Thanks all, this is all v.useful info. Yes, my acne is more hormonal I think. I think I will continue with the retinol but only on alternate days and may try contact therapy like Pakfairy suggested.
RV - can I ask whether you use the Obagi product over your entire face or just on the infected area. I need to fade red spot marks but am worried that anything containing hydroquinone will cause other parts of my face to become pale (as indicated by a derm). I'm currently using a 8% glycolic wash but I think I need something stronger.
To see a derm here will cost me around £150 for initial consultation so am trying to avoid that unless my skin gets worse.
Tania,
It depends which Obagi system the doctor recommends for you. Obagi uses hydroquinone of 4%. If your acne/spots are severe, then you'll most likely be prescribed the Obagi Nuderm system. If you have a few spots with mild to moderate acne, then you'll get the Obagi CRX system. I use the CRX system, which is milder.
The NuDerms system is more agressive and when you begin using it, your skin will become worse before it gets better. And that's because the products are designed to clean your skin from underneath and bring all the junk to the surface and then get rid of it.
About the system I use (CRX), there is a solution that comes in a dropper and that is called Clarifying Serum. This serum contains hydroquinone and vitamin C, both known to fade pots. This product is the KEY ingredient in the system. And you apply it daily ONLY to the affected areas of your skin (spots, hyperpigmentation, etc). Then you have the Exfoliating Day lotion which also contains Vitamin C and increases your cell-turnover. In the morning when you wake up, you wash your face, then apply the Clarifying Serum to affected areas, and then apply the Exfoliating Day Lotion.
At night you apply the Night Cream, which also contains hydroquinone all over your face. I don't know why ur doctor said that you're going to get white patches on your skin. I asked my doctor about that, and she said that it's not going to bleach my skin. And I've been using this for the past two years and I've had no Michael Jackson type bleaching, lol. But the dark spots have for the most part faded.
If you plan to purchase the products, I recommend that you just buy the clarifying serum, exfoliating lotion, and night cream. Or if you want, you can just by the clarifying serum and night cream since they both contain 4% hydroquinone. I would totally skip the cleanser as most people do (use another effective cleanser) and the sunscreen (if you're dark, it will make you chalky.)
Hope this helps.