So, I have been using this, uh, Desonide cream for a while, but my ski

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So, I have been using this, uh, Desonide cream for a while, but my skin started thinning and so many acne bumps and acne started to appear. I have stopped it, um, since two days, and now my skin is like this. And I have been using, um, Niacinamide with Azelaic acid cream in the morning, then the sunscreen, and at night I am using only moisturizer. Should I add glycolic acid serum at night? And also I have been thinking like what can I do for my skin brightening? Like, can glycolic acid will help?

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desonide cream withdrawal rebound acne skin thinning recovery skincare routine

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glycolic acid safe post steroid withdrawal damaged skin barrier when to introduce actives

I now have enough information to give you a thorough, well-researched answer. Here it is:

Your Skin Situation: What's Happening

Looking at your photo, I can see mild comedonal acne (small bumps, mainly on the forehead), some minor post-inflammatory spots on the cheeks, and periorbital darkening. The overall inflammation is mild - your skin doesn't look severely damaged, which is a good sign only 2 days after stopping Desonide.

What Desonide did: Desonide is a low-potency topical corticosteroid. Even low-potency steroids used for extended periods cause well-documented local side effects: skin atrophy, steroid acne (papules and pustules from follicular disruption), and telangiectases. According to Katzung's Pharmacology, these include "atrophy, corticoid rosacea, steroid acne, and papules in central facial distribution." This is classic topical corticosteroid-induced acne - not regular acne.

What's happening now (steroid rebound/TSW): When you stop a topical steroid after prolonged use, your skin goes through a recovery phase. The skin barrier is compromised and more reactive than usual. You are only 2 days in - the skin is still adjusting.

Should You Add Glycolic Acid Right Now?

No - not yet. This is the most important advice here.

Your skin barrier is currently compromised from the steroid use. Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant (AHA) that temporarily disrupts the skin barrier even in healthy skin. Applying it right now would:

Further weaken an already impaired barrier
Risk significant stinging, irritation, and redness
Potentially worsen the acne-like bumps by inflaming vulnerable follicles
Slow recovery

Expert consensus and evidence from barrier repair research is clear: hold ALL actives for at least 2-4 weeks after stopping a topical steroid while the barrier repairs itself.

Your Current Routine - Assessment

Morning:

Niacinamide - This is actually a great choice right now. Niacinamide is one of the most barrier-friendly actives in skincare. It supports barrier repair, regulates sebum, and reduces redness. Keep it.
Azelaic acid - Also appropriate. It's anti-inflammatory, gently anti-acne, and helps with pigmentation. It's less irritating than most actives. Keep it.
Sunscreen - Essential. Steroid-thinned skin is more vulnerable to UV damage and hyperpigmentation. Keep it, non-negotiable.

Evening:

Moisturizer only - Perfect for right now. Keep this until your skin has settled.

The Plan: When and How to Add Glycolic Acid

Wait 3-4 weeks minimum from stopping Desonide before introducing glycolic acid. By then, your barrier should be more stable.

When you do introduce it:

Start with a low concentration (5-7%, not 10%+)
Use it once a week only at night, not nightly
Apply it to dry skin (not damp - damp skin absorbs more acid and increases irritation)
Follow immediately with your moisturizer
Do NOT use it on the same night as anything else active
If it stings or reddens, stop for another 1-2 weeks

For Skin Brightening - What Actually Works

Yes, glycolic acid will eventually help with brightening - it exfoliates dead skin cells and over time reduces dullness and uneven tone. But you already have two effective brightening ingredients in your routine right now:

Niacinamide - Inhibits melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes, which directly reduces hyperpigmentation and brightens skin over 4-8 weeks of consistent use.
Azelaic acid - A tyrosinase inhibitor. It specifically targets post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which is exactly the type of dark spots that appear after steroid-related acne heals.

So your current morning routine is already doing brightening work. Give it 6-8 weeks and you should see noticeable improvement in tone.

Once your skin is healed and you do add glycolic acid, you'll have a solid brightening stack: niacinamide + azelaic acid + glycolic acid (at different times/days).

