Dark spots appear due to sun exposure, after breakouts, and many other reasons. They aren’t dangerous and won’t do us any harm. That said, these hyperpigmented spots can make a person feel insecure. If you’re dealing with dark spots, you’ll be happy to know that you can eliminate them successfully. Here are some useful tips and tricks that will help you eliminate dark spots and have even skin.

Wear sunscreen and limit sun exposure

Overproduction of melanin leads to the appearance of dark spots. Melanin is a pigment that gives your skin its natural color. Numerous factors contribute to melanin overproduction, but sun exposure is the primary culprit. Sunlight triggers the production of melanin in the first place.

The pigment acts like a natural sunscreen that protects your skin from sun’s UV rays, which is why you tan. That said, excessive sun exposure impairs this process and causes the formation of hyperpigmented spots and patches. Negative effects of sun exposure on the skin are well-known. For example, 80% of fine lines and wrinkles on your face are caused by the sun.

Once dark spots have formed, sun exposure can darken them and make these patches appear more visible. Therefore, the very first thing you need to do in order to eliminate dark spots is to limit sun exposure, particularly during summer. Strive not to go out between 10 am and 3 pm. If you do need to be outside, wear hats, sunglasses, apply sunscreen and reapply it whenever necessary. This will prevent the formation of new dark spots and darkening of existing ones.

Interestingly, one study showed that people with hyperpigmentation are more likely to use sunscreen, but rarely do anything else to tackle this problem. Limiting sun exposure and wearing sunscreen are just a beginning of your fight against dark spots.

Use skin-cleansing brush

Regular skin care routine is a must for healthy, youthful skin and even complexion. Cleansing is the vital component of your skin care regimen, and powered brushes can be of huge help. Skin-cleansing brushes use a repetitive motion, some of them go back and forth while others move in a circular manner. The greatest advantage of skin-cleansing brushes is that their motor and bristles clean dirt, makeup, and other impurities more effectively than washing by hand. At the same time, these brushes also exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells. Accumulation of dead skin cells clogs pores and causes inflammation and breakouts, uneven tone, and it can make hyperpigmented patches even darker.

The use of skin-cleansing brushes makes skin brighter, and due to exfoliating effects, skin is able to absorb products you use more efficiently. In order to eliminate dark spots, you will probably apply the best skin brightener you can find, but the product won’t work the skin properly doesn’t absorb it. Skin-cleansing brushes allow you to avoid this problem. They vary in prices, and one can find the perfect brush regardless of the budget. Ideally, you should use them two to three times a week.

Eat anti-inflammatory foods

Food plays an important role in skin health. An unhealthy diet deprives the skin of much-needed vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that keep it healthy, resilient, and youthful. Consumption of foods with little to no nutritional value is closely tied to unhealthy lifestyle, and it accelerates aging, causes uneven pigmentation, decreases skin cell turnover, but also contributes to the saggy and dry skin.

Successful management of dark spots requires a healthy diet. It can also help you address some illnesses that are associated with hyperpigmentation of the skin. Formation of dark patches can be a symptom of autoimmune and gastrointestinal diseases, vitamin deficiencies, and metabolic disorders. Intake of a healthy diet and anti-inflammatory foods helps address these problems and make it easier for you to eliminate dark spots. In addition, healthy diet supports weight management, and it can prevent acne breakouts. This is particularly beneficial if you bear in mind that acne breakouts can leave scars behind.

The best foods for skin health are:

• Leafy green vegetables
• Berries
• Fatty fish
• Pomegranates
• Tomatoes
• Green tea
• Olive oil
• Coconut oil
• Eggs (together with yolks)
• Almonds
• Avocadoes

Don’t pick your zits

Zits, rashes, and breakouts can leave scars behind, but the problem becomes even worse when you scratch and pick them. Sure, it’s difficult to resist mostly because they can be itchy, but a few seconds of relief can cause scars that will take months to eliminate. For example, if you have hives then products like OxyHives can be of huge help, acne is treated with spot treatments too, but picking them and scratching would undermine the progress you’re making.

