So, uhm, vitiligo I guess?
July 3, 2018 9:48 AM Subscribe
My dermatologist (PA) just told me I probably have vitiligo around my eye with hyper pigmentation of course perfectly on the high part of my cheekbone. What worked for you to camouflage this type issue?
You can see here (instagram) without makeup. It can be more prominent in person.
I assumed the line was a spider vein or something. It showed up about 4 to 6 months ago. But my dermatologist told me it’s likely vitiligo and that sometimes it can have a dark border - probably more noticeable as I’m very pale. The area inside the circle by my eye is brighter than the rest of my skin.
1) Even with loads of concealer it seems to show a line like a vein or something still. I don’t mind editing it out of photos but it’s annoying me in-person. It catches the light strangely.
What’s your favorite matte, very pale neutral/pink tone concealer that covers stuff well? Should I attempt color correcting?
(Most consealers are too dark and yellow. Right now I use maybelline age rewind but the lightest shade is slightly dark and hasn’t covered it too well.)
2) The derm said I could attempt a lightening cream on the hyper pigmented portion. Have you done something like that before? Did it work?
I will also be starting on Retin-a, could that help the pigmentation?
3) Any chance this could be something else?
(The PA seemed very good, informative, and knowledgable, but of course anyone could be misdiagnosed.)
YANMD - everyone’s skin conditions are different, etc. I’m mostly annoyed and it’s relatively minor - not totally distraught so major risks or side effects aren’t worth it. That was my “good side” grumble, grumble.
You can see here (instagram) without makeup. It can be more prominent in person.
I assumed the line was a spider vein or something. It showed up about 4 to 6 months ago. But my dermatologist told me it’s likely vitiligo and that sometimes it can have a dark border - probably more noticeable as I’m very pale. The area inside the circle by my eye is brighter than the rest of my skin.
1) Even with loads of concealer it seems to show a line like a vein or something still. I don’t mind editing it out of photos but it’s annoying me in-person. It catches the light strangely.
What’s your favorite matte, very pale neutral/pink tone concealer that covers stuff well? Should I attempt color correcting?
(Most consealers are too dark and yellow. Right now I use maybelline age rewind but the lightest shade is slightly dark and hasn’t covered it too well.)
2) The derm said I could attempt a lightening cream on the hyper pigmented portion. Have you done something like that before? Did it work?
I will also be starting on Retin-a, could that help the pigmentation?
3) Any chance this could be something else?
(The PA seemed very good, informative, and knowledgable, but of course anyone could be misdiagnosed.)
YANMD - everyone’s skin conditions are different, etc. I’m mostly annoyed and it’s relatively minor - not totally distraught so major risks or side effects aren’t worth it. That was my “good side” grumble, grumble.
Came to recommend Dermablend too. You can hide a tattoo with that stuff. I have had great luck lightening age spots with this Paulas Choice Everyone freaks out about Hydroquinone & say to use Arbutin instead, which simply turns into Hydroquinone in the skin anyway. You might also want to look into Vitamin C serums, they are great for skin tone/age spots. If you have a dermatologist he can prescribe stronger stuff than you can buy over the counter. It takes time whatever you pick & make sure you religiously use a sunscreen or the UV rays will undo all the work.
posted by wwax at 10:11 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by wwax at 10:11 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
All of the Dermablend colors are two yellow/orange for me, as are almost all concealers. Often they start off looking alright and then turn more orange after being on my skin for a while. Not sure if that's part of the issue for you or not but if it is, the only concealer I've found that starts off and stays cool-toned enough is Clinique Airbrush Concealer in Fair. I would say it's average to above average in its opaqueness/coverage ability though, not as covering as Dermablend. Also, my impression is that this color-changing reaction (oxidation?) can vary a lot from person to person. As in, I've tried a number of concealers that were recommended as not doing it, and they did on me.
posted by desert at 11:22 AM on July 3, 2018
posted by desert at 11:22 AM on July 3, 2018
Fenty Beauty (Rihanna's line) has literally every skin colour and shade imaginable. Maybe go to Sephora and get colourmatched for it? FYI: it oxidizes, so you may want to go a shade or half-shade lighter than your skin tone.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 12:32 PM on July 3, 2018
posted by Miss T.Horn at 12:32 PM on July 3, 2018
I cannot address vitiligo but I can address hyper pigmentation. (I don't believe someone as fair as you needs to address vitiligo cosmetically anyway, I really couldn't detect it in your large high-res photo.)
I am white with yellow-olive mediterranean type complexion with decades of free sunning resulting in prominent sun spots i.e. hyper pigmentation. I have tried the cosmetic route but it's only effective for photographs. Cosmetically, Dermablend is best (I've tried countless brands and none come close in coverage). However keep in mind that in order to visually hide a dark spot you have to cover it up with a thick layer of pigment which will always be visible in person; picture having to make a dark wall into a light wall, you would need a good 3 layers of paint to hide the old color. Personally, I'd rather have a brown "freckle" than a raised spot that looks like skin disease.
