com.
Thank you for consulting me.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you again for your time; I greatly appreciate it.
I am extremely sorry; I just reread our past exchange without remembering that you have been asking for an update. My sincere apologies. If you are still interested in my case and would like to see photos taken three months after using the products you recommended, here they are. (The left side shows the original color, while the right side displays the effect of using Alpha Arbutin months ago. I prefer not to show my face if it does not bother you.) Please excuse the rather gray tone; I am currently very stressed. To be honest, even though the color has changed, I still do not recognize my face. To clarify my impression, when people have a 'powder effect' on the surface of the skin, mine always looks like plastic, unfortunately. While this effect may be aesthetically pleasing on certain people, it is not for me. I am still patient, as I must be, fortunately, and my hopes are still not that high, as you recommended. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my message.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Slight improvement is present, but I think you should visit a dermatologist in person for this issue. You can undergo light therapy for these white patches. I believe a proper examination is necessary for you.
You can always come back and reach me at icliniq.com.
Thank you for consulting me.
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Venereology
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