r/Blackskincare

Anyone seen similar conditions and know any tips to repair the skin barrier and help reduce the need to itch so much. This is probably the worst my hand has been so any help to do with diet or anyhow is helpful.

I never had much of a skincare routine and looked fine until my late 40s. I used to spend a lot of time in the sun in my 20s with minimal protection. I tend to have sensitive skin and products like salicylic acid used to aggravate it. I had regular breakouts all over when I was younger but they are rare now. (The large area of redness is a port wine birthmark)

Currently I use the "Perfectly Clean" foaming cleanser by Estee Lauder, occasionally their "Advanced Night Repair" serum, and Cetaphil oil-free daily hydrating lotion with hyaluronic acid at bedtime. During the day I use No.7 "Restore & Renew" day cream SPF 30. At night I apply a little jojoba, castor and rosehip oils every other night or so. I also have a powdered exfoliating cleanser my mother gave me, Acure "Brightening Cleansing Power" that has rice powder, kale and broccoli in it. It says it's safe for every day but I've only used it 2 or 3 times a month.

I have started to get some fine lines around my mouth, between my eyes and on my forehead as well, but it's the splotchy color and enormous pores that bother me most. I don't know where to begin.

I tried to look this up on ChatGPT and Claude they seem to cater information to fairer skins. I have no symptoms but it does slightly worsen after drinking coffee. I started seeing signs months ago on other places on my lips (especially the corners) but this one keeps flaring up and hasn’t left in 1 week

Almost 2 years ago, I had a very bad abscess on my face that left me with dark post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and uneven scar texture on my cheek.

At first and after dealing with most of the inflammation (bc i learned one year after that i still had some after all my efforts), I tried to manage it with things like Cicalfate, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid later on, glycolic acid (progressively over the months, not all at once) at some point, and regular sunscreen. Looking back, I wasn’t as knowledgeable about skincare as I am now, so I probably could have made better choices earlier.

Then in December 2025, I made things worse by trying a new vitamin C serum that a derm recommeneded me, while also unfortunately using an expired moisturizer, which ended up causing contact dermatitis / what felt like a mild chemical burn. That left me with more hyperpigmentation under my right eye and near my mouth.

Since March this year, I’ve had 3 laser sessions each month (my last one was in May), and around the time of my first/second sessions I also started trying azelaic acid. I wasn’t able to use it consistently at first because my skin was still too reactive after the contact dermatitis, so I had to stop and restart it a few times. However, I’ve managed to consistently be on Eucerin Anti-Pigment / Thiamidol daily with sunscreen.

Overall, the newer marks under my eye and near my mouth have improved quite a lot, and my skin barrier is now in a much better place. But the original abscess mark on my cheek is still the darkest, slowest to fade, and overall the most stubborn. The texture has improved somewhat, but it’s still not where I want it to be. I’m also planning one last laser session with a more agressive setting to target the texture around August or September.

At this point, regarding the PIH I feel like what I’m missing is something that helps speed up cell turnover, so I’m considering using tretinoin + azelaic acid, but only as a spot treatment on the specific problem areas, since the rest of my skin is actually fine and I don’t want to irritate it unnecessarily.

I don’t plan to make any changes rn as i’m likely to have another laser session but to prepare for the future, my questions are:

- Can tretinoin + azelaic acid realistically be used as a spot treatment for old PIH / scar discoloration?
- Has anyone done this successfully on localized areas only?
- If tret sounds too strong, would something else (tazarotene, adapalene, retinal, or retinol) make more sense as a gentler first step?

I’ve been looking at different azelaic acids and I can’t decide which might be best for me. I have a few stubborn acne scars that won’t go away. I use vitamin c daily and I use retinal 3-4 times a week. I do have lactic and glycolic acid but I don’t use frequently. Lactic acid makes me break out and glycolic acid sometimes creates new hyperpigmentation for me so I’ve been using it for my scalp and armpits instead.

Anyway, I’ve narrowed it down to these ones. Does anyone have any experience with these? If so, how long did it take to see results? Most places have been saying 3-4 months. Any reactions? What does your routine look like with it? TYIA!

I’ve dealt with hyperpigmentation before, but nothing like this dark smile line. It showed up out of nowhere one day and has been extremely stubborn ever since. I’ve tried all the usual treatments (tretinoin, azelaic acid, hydroquinone, etc.) and nothing fully clears it. Sometimes it gets red and irritated, then the dark pigment comes right back.

Has anyone dealt with something like this? What is the cause of this dark smile-line and what helped? It’s really affecting my confidence.
What products can treat this?

I'm in desperate need of a skin care routine. Tbh I never had one and I'm 38 🤦🏾‍♂️. I've struggled recently with body acne and maintained facial acne since 2006. What skin care routine are y'all using to help with body acne? Right now my plan is to visit a dermatologist in the next coming weeks if I can't find a natural way to calm this down.

I was about to give up on my routine and took a pic this morning and noticed it might just be improving. I’ve had these scars for over 10 years now with new ones popping up every now and then.

I did a targeted tca spot treatment on my chest 24th May. It didn’t peel and didn’t notice much improvement.
I then started using my tret .1%, alternating using triluma on other days
Azelaic acid again spot treat
House of hur clearing pads after using on my face
Benzoyl peroxide 5% wash 2 times a week (3 if I can be bothered) to prevent future breakouts.

