Who should I see for pigmentation after using whitening cream?

Hi,

Just to clarify the history a little. You started getting red and then black after you stop using it or did it become red while using the cream in which you stopped and it then turn black?

If it turned red while you were using it and once you stopped, it turned black, it may be due to your skin reacting to the bleaching cream itself. This is what my colleague mentioned: an inflammatory reaction due to the bleaching agent being too strong and resulting in post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

The other possible senario especially if it only turned red after you stop the cream could be the possibility of photosensitivity due to the sun which made your pigmentation (possibly melasma) worse.

Either senario, you need to:

1. Stop using the whitening cream first,

2. Use lots of sun block

3. Avoid the sun as much as possible

4. See a dermatologist as soon as you can to get the story right (and please bring the cream you are using along to see the doctor with the ingredients or box/packaging as well so that the doctor knows what you react to)

Thks!

Yes, you should visit a dermatologist as they are the experts with injuries to the skin.

I also recommend that you immediately stop using the bleaching cream. Avoid the use of hot water as well as this can worsen the condition.

It sounds like you’ve probably developed inflammation/burn injury of your skin (redness) and then post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darkening of your skin), or PIH after overuse of the bleaching cream.

With prolonged exposure to hydroquinone (an active ingredient in many whitening creams), another rare but serious side effect is a condition called ochronosis where the skin develops darkened gray/bluish patches. This is more likely in individuals with darker complexions.

Any bleaching creams that contains hydroquinone should be used for a maximum of 2-3 months. It should not be used for longer than 6 months.

Once your pigmentation has improved, the best thing to do would be to avoid sun exposure, and to use a sunscreen with zinc oxide to protect your skin and prevent it from re-darkening.

Cheers

This must be very worrying for you. I completely agree with our 2 doctors.

Here’s what I suggest.

Please stop all lightening creams and see a dermatologist immediately.

What you have sounds very much like PIH (Post inflammatory hyper pigmentation), which is a skin reaction to an offending agent. Avoid sun exposure strictly.

Hope this helps!

Please visit a dermatologist right away and maybe even do a skin biopsy. It’s likely the cream contained super high strength hydroquinone or high mercury / lead / impurity levels that had damaged your skin.

Dr Ethan had given you pretty comprehensive advice in the above answer.