Q&A with Ephraim Hunte You asked… He answered!!

Q - I am concerned with the little moles on my cheekbones. Is there a way make-up could be applied that would either conceal or minimize the sight of the moles?—Joanne

A - A lot depends on the nature of the moles. If they are just brown spots on your skin, a cream foundation or a powder-to-cream foundation formula will give satisfactory concealing results. If in some places there are large brown patches, try spot-treating the area with your foundation, i.e., pat a little excess foundation only on the places that need the extra coverage—do not repeat over the entire face. If your moles are raised above the skin, foundation may not cover them adequately. If you find them unsightly, a dermatologist can advise you on laser and other treatments that can erase your eyesore.

Q - I am writing in the hope that you can help me in some way with my problem. I have black marks on my legs from scars caused by mosquito bites and cuts and I have been trying for years to get them removed. I have tried cocoa butter, bleaching creams, even laser treatment. With the laser treatment, I guess I did see some kind of improvement but it was too expensive. I am currently using vitamin E oil on my legs but I was wondering if you could suggest something that would help lighten and even. This is something that has made me self-conscious and uncomfortable for years.—LD

A - The reason for your dark scarring is a condition called hyper-pigmentation—a darkening of the skin caused by excess melanin production. It has nothing to do with a person having “bad skin” but is usually a genetic problem. People who scar with dark discoloration may have an immediate relative, who is dark in complexion either on the father’s or mother’s side of the family. To treat the scarring problem, hydroquinone preparations are used. Popular formulations with hydroquinone, cortisone and retin-a offer very effective results but because of their steroid component, should only be used under the supervision of a doctor/dermatologist. Other preparations that cause skin lightening contain azealic acid, kojic acid, salicyclic acid, glycolic acid and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), but are not as effective as the hydroquinone cocktails.

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