Last 2 weeks I’ve been using a Philippine brand called RDL babyface, formulated with 2% hq and tretinoin .125%. I spot treat with a cotton bud which is why it’s creating a somewhat halo effect around the dark marks

Edit: there are some hydroquinone warriors that have forgotten that it is actually a medication that is prescribed by Drs as a treatment. It’s praised as the gold standard for hyperpigmentation in the world of dermatology.

I’m not slathering it all over my chest, I’m spot treating. Hence the cotton bud technique for application.

This is not carolight, the infamous brand that tarnished hydroquinones reputation. a lot of people seem to associate with it simply because some of its products are known to contain hydroquinone, but it has been known to contain other harmful ingredients such as steroids and mercury. So why is it only hydroquinone you demonise. It is intended for good and to be used in moderation cycled over a short timeline. Trying to shame someone for “bleaching” when a decade’s old scar is starting to fade is top tier ignorant behaviour.

Your judgement is what will keep people from sharing their genuine results with everyone

Let’s be informed and let’s be guided.

I really need help. My face and neck were extremely darker than the rest of my body post pregnancy. After a year and a half I did the cosmelan peel which significantly lifted my hyperpigmentation… but only in the center of my face. Now my face looks even worse because you can see how bright my inner face looks but the sides of my face are starkishly dark in contrast. I’ve been using various tyrosinase inhibitors which again continually lift pigment from my inner face but seem to ignore the outer parts of my face. I extend my products down to my neck and I make sure I do my night skincare way before bedtime so it’s not rubbed off my sheets or pillow. I don’t know whether it’s hormonal or I have an underlying medical issue but the last blood work everything was fine so idk anymore. Has anyone else experienced this or have any advice?

Without insurance for another 30 days how can I be more comfortable? I KNOW I need a dermatologist…

These are just the dry patches on my hands and forearms. I have some on the sides of my boobs and armpit as well.

I’m genuinely at a loss. It’s very itchy, flaky, irritating, and I’m very much embarrassed, especially since I coach volleyball and my wrists are out a lot!

I am getting older and am seeing what’s probably hormonal acne but my face, chest, back have ALWAYS been acne-prone. I’ve always had scars and bumps and have never had clear skin. What I’m experiencing now is on a next level.

My skin got much better, consistency matters been using adapalene ever night , and my skin has gotten much smoother and and less bumps
Still working on it but much better then when I started also using sunscreen and washing with nitrogena face wash. And holding back from picking skin also been exercising more don’t know if that helps

I’ve been having skin issues on my neck for the past 4 years. I’ve tried different products and sometimes it gets better but it always comes back. It just dawned on me that maybe its the African net and possible over exfoliating. I also wash with Hot water (ik, not recommended) but is there anything else you guys wash with other than a wash cloth and do you recommend anything to repair my skin barrier?

I think I have eczema on the inside of my elbows and my face. I just started using this good molecules face wash. I am used to my elbows looking like this so i put Africa's best oil on it and it looks shinier but the scarring is still there. Any tips?

So I have an oily acne prone skin and I’ve been using the BHA from COSRX for 2 weeks now ( I use it twice a week at night). But my skin texture became so weird with all those little bumps and it’s kinda itchy around my nose. I don’t know if I am purging or not. Should I keep using the product?

I have mild eczema, i’ve had it since I was a baby. When I was younger (and sometimes now) I battled with skin picking and some body acne. So, I have some acne scars, picking scars, and hyperpigmentation behind my thighs, on my lower back, on my elbows, and on my knees.

skin concern: hyperpigmentation/acne scars (I want to fade this)

length of current routine: 2 months

Night routine (since this is only a body concern):

1. kojic acid soap (1st product above)

2. le gourmand hydrating coconut body wash

3. pat dry and ordinary glycolic acid out of shower (2-3x a week)

4. palmers coconut hydrate body oil

5. ashanti naturals shea butter

Diet: im a pescatarian, barely eat junk food (like once a month if even), and I stay pretty hydrated

General health: Pretty good, I take vitamins every day, eat healthy, get ample sleep, not many stressors rn

I was thinking of getting this turmeric and lemon lotion from the same small business (2nd product), but when i looked it up it said that that might be too much since i have mild eczema. Is there anyway I can tweak my routine to be safer for my eczema?

chatgpt tells me its called Hypergranulation or proud flesh. Just want to know the most effective ways to treat this as it's not the first time I've had it but it takes too long to heal. Going on abroad in a month and want to deal with it now. Thank you 🙏🏾

My lips appear pale in photos (typically with flash or bright ligh) which makes me think that my lips also appear pale while talking, which is not what I want. I want my lips to be fully pigmented. I have eczema if that would affect this. Ive aways had paler lips but they’ve gained pigment. I do drink enough water. no one in my family had pale lips.

i came ok here to ask if anyone has any similar experiences or suggestions relating to making lips look more pigmented. Ways to conceal it? or ways to make it go away?

y’all, i’m in the military, so i’m always in my boots! 😭 i know i have some funny looking toes so please don’t bash me🤣

what can i do about this hyperpigmentation on my toes? it’s honestly a big insecurity of mine. are there any products, treatments, or home remedies that actually help lighten dark spots/discoloration? any advice would be appreciated. 😊

and yes, i have hair on my toes! it runs in my family.

What should I do for these dark marks to fade considering laser surgery please send recommendations I’ve been using cerave foam to wash and the moisturizer. I’m also seeing a lot of acne testimonials on TikTok advertising certain products just need some real solutions 💪🏽