Talk to Dermatologist on Skin Treatment

Hello Doctors, I am a 31-year-old man living in Belgium. My main skin concern is that my face is noticeably darker than the rest of my body, and I would like to understand the possible cause and what treatment would be most appropriate.

I had acne around 2014, but I do not currently have active acne. I still have some open pores/old acne-related skin texture issues, but my main concern is the overall darker, tired and uneven appearance of my face.

I have already tried many products without getting the improvement I wanted:

Vitamin C serum for more than 6 months Niacinamide 10% CeraVe cleanser SPF 50 sunscreen Caudalie Vinoperfect serum Niacinamide moisturiser Bioderma Pigmentbio Foaming Cream CeraVe SA Anti-Rough Skin Cleansing Gel ACM Azéane / Azelaic Acid 15%

I recently booked an online dermatology consultation with Dr. Rabeeka Bakhtiar and explained my concern clearly. However, I was prescribed only Acnes Face Wash once daily, which confused me because I do not currently have acne and I do not understand how this alone would address my main problem.

My questions are:

What could be causing my face to be darker than the rest of my body?

Could this be melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun damage, irritation from skincare products, or another condition?

What examination or tests would you recommend to find the actual cause?

Considering the products I have already tried, what would be the most effective and medically appropriate next treatment?

Should I consider prescription treatments such as hydroquinone, tretinoin, stronger azelaic acid, or another option?

I would really appreciate a professional opinion and a proper treatment plan based on the possible cause rather than simply adding more cosmetic products.

Thank you.