28F, dealing with facial hyperpigmentation for over a year
It started after I was using tretinoin while working outdoors on canal cruises, and my forehead became quite irritated/peely. I stopped tretinoin about a year ago. The pigmentation is mainly on my forehead and cheeks (more noticeable on the left), and recently I’ve noticed some around my nose/upper lip too. It’s light brown and became much lighter over winter with Vitamin C, niacinamide and SPF, but got significantly darker again after a trip to Egypt and more recently during the summer heat/UV exposure.
I’ve now been using The Inkey List tranexamic acid (~4x/week) and azelaic acid 10%, plus niacinamide, moisturiser and SPF, and have stopped glycolic acid. It seems to be fading again, but very slowly. I’m wondering whether this sounds more like melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and whether I should continue with my current routine or see a dermatologist/consider other treatments