Over - peeling for long period of time

by Tabbie
(Hawaii, USA)

Hello Maria, after following your advice of resting my skin for 2 weeks because of prolong peeling and redness of my face, my face went back to normal but no longer rosy cheeks and shinny face just plain fair. I decided to go back to my original bleaching products which was Melacare lotion and its cream to get that glow I once had. The way I was using Melacare was in the morning I would apply Melacare first to cleanse my entire face, chest, neck, upper back and nape as well as my ears before I bathe. Then bath in warm water but applying nothing else to areas i had already cleansed with Melacare. In the evenings, I would do the same but in place of the Melacare cream, I apply Qian Li (QL) for whitening.

After only two days of my usual routine as I have mentioned above and beginning to see that beautiful glow and light skin, I noticed my skin (especially my cheeks and chin)turning wrinkley and really red again. I decided to stop treatment again inorder to allow my skin to rest. It got really irratable and I felt my face just burning so I went to a drug store and purchased Cetaphil Moisturizer to soothe my face. My skin, like the last time I wrote you, peeled so much and stayed red. It is now the 6th day going without any bleaching treatment (just the moisturizer at night n Neutrogena Healthy Defense daily Unitinted SPF 45 Sunscreen during daytime) and it is still peeling. The redness sort of deminshed and the burning sensation is not as bad as it was earlier.

I don't understand why this is happening. The first time I first used my products I went throught he usual peeling then it stopped and I liked what I saw.....then I had to mix it with another product and that is when I wrote you. Now that I have rested for 2 weeks and have gone back to it....it seems to me that it's not working any more. Should I now just use it twice a week or perhaps only before bed time and then in the morning use a whitening soap and my Neutrogena Sunscreen? Is it possible to not achieve the nice rosy cheeks and shinny glow anymore due to over peeling for a long period of time.......I didn't think I had anymore layers of skin because I was peeling so much.....everytime I showered my face skin would just rub off and I tried to expedite the peeling process by using the palm of my hands to rub all the dead skin off....I'm not sure if I should have done this. Do you think I have peeled too much and the fresh skin don't need anymore usage of Melacare?

Maria, I just want that nice skin I once saw back but I am not getting it. I am beginning to think that I have over drugged my face (ha ha!) I guess I should consider myself lucky that discoloration didn't follow after all the peeling and redness, ha? I thought that after all the peeling, a freash and fair skin was suppose to surface.....should I wait another 2 weeks to see it? Can you please help me out with this cause I just ain't getting it right.

Thank you!

Answer:

Hi Tabbie, overpeeling is caused by overuse of the skin lighteners. Yes, you need to use less frequently for maintenance only. Once you reach the desired results (which at a time you did already), you should have reduced the application of the skin whitening products. Peeling too much won't lighten skin further if it's what your skin only allows. It will just irritate it.

Whatever facial wash healed your skin, stick to it for the next week, no lighteners, to heal the redness and soreness of the overpeeled skin. But moisturization and sunscreen remain in your routine to protect sensitive skin. Then if everything is back to normal (no redness, no dryness), go back to your favorite skin lightener and use 2x a week only, or less whatever works best for your type of skin.

Let me know if this helps after 2 weeks. Come back here to this page and click below for "Comments" for the followup.

Maria