In this post, Kay (IG: @Kaygebeauty) and I discuss the importance of combining skincare Ingredients when it comes to hyperpigmentation, and which ones to combine. For example, azelaic acid and retinol, niacinamide and retinol, hydroquinone and tretinoin, kojic acid and glycolic acid, tranexamic acid, arbutin, and more.
Dark Marks: How Long Does it Take Skincare to Work
Dark marks can be tough to treat, but did you know that you can effectively get rid of dark spots/marks very fast? It just would require more from you.
We will cover:
Well-known pigment lighteners and how long they take to work
Treatments like chemical peels and lasers and how long those take to work.
Combinations of both topicals and treatments and how long the combo takes to work.
Factors that influence how quickly or slowly your spots fade.
Rule of Thumb
If you’re consistent with your skincare, it can take 1-3 months on the face and 3-6 months on the body to get rid of dark spots/marks. This difference in timeframe is because the skin on your body is much thicker than on your face. If you do nothing, it can take years, especially as an adult. Your skin cells aren’t turning over as quickly as they used to be when you were younger. So, don’t go looking at yourself in the mirror after one week of using your skincare product.
That said, are there products that can show results in 7 days? Yes! But those products usually contain steroids or mercury. Steroids thin the skin after prolonged use, and mercury is toxic.
Pigment Lighteners: how long they take to show improvement/work
Tretinoin 4 weeks
Hq 4-8% 1-3 months
Azelaic acid 20% 1-3 months
4% HQ and tretinoin 4-12 weeks
Azelaic acid 20% and glycolic acid 12 weeks
Kojic acid 12 weeks
Alpha arbutin 12 weeks
Kojic acid, arbutin and glycolic acid 4 weeks
Tranexamic acid 4-12 weeks
AHAs 12 weeks
Vitamin c (if you get a good one) 3- 2 months
Niacinamide (I honestly don’t rely on this alone to treat my hyperpigmentation unless it’s been combined with vitamin c, kojic acid, aha, or retinoid) 8-12 weeks
Combination (topicals and laser or peel): 6-8 weeks (favorite method for stubborn spots, also more cost-effective than relying on treatments alone)
Chemical peel (depending on the depth of the peel) after 3- 6 treatments (cosmelan)
Laser (picosure): After 3-4 treatments (These treatments are spaced about by at least 2 to 4 weeks, or sometimes as long as 8 weeks if you have sensitive skin or a darker complexion).
Influencing Factors
How deep the hyperpigmentation is (when it comes to the seriousness of hyperpigmentation, there are two types: epidermal and dermal pigmentation)
Consistency
Skin types/genes
Your average daily sun exposure
Question
Be honest, how long do you give your skincare products before you start losing hope?
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