Age-Defying Solutions

You've been looking at the same face in the mirror every day of your life, then one day you notice a new brown growth here or an odd-looking mark there. You don't necessarily have to live with these age-related skin changes that are common to women of color. The answer may be no further than your drugstore or dermatologist's office. Some solutions to help you look like your (young) self again:

Problem: Uneven Skin Tone. This may manifest as blotchiness on the face o.r a stark contrast between facial skin and skin on the neck and chest. The primary cause is sun damage.

Solution. First, to prevent further discoloration and unevenness, use SPF 15 to 30 sunscreen generously on exposed skin every single day. Also wear sunhats and sun protective clothing outdoors, and avoid direct sunlight.. Talk to your dermatologist about applying a skin-bleaching cream containing 3 to 4 percent hydroquinone in addition to an exfoliating product such as glycolic acid cleanser or cream. In some cases, a series of glycolic acid or salicylic acid peels in your dermatologist's office may btf the best option. By exfoliating dull skin and bleaching darkened areas, you will most likely be able to restore your natural tone. But this process takes time (at least several weeks or a few months) and it requires maintenance-routine sunscreen use and exfoliating with an at-home product.

Problem: New Growths. Brown or black growths, similar to moles, suddenly appear on the face (dermatosis papulosa nigra), neck (skin tags), or other parts of the body (seborrheic keratoses). The cause is unknown, though these benign growths do seem to run in families.

Solution. Talk to your dermatologist about having the growths removed. The physician can either snip off the growths surgically or apply an electric needle to the growth, causing it to burn and fall off. Either way, discomfort is minimal and the results are permanent, although new growths can develop at any time. (If you have ever developed keloid scars, however, you should not have any growths removed.

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