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even tone

Blotchiness and discoloration generally come in two forms: brown spots—caused primarily by sun—and redness, which can be a hereditary condition like rosacea, or just general inflammation.
  • the routine for brown spots:

  • An extreme sunscreen every day is your best defense: "Increased pigment or melanin is almost always the result of UV exposure," says New York dermatologist Diane Berson. "And once you've faded a spot, even a small amount of sun exposure can bring it back."
  • Retinoids help fade and prevent spots; they also allow lightening treatments to penetrate deeper.
  • Light microdermabrasion and peels can also help prepare skin for lightening treatments, but be cautious: The irritation of a peel can trigger more pigment.
  • Lightening products—the safest and most effective now are made with albatin and kojic or polyhydroxy acid—take time, but they do work.
  • the routine for redness:

  • Sunscreen. Once again, this step is key. "Broken blood vessels come from two things: sun exposure and rosacea," says Grossman. And rosacea itself is thought to be exacerbated by sun.
  • Anti-inflammatories. Redness from sensitive skin and rosacea is best brought down through skin-calming compounds that range from green tea to chamomile and feverfew.
  • No cream can treat broken capillaries. But laser treatments can (you need three to five). "If you have redness and brown spots, go for photofacials [a.k.a. Photoderm], which are designed to fix both," says Rodan. "There's no downtime, and you'll see significant improvement."
  • Avoid spicy foods, saunas, alcohol, and caffeine, all of which can aggravate your skin.
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