Can You Fix Uneven Skin Tone on Your Face?

Asian woman having skin problem checking her face with dark spot, freckle from uv light in mirror

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Nobody’s skin tone is perfectly even, so it’s normal to have some spots on your face that are a shade lighter or a shade darker than the rest of it — or a slightly different texture. However, some people develop patches that are noticeably different from the rest of their face, and sometimes even makeup won’t cover it. Here’s what you need to know about the causes of uneven skin tone on the face and how to treat it.

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Causes of Uneven Skin Tone on Face

First of all, you need to figure out what is causing your uneven skin tone. There are many potential causes of uneven skin tone, including sunburn, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, melasma, dry skin, pollution and more. Without identifying the underlying cause(s) of your uneven skin tone, your treatment attempts might not be effective — or worse; they might even exacerbate the problem.

Hyperpigmentation can manifest in multiple ways, including sunspots and dark spots left behind after acne lesions or cuts have healed. Melasma is another form of hyperpigmentation that often occurs during pregnancy and manifests as large patches of brown or gray skin. Dry skin patches will have a different texture and sometimes color from the rest of your face, while rosacea patches will look red and flushed instead.

If you’re not sure what is causing the problem, a professional dermatologist can help you figure it out. In fact, getting an annual exam to check for skin cancer and also diseases is an excellent way to prevent uneven skin tone down the line and contribute to overall skin health. When in doubt, it’s always better to go to a dermatologist to get an expert opinion. 

Beautiful African American woman with sun protection cream on face at beach

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How to Treat Uneven Skin Tone on Face

When it comes to treating uneven skin tone at home, it’s vital that you don’t pick at your skin. This can lead to scarring, hyperpigmentation and other conditions that can make your uneven skin tone worse. Some of these results, such as scarring, can be difficult to impossible to treat, so it’s wise to take steps to prevent them in the first place. If you tend to pick at acne and cuts, try wearing a hydrocolloid bandage over them to stop yourself.

Next, you should wear quality sunscreen absolutely every day, even if you are sitting inside or the weather is cloudy. UV exposure can make conditions such as rosacea and hyperpigmentation worse, so protecting your face from the sun will help to keep these issues from progressing. When shopping for sunscreen, choose an SPF of at least 30, though higher is better. Ideally, you should get a water-resistant formula that won’t come off at the first sign of sweat. Reapply your sunscreen every two hours when outside in the sun.

We also recommend incorporating a vitamin C serum like our Brightening Booster into your morning routine before you apply your sunscreen. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to protect your skin from free radical damage and may inhibit the production of melanin in the skin as well (melanin is what causes dark spots).

Asian woman are applying cream for facial treatment problem spot melasma pigmentation skincare on her face.

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It’s also important that you exfoliate regularly using a face peel or another chemical exfoliator. Dead skin cell patches will worsen the appearance of dark spots and result in the uneven application of makeup or other facial products, making your face appear patchy. Most people need to exfoliate between one to three times a week depending on their skin type, regardless of whether or not they have uneven skin tone. In fact, exfoliating is so essential that we made it the middle step of our 3-step skincare routines. Exfoliating your face should be done at night since it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

If your dark spots and unevenness persist, then you might want to take things a step further with a face cream for dark spots. These creams contain concentrated ingredients such as hydroquinone that work to fade dark spots faster via topical application.

If none of these strategies work, then you might need to look into getting professional treatments done at a dermatologist’s or licensed esthetician’s office. Possible options include laser treatments such as IPL, clinical-strength peels, microdermabrasion and more. These treatments are usually more effective than at-home treatments because they involve higher concentrations of ingredients and powerful devices such as medical lasers. However, they also have more potential side effects and recovery times can last for weeks.

Ready to explore dermatologist-developed skincare that you can trust? Order from Lancer Skincare today to get a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee and free shipping within the U.S.

What Does a Chemical Peel Do to Your Face?

portrait of woman touching skin

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By now, you probably know that a chemical peel exfoliates your face. But you may be wondering how exactly it accomplishes that exfoliation, especially when you aren’t physically scrubbing at the skin? In this guide, we’ll dive into the science of chemical face peels and explain what your options are when it comes to chemical exfoliation.