Priority Actions Right Now

Priority	Action
1	Keep routine minimal: cleanse, niacinamide + azelaic, SPF (morning) / moisturizer (night)
2	NO new actives for at least 3-4 weeks
3	Prioritize a good barrier-supporting moisturizer with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol
4	Avoid picking or rubbing the forehead bumps
5	See a dermatologist if the acne bumps worsen, spread, or don't improve within 4-6 weeks

One important note: Since you've been on Desonide "for a while" without specifying how long - if it was many months, or if your skin worsens significantly in the coming weeks with redness, burning, or oozing, that would be a sign of more significant topical steroid withdrawal and you should see a dermatologist who can guide you properly. The rebound phase can sometimes need medical management (antibiotics for steroid acne, etc.). What you're showing now looks mild, but watch for escalation.

I have been using Desenit from 10 to 15 days. Not more than that, or not even, I guess, 15 days. It's even only for 10 days.

That's actually great news - it changes things significantly.

10 days of Desonide (a low-potency steroid) is a relatively short course. You are very unlikely to be experiencing true Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). Significant skin atrophy and dependency typically require weeks to months of use, especially with stronger steroids.

What's More Likely Happening

The acne bumps you're seeing are probably one of two things:

Steroid acne - Even 10 days is enough for a corticosteroid to trigger comedonal/follicular eruptions on the face. These typically resolve on their own within 2-4 weeks after stopping.
Your original skin condition returning - Whatever you were treating with Desonide may be "rebounding" now that the anti-inflammatory effect is gone. This is normal and usually short-lived with a short course.

The skin thinning you noticed is almost certainly temporary at this duration of use. Low-potency steroids like Desonide take much longer to cause lasting atrophy.

Revised Timeline for Your Routine

Because the exposure was short, your recovery window is much shorter too:

Timeframe	What to Do
Now (days 1-7 post-stop)	Current routine only - niacinamide + azelaic + SPF morning, moisturizer night. Let skin settle.
Week 2 (days 7-14)	If skin feels calm, no stinging, no active inflammation - you can cautiously try glycolic acid once a week at night
Week 3-4 onward	Increase glycolic to 2x/week if skin tolerates it well

So instead of waiting 3-4 weeks, you may be able to try glycolic acid as soon as next week - but only if your skin feels calm and non-reactive when you touch or cleanse it. No stinging, no tightness, no raw patches.

Quick Test Before Adding Glycolic Acid

Before using it on your full face, do a patch test on a small area (inner forearm or jaw) and leave it for 24 hours. If no redness, stinging, or reaction - you're good to proceed.

Your brightening stack (niacinamide + azelaic acid now, glycolic acid soon) is well-chosen for your skin concerns. You're on the right track.

So according to you, which acetic acid should I use with niacinamide, and which niacinamide should I also use? Currently, I have been using Proven Honest Derma Niacinamide.

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Proven Honest Derma Niacinamide cream India ingredients review

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best azelaic acid cream serum India affordable dermatologist recommended 2024

Great, I found all the details on your current product and the best azelaic acid options available in India. Here's a full breakdown:

Your Current Niacinamide - PHD 3% Niacinamide Oil-Free Moisturizer

This is actually a solid product for your situation right now. Key ingredients:

3% Niacinamide - gentle, appropriate concentration while your skin recovers
Centella Asiatica (CICA) - soothing and barrier-supportive, great post-steroid
Sodium Hyaluronate - hydration
Salicylic Acid (low level) - helps with those comedonal bumps on your forehead
Fragrance-free - good for sensitive/recovering skin

Should you upgrade to the PHD 10% Niacinamide Serum? Not right now. 10% can be slightly more irritating, and 3% is enough for your current recovery phase. Stick with what you have for now. Once your skin is fully healed (3-4 weeks), you could consider switching to the 10% serum for faster brightening results.

