Darkening of a scar after sun exposure – what to do?

Dr. Irwin
July 3, 2014
Dr. Irwin, I have a scar from over the counter chemicals I used to remove facial hair above my lip. I have fair skin with a yellow/olive undertone as I am half Italian. I was told that I have the type of skin that scars easily. I recently went on vacation in a very hot climate and got very tanned. Now the huge scar above my lip is very brown. What can I do about this? (It is very noticeable and embarrassing. Makeup is not working to cover it) Thanks.

You’re not alone on this.   A true scar is usually whiter than your baseline skin tone and will usually stay whiter.   If you’re having trouble with more color after a chemical burn, it’s often more a persistent post inflammatory hyperpigmentation problem (PIH).  Your dermatologist would be able to diagnose this and tell you which it is so please see her/him. 

As you all know, I’m don’t advocate for using hydroquinones long term.  However, in my opinion, they have a role in treating certain problems for 1-6 months using 2-4% (the currently FDA approved) concentrations.   There are various versions of this and the 4% in the U.S. must be by prescription. 

Remember that about 10% of people have the opposite effect (the skin darkens) and should stop it right away if that happens or the skin is irritated in any way. 

Link to more on hydroquinones. 

Hope this helps,  Dr. I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

Ask me your skincare question!

Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

  • All our content is written and researched by myself.
  • My medical office in Seattle has treated thousands of patients for 15+ years.
  • This site is not affiliated or financially tied to any product, treatment or device.
Ask Me Something
SkinTour Skincare
One of the best investments in your skin is your daily skincare. Why? Because you can prevent many problems with blotchy skin color, lack of glow, texture, some types of acne, and fine lines with good skincare products. You can also correct some of these problems with effective skincare products. Great skincare is often more expensive because quality ingredients are expensive. Some companies spend on research/development which benefits all of us and adds to the cost. Are they worth it? In general - yes! I have handpicked some of what I consider to be the best skin care products, and offer them for sale on SkinTour's shop. This is based on my team and I's testing and research at our clinic. Many of the products are in my own regimen. What could be better than using skin care products a dermatologist uses?!
Browse Shop