What Does a Chemical Peel Do to Your Face?

The answer to “what does a chemical peel do to your face?” lies in the science of skin cells. The top layer of your skin is called the epidermis, and it constantly sheds dead skin cells. In fact, you lose about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells off the surface of your skin every minute of every day. This means that your top layer of skin completely replaces itself every two to four weeks. That’s a lot of dead skin cells!

Most of these dead skin cells wash away in the shower, but some of them stay behind, stuck to the rest of your skin with molecular level bonds that act like glue. This can lead to clogged pores, dry patches, flakes, rough texture, and other unpleasant side effects. Getting a chemical peel will help to remove these dead skin cells faster, revealing smooth, glowing skin underneath.

Chemical peels work to get rid of these dead skin cells by temporarily changing the pH of your skin in a way that allows these bonds to dissolve. Your skin normally has a pH of around 5.5, while a chemical peel temporarily lowers it to a pH of around 3.8. This temporary rise in acidity loosens the cells that hold dead skin cells onto the healthy ones, allowing them to be washed away and promoting the growth of new skin cells.

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chemical peel applied to face

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What Chemical Peel Options Do You Have?

There are many different kinds of acids used in chemical peels, as well as various combinations thereof. These fall into two different categories: alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). Popular AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, and more. Popular BHAs include salicylic acid and sometimes citric acid as well. AHAs are used to address a wide range of conditions, including enlarged pores, fine lines, uneven skin tone, mild hyperpigmentation, and more. BHAs are mostly used to address acne as well as sun damage. Sometimes you can find chemical peels that combine AHAs and BHAs together, so you can get the benefits of both types of acids.

Professional acid face peels are available in dermatologist and aesthetician offices and come in three different levels of strengths: light, medium, and deep. Light chemical peels require little to no downtime and only remove cells from the top layer of skin. Medium chemical peels remove skin cells from both the epidermis and the top of the dermis; recovery can take up to a week and may require downtime. Deep chemical peels remove even more layers of skin cells and typically require a pre-treatment routine as well as significant downtime.

You can also get at-home chemical peel products like those offered by Lancer Skincare. These at-home glycolic acid peels are available in milder leave-on formulations as well as stronger wash-off treatments. They can be used between one to three times a week depending on the formulation and your skin’s tolerance for exfoliation.

portrait smiling woman touching face

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What Are the Benefits of Chemical Peels?

Chemical peels can be used to address many different skin conditions. At-home or light chemical peels are best for removing dry or flaking patches, smoothing out skin texture, addressing mild acne, and mitigating fine wrinkles. Medium chemical peels can help to treat skin discoloration, age spots, acne scarring, and fine to moderate wrinkles. Deep chemical peels are used for more severe acne scarring, blotchy or sun damaged skin, and moderate wrinkles.

Your dermatologist will be able to tell you whether or not a chemical peel can address your skincare concerns, and, if so, what type of acid and level of peel would be most appropriate for you. But you don’t have to go to an aesthetician office to reap the benefits of a chemical peel — you can start doing them at home with skincare products like those offered by Lancer Skincare.

Developed by celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer and based on tried-and-true ingredients, our chemical peels are a great way to incorporate exfoliating into your weekly routine. Like all our products, our chemical peels come with a 100% satisfaction and ship free within the U.S. Try our chemical peels today to see and feel the difference in your skin!

Dermatology Treatments in Summer

dermatology treatments in summer

When summer arrives, many of us become suddenly aware of our skin’s imperfections. Time in the sun can be unequivocally therapeutic, but it also means more sun damage. Joyful hours in the sunshine can also come with sunspots, dull or uneven skin tone, sagginess, and fine lines and wrinkles. So are there dermatology treatments that allow you to revel in the summer sun and still treat your skin to keep it looking youthful, radiant and healthy all season? Absolutely. Just select a regimen of in-office dermatology treatments that pinpoint and treat the results of UV damage, as well as skincare treatments that treat and protect your skin from further harm. Continue reading “Dermatology Treatments in Summer”

Silhouette InstaLift: A Facelift Without Surgery

Silhouette Instalift

One morning you wake up, look at your reflection, and realize you look older than you feel. You no longer recognize the person gazing back at you. The way your skin is beginning to droop makes you look tired and it doesn’t reflect your youthful personality. You consider whether you’re willing to undergo surgery to repair the damage done by time, gravity, and the sun, but it’s a daunting undertaking. Ultimately, you don’t feel ready to undergo the cost or the time commitment a surgery requires, and the risks of a full surgical facelift aren’t worth it for you. Does this mean you’re out of options?

