I have this problem also. You might want to google post inflammatory hyperpigmention and it's a really hard problem to get rid of. Since the melanin starts way below the to player that you see, it takes awhile to lighten. It is definately not a quick thing to fix unfortunately. I have tried lasers, Retin-a, hydroquinone, over the counter stuff, nothing really worked. Plus, I wear sunblock everyday plus reapply later in the afternoon, which you must do and spf 15 is nothing. You need to wear more than that at least 30, I wear 45. Anways, mine has lighted up pretty decently but lots of work. I wash with a glycolic cleanser, tone with a salacylic (sp?) acid, I do an aspirin mask if I have any new pimples that I need to dry up, I use an exfoliating microfiber cloth to twice a week. I use a glycolic serum a few times a week. I also use azelaic acid to help suppress the melanin production and I use olay definity which lightens the color. The main ingredient in it that helps is called niaciminide, which I also buy at whole fooRAB in a capsule and I add that to the cream to make it a stronger version and it seems to be helping, I would say it has lightened about 50%. It took at least 3 weeks for me to see some difference but now it's been about 6 weeks and it's definately much better. Good luck.