Best Azelaic Acid Options in India (Affordable to Mid-range)

Here are the top picks for your skin concerns (post-steroid acne, brightening, PIH):

1. Aziderm 10% Cream - ~₹259

The most widely recommended prescription-grade option in India. 10% concentration, well-tolerated, widely available at pharmacies without a prescription. Great starting point - affordable and effective for acne + pigmentation. This is the most practical first choice.

2. Suganda Azelaic + Niacinamide Serum - ~₹700-1000

Contains 5% Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (PAD - a gentle, stable form of azelaic acid) + 5% Niacinamide + Panthenol + Centella. This is ideal if you want azelaic acid and niacinamide in one product instead of two separate ones. Fragrance-free and good for sensitive skin.

3. The Derma Co. 10% Azelaic Acid Cream - ~₹499

10% azelaic acid + niacinamide + mandelic acid + aloe. Good value, available on Nykaa/Amazon. The added mandelic acid gives a gentle exfoliation bonus for brightening.

4. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 10% Suspension - ~₹700-800

Available on Nykaa in India. Cream texture, 10% azelaic acid, minimal ingredients. Good if you prefer simple formulations.

My Recommendation for You Specifically

Since you're already using PHD niacinamide, go with Aziderm 10% Cream or The Derma Co. 10% Azelaic Acid Cream as your azelaic acid. Both are affordable and work well alongside your existing niacinamide moisturizer.

How to layer them:

Cleanse
PHD Niacinamide moisturizer (let it absorb for 2-3 minutes)
Azelaic acid cream on top (or mix a small amount together - both are fine)
Sunscreen (morning only)

Niacinamide and azelaic acid work synergistically - no conflict between them at all. They complement each other perfectly for your goals.

The answer, my date is for 10%, not for 3%.

Got it! So you're using the PHD 10% Niacinamide Spot Correcting Serum, not the 3% moisturizer. That's actually a better and more effective product for your goals.

PHD 10% Niacinamide Serum - Quick Assessment

This is a strong brightening serum. Its key ingredients:

10% Niacinamide - effective for oil control, pore appearance, and fading dark spots
2% NAG (N-Acetyl Glucosamine) - works synergistically with niacinamide to reduce pigmentation, more effective together than either alone
1% Arbutin - additional brightening, inhibits melanin
Centella Asiatica - soothing, barrier support

This is a well-formulated serum. Keep using it - it's a good choice.

Which Azelaic Acid to Pair With It

Since your niacinamide serum already has brightening covered well (10% niacinamide + arbutin + NAG is a powerful combo), you want an azelaic acid that adds anti-acne + anti-PIH action without overlapping too heavily.

Best pairing options in India:

Product	Price	Why it works with yours
Aziderm 10% Cream	~₹259	Affordable, pharmacy-available, pure 10% azelaic acid - no overlap with your serum
The Derma Co. 10% Azelaic Acid Cream	~₹499	Adds niacinamide + mandelic acid - slight overlap but enhances brightening
Suganda Azelaic + Niacinamide Serum	~₹700	Has both but since you already have a strong niacinamide serum, slightly redundant

My top pick for you: Aziderm 10% Cream - it's a pure azelaic acid product, very affordable, widely available at any medical store, and pairs cleanly with your PHD serum without ingredient overlap.

Revised Morning Routine

Cleanser
PHD 10% Niacinamide Serum (let absorb)
Aziderm 10% Cream (thin layer)
Sunscreen

Simple, effective, no conflicts. These three actives together (niacinamide + NAG + arbutin + azelaic acid) make a genuinely strong brightening and anti-acne stack.

Will it really help me with skin brightening? Uh, it's been, uh, three to four weeks since I am using it, but I am not getting any cool result. Um, so can you please tell me, um, should I, like, change something? Actually, the face wash I will be using from tomorrow or day after tomorrow will be that Pilgrim Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid. And sunscreen also, I have been using Dermaco 1% Hyaluronic Acid. Is this okay?

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Pilgrim glycolic acid salicylic acid face wash ingredients India review

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Dermaco 1% hyaluronic acid sunscreen SPF ingredients review

Good news - both products are solid. Let me break everything down for you.

