Hello,
I had avery smooth skin until a few years back. Suddenly my cheeks became dark and a dark ring developed around the nose. Please help me with a remedy. Thank you.

Sounds like you have Melasma, melasma are dark, irregular patches found on the upper cheek nose lips, upperlip, and forehead. It comes from overactive melanocytes those are the cells that produce pigment... stress can cause this, medications, hormone level change, pregnancy, genetics. This can be treated however I would advice you see a dermatolgist they do have over the counter creams but due to the recent recall of creams containing Hydroquinone, I would suggest you let a dermatogist take a look, to make sure that is in fact what you have.

It could be hyperpigmentation or melasma. There are many factors that causes these skin conditions such as heredity, pregnancy, imbalance hormones, sun exposure or birth control pills. You should consult with a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment options. It's important to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to help in the treatment of melasma and hyperpigmentation problems. The pigmented areas can be treated with bleaching creams, but a dermatologist can offer you a stronger and effective treatment to lighten the effected areas.