Self-Treating Pigmentation? Read This Before You Try Again

Self-Treating Pigmentation? Read This Before You Try Again

By Dr. Rizwan Khan | Dr. Rizwan’s Skin Cosmetic and Laser Clinic, Shahjahanpur

📅 28 June 2025

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Pigmentation is one of the most common reasons people visit skin clinics — and also one of the most self-treated skin problems.

Dark patches, uneven skin tone, tanning, or dullness — many people try to fix these on their own by using:

• Random fairness creams

• Steroid-based creams from chemists

• Instagram DIYs (lemon, haldi, toothpaste)

• Or “what worked for my friend”

But if pigmentation was so easy to fix, half of Shahjahanpur wouldn’t be walking around with it.

Let’s talk about why self-treating pigmentation usually makes it worse — and what to do instead.

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🧴 1. “Fairness Creams” Usually Contain Steroids

We see this every day.

People use over-the-counter creams (often without even checking ingredients) and say:

“Doctor sahab, pehle thoda light hua tha, ab aur zyada ho gaya.”

Why?

Because most so-called “fairness” or “spot removal” creams contain steroids, which may temporarily lighten skin — but damage it in the long run.

Common results:

• Thinning of skin

• Redness and itching

• Sensitive, patchy skin

• More pigmentation when cream is stopped

And worse — once the skin becomes steroid-dependent, even treatment gets harder.

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🧂 2. DIY Remedies Can Burn or Irritate Skin

We know your nani or Instagram may have said:

“Apply lemon juice daily”

“Mix haldi and malai”

“Rub baking soda”

But acidic, raw or harsh ingredients often do more harm than good — especially on sensitive or already-pigmented skin.

You may end up with:

• Skin burns

• More darkening

• Permanent marks

• Allergic reactions

Your intention was good — the result, unfortunately, is often the opposite.

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📉 3. Using One Product for Two Weeks and Then Giving Up

Pigmentation doesn’t go in 7 days. Or even 14.

We often hear:

“Doctor, maine yeh cream 10 din lagaya, kuch farak nahi pada.”

Pigmentation usually fades slowly and in layers.

With the right plan, it takes 6–12 weeks — sometimes longer if it’s deep or hormonal.

Switching products too soon actually resets progress every time.

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🔍 4. Not All Pigmentation Is the Same

Different causes of pigmentation need different treatment:

Type	Cause	Example	Common Triggers
Tanning	Sun exposure	Arms, forehead	No sunscreen, daily riding
Melasma	Hormonal	Cheeks, upper lip	Pregnancy, PCOD, thyroid
PIH (Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation)	After pimples or wounds	Dark spots	Acne, burns
Friction Pigmentation	Rubbing or pressure	Neck, underarms	Tight collars, chains
Acanthosis Nigricans	Internal issue	Neck folds	Insulin resistance

One cream cannot treat all of these.

That’s why guessing or copying someone else’s treatment rarely works.

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✅ What We Do Differently at Our Clinic:

When someone comes with pigmentation, we check:

• Skin type and sensitivity

• Pattern and depth of pigmentation

• Hormonal history

• Sun exposure and sunscreen use

• Past creams or products used

• Blood tests, if needed

Then we plan a custom treatment, which may include:

• Right face wash and moisturizer

• Safe depigmenting creams

• Sunscreen (very important)

• Oral antioxidants

• In-clinic treatments like peels, lasers, or micro-needling (if needed)

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💬 Final Thought:

Pigmentation is treatable — but only with the right plan.

Don’t make your skin a chemistry lab.

Don’t try one product after another.

Don’t trust what worked for your cousin or neighbour.

Because what you’re treating blindly may not even be what you think it is.

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📍Come to Dr. Rizwan’s Skin Cosmetic and Laser Clinic, Shahjahanpur, and let us find the real reason for your pigmentation — and the safest, most effective way to treat it.

Sometimes, doing less on your own and trusting a proper diagnosis gives better results.

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💬 Have you tried any home remedy or OTC cream that made your pigmentation worse? Tell us below — let others learn from your experience.