Why You're Not Seeing Brightening Results Yet

3-4 weeks feels long but honestly, niacinamide alone takes 8-12 weeks to show visible brightening. That's just the biological reality - it works by slowing melanin transfer, which is a gradual process. You haven't failed, you just need more time AND you likely need to add something that speeds up the process.

The bigger issue is probably this: if you're not using azelaic acid yet, your routine is missing a key piece. Niacinamide alone is a good supporting ingredient but it's not fast enough on its own for visible brightening in 3-4 weeks.

Your Products - Assessment

Pilgrim 1.5% Salicylic Acid + 2% Glycolic Acid Face Wash This is a good upgrade from a plain face wash. Here's the key point though - glycolic acid in a face wash rinses off quickly, so its brightening effect is minimal. Its real benefit here is:

Salicylic acid unclogs pores (great for your forehead bumps)
Mild exfoliation keeps skin cleaner
Helps other actives absorb better

It won't brighten skin on its own, but it's a good cleanser for acne-prone skin. Go ahead and use it.

The Derma Co. 1% Hyaluronic Acid Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ This is actually one of the most recommended sunscreens in India - dermatologist Dr. Aanchal has been recommending it for 3+ years. It has:

SPF 50, PA++++ (excellent UV protection)
6 UV filters - broad spectrum
Ceramides + hyaluronic acid - good for your recovering barrier
No white cast, lightweight gel

This is a great sunscreen choice. Keep it.

What's Actually Missing for Real Brightening

Your routine currently has niacinamide (good) and sunscreen (essential). But to actually see results faster, you need:

1. Add Azelaic Acid (as discussed - Aziderm 10%)

This is the most important addition. Azelaic acid directly targets the dark spots and post-acne marks through a different pathway than niacinamide. Together they work much faster than either alone.

2. Sunscreen is Non-Negotiable

You're already doing this - good. Without SPF, every brightening ingredient you use gets cancelled out by UV-triggered melanin. This is probably the #1 reason people don't see brightening results.

3. Consider Adding Glycolic Acid Serum at Night (after 1-2 more weeks)

Since you asked about this earlier - once your skin is calm post-Desonide, a glycolic acid serum at night (not the face wash, an actual leave-on serum) will make a real visible difference to brightness and texture. The face wash version is too brief to do much.

Your Revised Full Routine

Morning:

Pilgrim Glycolic + Salicylic Face Wash
PHD 10% Niacinamide Serum
Aziderm 10% Cream (add this ASAP)
The Derma Co. Hyaluronic Sunscreen SPF 50

Night:

Pilgrim face wash
Moisturizer (what you're already using)
After 1-2 weeks: add glycolic acid serum (5-7%) once or twice a week

Realistic timeline with this full routine: You should start seeing noticeable brightening and smoother texture in 6-8 weeks. The combination of azelaic acid + niacinamide + glycolic acid at night + consistent SPF is a proper brightening protocol, not just one ingredient doing the work alone.

Wait, I am using azoleic acid. I have told you.

You're right, I apologize for the confusion! You did mention it earlier.

So let me re-read what you actually have:

✅ PHD 10% Niacinamide Serum
✅ Azelaic acid cream (morning)
✅ The Derma Co. SPF 50 Sunscreen
✅ Pilgrim Glycolic + Salicylic Face Wash (starting soon)
✅ Moisturizer at night

Your routine is actually complete and well-structured. The issue is simply time - not missing ingredients.

Why You're Still Not Seeing Results After 3-4 Weeks

Here's the honest breakdown:

Niacinamide - needs 8-12 weeks minimum for visible brightening. 3-4 weeks is too early to judge.

Azelaic acid - same story. Visible improvement in PIH (post-inflammatory dark spots) typically takes 8-12 weeks of consistent daily use.

Sunscreen - this is the most important question: are you applying it every single morning, even indoors? Because without consistent SPF, the niacinamide and azelaic acid are essentially fighting a losing battle. UV exposure every day re-triggers melanin production faster than these ingredients can suppress it.

