Hyperpigmentation Anyone?

Hmm... not as scary as flesh eating bacteria, but still fairly gross. I will have to check and see what my doc says at my upcoming appointment. I more concerned since I used to fake-n-bake a ton... so I am paranoid about cancer and all that (read so many horror stories). Plus it keeps getting more and more dry, despite my constant lotioning. My FI hates fake tanning so I haven't gone in a long time.... which results in me being currently nice and pasty - so hopefully my lack of sun means no growing fungus.

It's hard to break the fake & bake habit but once you do it's really nice to not have to lay in those beds each week. I lay out with friends an hour each sunday once the weather is nice. That's as much tanning as I allow myself now. I have to tan a little or I burn the first vacation I go on each summer.

I know... it was horribly addicting. I can't believe my parents let me do it (it was back in high school). I must say that my checkbook is also very thankful that I stopped! For being so fair skinned, I am usually lucky - I burn once at the beginning of the summer and then build a pretty decent tan.

But I have already forwarned FI that we (yes we) will have to do a little tanning before Jamaica next January. Because I dont want either of us to look as white as Casper... but I also don't want us to get down there and burn and look like lobsters.

I had this before on my chest- and my dermo said it is actually a yeast that grows when the seasons change. I just had to wash my hair and neck with this special shampoo and it went away right away. There is a shampoo to prevent it from coming back (over the counter) but I cant remember which one!

Thank god! I thought I was the only one who had this on their UPPER LIP!!!!! There are others out there...lol! We should start a support group!

 

Mine started 2 years ago while on vacation in Charleston. I didn't notice it my friends did and my upper lip looked like I been drinking chocolate milk. Then I found out it was from my Birth Control! My "plumber" (gyno) said that this could get worse with pregnancy too..........great! I am going to the dermatologist in couple weeks, but if everyone is saying that the bleach doesn't work, I don't know what I should do then.

 

Leigh you said that the peels worked for you? I'm curious though because mine is due to hormones and not sun damage. I was a sun worshipper all my life until I was about 19 and had to have numerous moles removed and was told that my skin was damaged and if I didn't stop I would wind up with skin cancer......so I stopped. So anyway...my spot fades if I stay out of the sun.

 

Also a little side note, I find that the Bare Minerals REALLY covers the spot well. You can't even see it!

danielle the microderm and glycolics seem to help. its so hard for me cause even when i wear sunscreen and i never "tan" anymore being out shooting weddings so much just makes them darker no matter what. i put on the lustra-AF which has sunscreen, then spf 30, then makeup with sunscreen and powder with sunscreen. i was a horrible tanner when i was younger. wed lay out on the roof for goodness sakes!!! i wish i would have known better. i got burned really bad when i was 17 my chest peeled and ive had those sunspots ever since then. but on my face its just recently gotten worse. the past few years. ive never seen a dermo about it. i think im going to go see one soon and maybe do something a little more aggressive than the facials. all the money ive spent with the facials i probably could have put towards the dermo and theyd be gone! i figure if they can turn michael jackson white they can take care of these spots on my fact! right?

I know right!

Now, Leigh the Lustra AF is that a skin bleach and what exact facials do you get? I'm going to look into the facials, I've never had one.....believe it or not! I'm the same way I stay out of the sun but shooting outside really makes it hard to stay sun free! I hate using sunscreen on my face because it makes me break out but I do use Bare Minerals and that has a sunscreen in it. I find it really works nicely too.

I'm going to chime in on this one hehe Facials unfortunately will not help with the spots you see. They're more of a deep cleaner and get rid of the topical stuff like.. blackheads, whiteheads..things like that. I definitely recommend getting a facial.. they're so wonderful and relaxing. My FI always says,"Why don't you just give yourself a facial at home?!" I'm like,"I like to get pampered to ya know!"

Another thing is that we should ALWAYS wear a moisturizer daily with SPF15 or higher. I can recommend a few good ones. This is what I use and I absolutely love it - The Body Shop: Vitamin E SPF 15 Moisture Lotion, sunscreen, sun protection, sunblock, face cream, face lotion, vitamin e, facial lotion, spf, spf 15, lotion, moisturizer, day lotion, sun, skin care
Aveeno is also really good and carry SPF in their moisturizers.

Good to know about the facials.....I might have gotten that wrong, I think Leigh said a peel! Either way both would be nice!

But with the moisturizers I do use one but I have used the Aveeno with the SPF in the past and that REALLY made me break out. Tim used to work for McNeil (Johnson and Johnson) and I used to get all the Aveeno and Neutrogena stuff for practically free, so I've tried them all. I have never had a problem with my skin EVER, maybe an occasional pimple here and there so when I use a moisturizer that makes me break out I freak! I am going to the mall today so maybe I'll pick up the Body Shop one. Thanks for the suggestions though!

Neutrogena I've noticed it tends to be drying. I've used both in the past as well. Everyone's skin reacts different. I always tell my clients - stick to what works for you -