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DR HILARY'S DIAGNOSIS

Patchy pigmentation on the face is a common and noticeable problem, especially for women.

The critical issue in diagnosis is whether they are patches of darker pigmentation, or whether it’s normal skin made to look darker by vitiligo in the surrounding skin.

Vitiligo is where pigmentation is lost – something Michael Jackson claims to suffer from.

The causes of changes in pigmentation include female hormones in the Pill and exposure to sunlight, which sunblock can help minimise.

The only way to remove patches is laser resurfacing, which can even out colouring.

The only other option is to use a good camouflage make-up such as Covermark or Keromask.

This can be mixed to produce an exact shade to suit you.

Skin bleaching might be feasible, but where the skin is already patchy, you could simply end up with blotches of a lighter shade.

‘How can I get rid of blemishes on my face?’

EVERY WEEK A CELEB ASKS OUR FABULOUS DOCTOR FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THIS WEEK IT’S BUSINESSWOMAN AND TV PRESENTER SAIRA KHAN, 37

I’ve always had a good complexion, but two years ago I noticed some tiny dark marks appearing under my eyes.

I’d been at a wedding and it was sunny, so I was wearing sunglasses with UV protection.

But when I took them off at the end of the afternoon, there were several brown dots on each of my cheeks.

The marks were small so they didn’t really bother me at first, but then they started to get bigger really quickly.

Over the course of just a few weeks, they joined together to become as big as a 20p piece on each cheek.

That may not sound huge, but they were very noticeable.

I’ve had the patches ever since.

Although I’ve tried using skin-lightening creams to get rid of them, nothing has worked.

Most of the time I use make-up to disguise the patches, and then just try to forget they’re there.

But if I do catch sight of my bare face in the mirror, I notice them immediately.

These marks make me feel a bit self-conscious and because they’re on my face, there’s no way people won’t notice them.

I’d never let them stop me doing anything but they’re really annoying, especially as they got even darker when I was pregnant.

I’d love to get rid of them. What do you suggest?

words: claie wilson photography: rex For information on Saira’s luxury children’s skincare range, visit miamoo.co.uk

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AUG 31 HANNAH TOINTON

AUG 24 NELL McANDREW

AUG 17 CLAIRE KING

AUG 10 SAIRA KHAN

AUG 3 JULIE GRAHAM

JULY NIKKI GRAHAME, KIM MEDCALF, SINITTA, LINDA ROBSON

JUNE SUZI WALKER, ZOE SALMON, POOJA SHAH, CAROLE SMILLIE, KIRSTY ALLSOPP

MAY FAYE TOZER, JENNIE BOND, JANE DANSON, TRACEY COX

APRIL ERIN BOAG, JULIA BRADBURY, CLAIRE SWEENEY, TRICIA PENROSE

MARCH SAMMY WINWARD, ROSIE MARCEL, GABY ROSLIN, NATASHA HAMILTON, ANDREA MCLEAN

FEB GEMMA BISSIX, CAROL MCGRIFFIN, ROXANNE PALLETT, TINA HOBLEY