A: First, you need to be on an effective anti-acne program to prevent new lesions. Next, be sure you Do NOT PICK. Picking increases the chance of the PIH. Next, be sure you use an oil free, chemical free sunscreen every day. Even minor sun exposure will darken the PIH, even more than it darkens your normal skin. Lastly, talk to your dermatologist about doing a series of "lunchtime" peels or SilkPeels. These are safe on darker skin and they speed up the fading of the dark spots without lightening your natural skin color.
Q. I am 27 and have small freckles ALL over my chest and arms. I wear sunblock every day now but I've had them for a long time. My dermatologist recommended a peel but I want to be sure it will definitely look BETTER afterward, not have a chance of looking worse somehow. Also what would happen to the pigment of any moles on my arms if I do this?
A: Well, with medical procedures, there is NEVER a guarantee things improve, but chemical peels on the arms, neck and chest are very popular, especially now that the face is looking better from peels, laser, fillers, etc. There is always individual variation in response to any medical and cosmetic procedure. With peels, you get best results if you pre-treat the area with retinoids and bleaching agents. After, the use of antioxidants and growth factors also improve results. I just gave a presentation on body rejuvenation at the Cosmetic Boot Camp. One important point in healing is to use less aggressive acids on the body, and do lighter but more frequent peels for best/safest results. Peels are also safe over "moles", also known as nevi.
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