Reducing Dark Spots to Get Younger, Clearer Skin
Removing dark spots from your skin can sometimes seem nearly impossible. There are more DIY tips and tricks — on top of all the over the counter products — than you could possibly imagine.
Fading the spots can take time, and testing out different products, only to find they don’t work, adds to that time. So how do you figure out the best way to fade your dark spots without the risk of your time?
Here is a compilation of the best ways to lighten your dark spots, so you can save your time and money.
What Causes Dark Spots?
Skin Damage and Scarring can cause dark spots because melanin pigments form where your skin is damaged or stressed. Using harsh products such as scrubs can collapse your skin cells and cause your melanin to pool. When the melanin pools, you’re left with dark spots.
Other types of scarring that can cause dark spots to appear after surgery or laser treatments. When those scars heal they leave a flat area of dark spots behind. If you typically suffer from acne, you’re more prone to get hyperpigmentation after one of these procedures.
Hormones or changes in your hormones can cause pigment deposits to form in different areas. Many women find that during or after their pregnancy (or even while taking birth control pills) they develop dark spots. What happens is that the endogenous hormones can stimulate melanocytes, which then causes them to produce more melanin.
These types of dark spots usually can go away on their own if the hormone intake goes down or when the pregnancy is done. Other women who have received treatment for cancer may also be at the top of the list for dark spots appearing due to hormonal changes.
The Sun, if your skin is exposed for long periods of time unprotected, can cause long term damage. Sunscreen is important in warding off dark spots and even then may not save you from the suns’ harmful rays.
Many people find that dark spots caused by the sun don’t even come in until many years down the road. Since melanin is your body’s own type of sunscreen, tanning causes the melanin to come forth and help protect you from harmful UV rays.
Too much exposure to the sun, though, can cause some of the melanin to stay around, i.e. dark spots. Using sunscreen can help ensure that your skin is protected and there’s less of a risk of developing dark spots.
Health-related issues can cause dark spots to appear over time, issues brought about by medication or diabetes, etc. Inflammation of the skin and exposure to harmful UV rays can also be major factors in causing hyperpigmentation.
How Do You Treat Dark Spots?
The best way to reduce the look of dark spots would, of course, be prevention. Knowing what causes dark spots and taking preventative action is the best measure, so being more conscious of the possible consequences for taking different medications, using sunscreen, and starting to use preventive products can be beneficial.
Vitamin C is also a great way to reduce the look of dark spots. Finding products that use Vitamin C as a main ingredient — or by taking vitamins — can help reduce the look of dark spots and can help with other aging issues.
Vitamin C aids your body in fighting against damage caused by UV rays or exposure to air pollution. Since dark spots indicate your cells are already damaged, using a product with Vitamin C will help fight against the damage and help fade out the spots caused by the damage.
Willow Tree Bark extract is another great natural ingredient to check out when looking to reduce the look of dark spots. This ingredient targets damaged areas and encourages cell turnover.
The natural form of Salicylic Acid can be found in this extract and its main purpose is to shed dead skin cells and encourage new cells to regenerate. This allows healthy new cells to form, ones without the dark spots present. Salicylic Acid is also a common ingredient in acne treatments.
For anyone with more sensitive skin who is dealing with dark spots, a more mild ingredient such as lactic acid may be beneficial. Lactic acid is taken from sour milk and works by penetrating the skin with mild exfoliation. It then suppresses your melanin, so you’ll want to be sure to wear some sunscreen if you use this.
Conclusion
Keeping your skin healthy is a great baseline for making sure hyperpigmentation doesn’t arise, so using natural products that don’t irritate your skin is going to be your best bet.
There are many great natural ways to help reduce the look of dark spots. Whether you use a DIY concoction or you find a product with natural ingredients, you have an overwhelming amount of options to choose from. It's easier than ever to find the perfect formula that works for your dark spots.
Resources— Elle, Women's Health, Self
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