Salt Lake City Dermatologists

I Am 30 and I Have Hyperpigmentation All over my Body Due to Psoriasis, What Can Be Done?

I have brown skin (South East Asian origin) and I was wondering which chemical peel would be best suited to treat the hyperpigmentation..

 I would recommend M2  (SkinCareRx.com) 12%  serum for the first month once a day and then switch to 20% serum for the next few months.  Skip a day if you skin is irritated and use only moisturizer and protect from the sun.   This has helped many of my darker skin type patients with hyperpigmented skin.

Mark Taylor, MD

Salt Lake City Dermatologic Surgeon

Hydroquinone Absolutely Necessary Before Fraxel?

I never had the fraxel treatment before, and I was consulting my dermatologist if I should get some. He said, that before putting me under the procedure he would have to put me on some hydroquinone for at least a month. The problem is, I need the treatment done fast, and therefore I don't really have the time to pre-treat my face. Is it safe enough to get fraxel (probably re:store or re:pair) without applying hydroquinone? How bad does the chance of possible side effects increase? Thank-you.

I personally never pretreat anyone with either Retin A or hydroquinone.  Postoperatively, total sun avoidance until the skin gets back to normal color and treatment if necessary with hydroquinone works very well for me even in some darker skin types.   We do hundreds of patients with Fitzpatrick skin types 1-IV.   If there is a strong history of pimples turning brown  and taking months to get back to normal color or minor injuries turning brown for months or years after healing,  then there is more chance of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.    Even in those patients, I treat for hyperpigmentation post op rather than pre op if necessary.  I recommend that you follow your doctor's instructions or change doctors if you want to get the treatment done sooner from a specialist who does not require a month of hydroquinone.   

Mark Taylor, MD

Salt Lake City Dermatologic Surgeon

Can Punch Graft Treatment Help Remove Acne Holes on Nose?

Can punch graft treament help remove acne holes on nose?

If you have oily skin and have a pitted scar on the nose punched out, the oil produced by the oil glands in the nose may prevent the punch from healing and leave another scar.  When punching pitted scars out on oily skin, I often put the patient on one week of Accutane before and after the procedure to reduce the oil that is produced.   This has worked well for many of my patients.

Mark Taylor, MD

Salt Lake City Dermatologic Surgeon