Continue reading “Silhouette InstaLift: A Facelift Without Surgery”

What Is Ultherapy?

Non-surgical Ultherapy

Somewhere in our mid-30s or early 40s, we look in the mirror one day and realize our skin looks different than it used to. Over time, skin loses elasticity and collagen, causing the telltale sagging and loose skin that signifies aging. Jawlines loosen, cheeks begin to fall, eyebrows and eyelids droop, and chins start to look weaker than they are. Time and gravity can be cruel, and this loose skin is one of the principal complaints dermatologists see. Yet even those who are most bothered by the touch of time and gravity on their skin are often hesitant to sign up to get poked by needles, injected with fillers and neurotoxins, or go under the knife, fearing the unnatural results and complications that can come with these procedures. So, is there an option that doesn’t require these kinds of invasive treatments?

Continue reading “What Is Ultherapy?”

What is Endymed?

Endymed Intensif

Spring is on its way, which means we’ll be showing a lot more skin in a matter of weeks. With shorter hemlines, sleeveless silhouettes, deep-V necklines, and bright sunlight on the horizon, you might be looking into ways to make your skin look younger and firmer, even in the harshest lighting. Exercise, a healthy diet, and advanced skincare are all a fantastic start, but sometimes skin needs additional treatments to look revived, refreshed, and its best. For that, you’ll want to head to your dermatologist for the most advanced treatments for improving the way your skin looks and feels.

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What to Expect with Thermiva and PicoWay Treatments

thermiva and picoway treatments

Many women are looking for additional ways to improve the look of the skin all over their bodies. While excellent skincare is a great first step, there are other things to consider. When it comes to skin and tissue damage, as well as permanent marks like tattoos, clients often need to go beyond skincare to see results. Increasingly, patients are seeking procedures to treat issues that may be less conventional, but ultimately make a big difference in how they feel about themselves and how they look.

Continue reading “What to Expect with Thermiva and PicoWay Treatments”

Why Dr. Lancer is the Premier Beverly Hills Dermatologist

Why Dr. Lancer is the Premier Beverly Hills Dermatologist
Why Dr. Lancer is the Premier Beverly Hills Dermatologist

Beverly Hills boasts the best of the best. So to be the best Dermatologist in Beverly Hills is provider no easy task. In the Los Angeles area, clients like successful business owners, figures in the entertainment industry, and celebrities, expect the most premium of care and pampering. This means that only a dermatologist with years of experience and a genuine passion for giving his patients the best possible care, attention, and results would be considered the best of the best. Dr. Harold Lancer first established his private practice in Beverly Hills in 1983, and today he treats over 30,000 patients from every corner of the world. While A-listers may explicit trust Dr. Lancer for their Beverly Hills skincare, he’s also committed to making his products and procedures accessible to anyone who wants better, healthier, younger-looking skin. Continue reading “Why Dr. Lancer is the Premier Beverly Hills Dermatologist”

Machine-Based Dermatology Treatments You May Know About and Love

Machine-Based Dermatology Treatments You May Know About and Love
Machine-Based Dermatology Treatments You May Know About and Love

When it comes to machine-based dermatology treatments, the most common machine that comes to mind is one with a laser. Laser removal has become the preferred treatment when it comes to making unwanted tattoos, hair, or veins disappear, and has expanded further into treating (and removing) stretch marks and scars. In fact, you can see how Dr. Lancer used a laser to soften and remove a scar from The Oprah Network’s “Livin’ Lozada” star Evelyn Lozada’s forehead. Continue reading “Machine-Based Dermatology Treatments You May Know About and Love”