What ultimately worked for me was BBL laser administered by a real licensed doctor (mentioning this because non-doctors do it for cheaper but they are not allowed to use the same light intensity). The spots turn very dark for a few days and then flake off. It's great but here are a few potential downsides:
1) Cost. I pay about $350 per treatment in Minneapolis if I buy a package of 3. I've paid $150 at a salon for a photo facial that they claimed was as good as laser and it did absolutely nothing.
2) Right after the session you will be bright red, and then in a day or two the spots will turn very dark for a few days before flaking off. You will literally look like someone threw coffee grounds in your face. Plan accordingly.
3) You need to really protect your face afterwards. But even with religious sunscreen use some spots may still come back, and won't you know it, the worse the spot the more likely it is to re-pigment. However with repeated sessions even my most stubborn spots lightened to the point that they don't really bother me any more (I've done 2 sessions per year over the last 3 years).
posted by rada at 1:28 PM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I am white with yellow-olive mediterranean type complexion with decades of free sunning resulting in prominent sun spots i.e. hyper pigmentation. I have tried the cosmetic route but it's only effective for photographs. Cosmetically, Dermablend is best (I've tried countless brands and none come close in coverage). However keep in mind that in order to visually hide a dark spot you have to cover it up with a thick layer of pigment which will always be visible in person; picture having to make a dark wall into a light wall, you would need a good 3 layers of paint to hide the old color. Personally, I'd rather have a brown "freckle" than a raised spot that looks like skin disease.
What ultimately worked for me was BBL laser administered by a real licensed doctor (mentioning this because non-doctors do it for cheaper but they are not allowed to use the same light intensity). The spots turn very dark for a few days and then flake off. It's great but here are a few potential downsides:
1) Cost. I pay about $350 per treatment in Minneapolis if I buy a package of 3. I've paid $150 at a salon for a photo facial that they claimed was as good as laser and it did absolutely nothing.
2) Right after the session you will be bright red, and then in a day or two the spots will turn very dark for a few days before flaking off. You will literally look like someone threw coffee grounds in your face. Plan accordingly.
3) You need to really protect your face afterwards. But even with religious sunscreen use some spots may still come back, and won't you know it, the worse the spot the more likely it is to re-pigment. However with repeated sessions even my most stubborn spots lightened to the point that they don't really bother me any more (I've done 2 sessions per year over the last 3 years).
posted by rada at 1:28 PM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I worked for many years with people who took a medication called interferon. It boosts the immune system and was used a decade ago with other meds to try to cure hepatitis C. Hep C treatment has moved on to much, much more effective treatments, but I am here to tell you that a surprising number of patients had a flare up or a new case of vitiligo, indicating that it may be triggered by immune system "strengthening". Fewer than 5%, but still, with a panel of about 200 patients on treatment it was more than one or two. We (gastroenterologist Dr. and nurse) recommended topical hydrocortisone (a higher prescription-strength rather than over the counter) and strict sun avoidance. Vitiligo does seem to be most prominent in sun-exposed areas, such as face and hands. We suggested hats and regular, routine sunscreen on hands as well as face, chest and arms. Usually the vitaligo would stabilize with these measures, but until the interferon was stopped it would usually not recede, and sometimes it never receded, even off interferon.
That said, are you perhaps on a medication that revs up the immune system? You probably went over all of your medications with your doc, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind. And all my vitiligo patients liked Dermablend for its coverage. Good luck!
posted by citygirl at 1:32 PM on July 3, 2018
That said, are you perhaps on a medication that revs up the immune system? You probably went over all of your medications with your doc, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind. And all my vitiligo patients liked Dermablend for its coverage. Good luck!
posted by citygirl at 1:32 PM on July 3, 2018
Retin-A will help hyperpigmentation. I’d try that first and see how far it takes you. If the spots are still bothering you you can take the laser route mentioned above.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 5:29 PM on July 3, 2018
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 5:29 PM on July 3, 2018
I'd say go to a good cosmetics counter and get some suggestions. FWIW I looked at your pic on both my phone and my laptop and I can barely see a pale circular area (I definitely wouldn't notice anything if you hadn't told us to look for it) and I just can't see a line at all. A pale area should be concealable, if you find the right product. I think makeup is generally going to be better at blending light areas than covering dark ones.
The upside of a pale area around your eye is that maybe now you won't have to worry about dark circles!
Also, not that you were asking, but wow, so pretty!
posted by Ursula Hitler at 6:29 PM on July 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
The upside of a pale area around your eye is that maybe now you won't have to worry about dark circles!
Also, not that you were asking, but wow, so pretty!
posted by Ursula Hitler at 6:29 PM on July 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
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