The One Thing That Will Actually Speed Up Results

Adding a leave-on glycolic acid serum at night (not just the face wash). Since the Pilgrim face wash rinses off in seconds, the glycolic acid doesn't have enough contact time to brighten. A serum stays on all night and:

Removes the dull, dead cell layer that's masking brighter skin underneath
Lets niacinamide and azelaic acid penetrate better
Gives faster, visible texture improvement

Once your skin feels calm after stopping Desonide (give it about 1 more week), add a glycolic acid serum 2-3 nights a week. That will be the visible game-changer for you.

Patience + SPF every day + adding glycolic acid serum = real results in the next 4-6 weeks.

Uh, do I need to switch on another product? Like, should I use the ordinary niacinamide, or this is also okay? And you told me to not use glycolic acid. Why are you saying this now?

You're absolutely right to call that out, and I'm sorry for the contradiction. Let me be clear and consistent.

On Glycolic Acid - My Clear Position

Earlier I said wait 1-2 weeks before adding glycolic acid because your skin just stopped Desonide 2 days ago. That advice still stands.

Right now = too soon (skin just came off steroid) In 1-2 weeks = okay to introduce it, since your steroid use was only 10 days and low-potency

That's why I'm bringing it up now - not because I changed my mind, but because we're building a plan for when the time is right. I should have explained that more clearly instead of just recommending it without context. My mistake.

PHD 10% vs The Ordinary Niacinamide - Do You Need to Switch?

No, you do not need to switch.

The PHD 10% Niacinamide Serum is actually better than The Ordinary's for your specific goals. Here's why:

	PHD 10% (yours)	The Ordinary 10%
Niacinamide	10%	10%
Extra brightening	2% NAG + 1% Arbutin	Zinc only
Soothing	Centella Asiatica	None
For acne marks	Better	Basic

The Ordinary is a simpler, cheaper product. Yours has more actives targeting exactly what you want - brightening and acne marks. Stick with PHD.

Summary - Simple and Consistent

Right now:

Keep your current routine exactly as it is
No changes needed

In 1-2 weeks (once skin feels settled):

Add glycolic acid serum at night, 2x per week

Don't switch your niacinamide. PHD is the better product for you.

Is it also possible that my dull skin is due to proven honest derma sunscreen? Because, um, my sunscreen... Has been... Finished. So, I have been using Proven Honest Derma, um... I have ordered it. It will come in one to two days. But maybe it is because that PHD sunscreen is not suiting me. I have been using it from four to five days now. Okay.

Searching the Web

Proven Honest Derma PHD sunscreen ingredients SPF review white cast dull skin

Yes, a sunscreen absolutely can make your skin look dull - and 4-5 days is enough to notice it.

Which PHD Sunscreen Are You Using?

There appear to be two PHD sunscreens:

PHD Niacinamide Dry Touch Matte Sunscreen SPF 50 - matte finish, oil control
PHD Panthenol Hydrating Gel Sunscreen SPF 60 - hydrating, lightweight

If you're using the Matte one - this is very likely causing the dullness. Matte/dry-touch sunscreens contain silica or mattifying agents that absorb oil and create a flat, dull finish on the skin. They're designed for oily skin control but on many skin types they just make skin look grey and lifeless, especially in photos or indoors.

If you're using the Panthenol Hydrating one - less likely to cause dullness, reviews say no white cast and lightweight.

The Honest Answer

Dull skin from a sunscreen is very common and very underdiagnosed. Signs a sunscreen is dulling your skin:

Skin looks grey or flat after application
Skin looks better in the evening after washing it off
You look more radiant without it

The good news - your Dermaco SPF 50 is coming back in 1-2 days, and that one is confirmed lightweight, no white cast, and doesn't dull skin. So this problem will likely fix itself very soon.

Until it arrives, apply the PHD sunscreen and then lightly blot with a tissue if it looks too matte/dull. That removes the excess silica layer while keeping the UV protection.

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