Why Has my Face Gotten So Dark?

Question

I'm an African American woman beginning my 3rd month of Accutane. Over the course of the treatment my face has gotten very dull and grayish and is several shades darker than the rest of my body. Is this a normal occurrence? If not, what measures can I take either during or after treatment to even my skin tone? Also, I have a lot of scarring (ice pick, boxcar, rolling and hyperpigmentation). I have heard that Accutane may decrease the severity of it. Is that true?

F. Victor Rueckl, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Accutane makes you more sun sensitive, so if you aren't wearing sunscreen every day and you are African American, you are simply creating a problem by excessively tanning your face. It's not the Accutane, it's the sun sensitivity mixed with the fact that you're not wearing sunscreen! It will go away when you stop the Accutane; however, seriously - put on sunscreen!

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Why Has my Face Gotten So Dark?

Answers (1)

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