Exercise regularly

Even complexion needs healthy lifestyle which not only includes well-balanced diet but regular physical activity too. In order to banish your dark spots, it’s useful to exercise, and the type of activity depends on you. Make sure you choose something that makes you sweat, like cardio. Why? Studies show that exercise detoxifies the body by expelling harmful chemicals which cause depression.

Not only toxins and chemicals can affect your mental and physical health, but they can also contribute to skin irregularities, and uneven complexion is one of them. Let’s not forget that exercise has body-cleansing and anti-aging effects that improve blood flow, thus allowing your skin to get much-needed nutrients more efficiently. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes on most days a week, but make sure you stay hydrated.

Use skin-lightening creams

Skin-lightening creams are probably the most common treatment method among people with dark spots and patches. Before using one of these creams, you should consider consulting your dermatologist. He (or she) will inform you about ingredients to look for based on intensity and size of hyperpigmented patches and spots.

These creams work by reducing melanin and thereby lighten existing dark spots and scars. The most commonly used ingredient in skin-lightening products is hydroquinone and retinoids. Some products also contain natural ingredients such as kojic acid and arbutin.

When using skin-brightening products, you should bear in mind they can make your skin sensitive to the sun. The best way to apply them is to include these products into your bedtime skincare routine.

Chemical peels

The main purpose of chemical peels is to remove upper layers of dead skin in order to decrease dull appearance. As a result, skin reflects light better and gets a healthy glow. Dermatologist uses different chemicals to make this happen, hence the name. Chemical peels stimulate collagen production, accelerate cellular turnover, and decrease the visibility of dark spots. Common ingredients used in chemical peels are glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, trichloroacetic acid, mandelic, glycolic acids, among others. It’s also possible to find at-home chemical peel treatment products, but you should also bear in mind they make your skin sensitive to the sun and may cause irritation. That’s why it’s a good idea to speak to your dermatologist first.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a skin-exfoliating treatment that reduces the appearance of acne scars and other imperfections, but it may also decrease the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines. The treatment involves the use of tiny particles that sand away dead skin. Unlike chemical peels, microdermabrasion doesn’t involve chemicals and other similar ingredients. In turn, it doesn’t require significant recovery time, and it’s relatively gentle on your skin.

Home remedies to try

Management of dark spots requires a great deal of patience. These spots and patches are stubborn and won’t go away over night. Many people feel discouraged because their spots aren’t going away, but with strong willpower, consistency, and healthy lifestyle you’ll have even complexion once again. Besides the treatments you can do in dermatologist’s office, well-balanced diet, and regular exercise, there are many other useful things to try. Here are some home remedies that could help you tackle dark spots:

• Lemon juice –citric acid and vitamin C found in the lemon act as an ideal bleaching agent. You can use lemon juice in many ways. For example, mix equal parts of lemon and water and apply it on your face, rinse in 20 minutes. You can also combine one lemon and one tablespoon of yogurt that you’ll use to make a paste, apply on your face and rinse in 30 minutes
• Potato –starch, and sugar from potato exhibit exfoliating effects while minerals and vitamins stimulate collagen production and rejuvenate your skin. The easiest way to use potato is to cut thin slices, dip them in water and place them on areas with dark spots for 10 minutes
• Aloe vera –the most widely used ingredient in skin and beauty products, rejuvenates the skin and nourishes it. The easiest way to use aloe vera is to apply the gel to dark spots for 20 minutes
• Oatmeal – not only is oatmeal a great breakfast, but it’s also exfoliating and cleansing agent that scrubs away dead skin cells effectively. Oatmeal also has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe irritation and help eliminate acne scars and other dark spots. A great way to use oatmeal is to combine three tablespoons of ground up oatmeal, one tablespoon of honey, with one tablespoon of milk. Make a paste that you’ll apply to your face until it dries completely and rinses with clean water

Conclusion

Dark spots can be a result of acne breakouts that leave scars, but their primary cause is sun exposure. Some illnesses and hormone irregularities can cause dark spots and patches too. While they are stubborn, it’s possible to eliminate them successfully with treatment options mentioned above.