Can you get rid of dark spots?

Dark spots. Ugh. Most of us who have them desperately try to get rid of them. 

Interestingly, there may be a “science” as to why many of us hate our dark spots! Did you know that when scientists were studying human reactions to faces, they found that people generally perceived faces with an uneven tone and lots of spots and pigmentation as being or looking “older” than skin with only fine lines or wrinkles? Crazy, right? 

It seems true that uneven skin tone, spots, and pigmentation do more to “age” your face than wrinkles do. So how can we get rid of dark spots? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately, there’s no way to snap your fingers and get rid of dark spots once you have them. Don’t freak out, though! 

There is a silver lining: By maintaining a consistent skincare routine, including a dark spot corrector, exfoliating face masks, and skin care products formulated with ingredients like glycolic acid, you can help minimize the appearance of dark spots over time. And, of course, you can always conceal dark spots with makeup. Keep reading for everything you need about dark spots, including the best ways to minimize their appearance and camouflage them when needed.

WHAT ARE DARK SPOTS?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), dark spots are a type of discoloration that can appear on the skin’s surface, usually due to years of sun damage. Per the AAD, darker skin tones are more prone to seeing dark spots appear—however, dark spots can occur on any skin tone.

WHAT CAUSES DARK SPOTS?

The AAD notes that the leading cause of dark spots is sun damage. Here’s what’s going on: When you spend prolonged amounts of time in the sun without protection (ahem, SPF), this can lead to damage (overstimulation of the melanin in our skin) which can show up as visible signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles or dark spots down the road.

The AAD also names acne as a cause of dark spots. Without treatment, breakouts can lead to dark spots appearing as the acne clears. Either way, whether you have acne dark spots or sun spots, how you minimize their appearance will essentially be the same—but more on that later.

CAN YOU GET RID OF DARK SPOTS?

When you have dark spots, you’ve likely searched for tips on removing them. Unfortunately, as I said, it’s impossible to get rid of dark spots completely—but there are a few steps you can take in your skincare routine to help greatly minimize the appearance of existing dark spots and prevent new ones from appearing. Don’t worry—I’m sharing the steps you can take (and the skin care products you can use) next.

(Note- There are medical treatment options, such as ablative and non-ablative laser treatments used for dark spots. However, these treatments are used ONLY under a doctor’s supervision. (An example who be the “Fraxel” lasers.) These lasers can get rid of pigmentation, but they can be very strong and are usually performed in a series, depending on how strong the laser is, and they are costly. Many women consider these procedures a last resort. However, they CAN be an option for you if you choose to go down that route. 

My advice? I recommend trying at-home products before going down the laser route. So many of today’s over-the-counter dark spot treatments do a great job of diminishing the appearance of dark spots, so read on and don’t give up hope. 

HOW CAN YOU HELP REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING DARK SPOTS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Now that you know what can cause dark spots, you can create a consistent skincare routine to help address them. Since you can’t get rid of dark spots entirely once they appear, a strong offense—intended to help prevent their appearance in the first place—is a good idea. What is the most important thing you can do? Protect your skin—and that means taking sun protection measures every day!

1. Wear sunscreen. I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it: Taking daily sun protection measures should be at the top of your skincare agenda—and that goes for everyone, not just those with dark spots. Pick a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher since this can help protect against the sun’s two types of rays: UVA and UVB. Do you know how I told you that spending time in the sun without proper protection measures can lead to damage down the road? That’s why it makes sense that wearing sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF can help to protect against future damage.

2. Reapply! Applying SPF once in the morning on your way out the door isn’t enough. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends reapplying every two hours, especially in the harsh direct sun, like at the beach or a lake. Regarding how much SPF you should use, the FDA says that the average person needs at least an ounce of sunscreen—aka about how much it would take to fill a shot glass- per application. 

Now, if you wear makeup, it is only sometimes feasible to reapply sunscreen on top of your makeup. Luckily, there are some things you can do. There are many cool products out there that will help you “Top up” your sunscreen during the day – using a facial spray with SPF or a face powder with SPF over your makeup is a viable option. 

3. Take other sun protection measures. Sunscreen is only sometimes enough; you should also take other sun protection measures. Limit your time in the sun (especially during peak hours, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.), seek shade, and cover up exposed areas in long sleeves, pants, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses. 

Since so many of us spend a lot of time driving in our cars, here are some other tips. I keep a wide-brimmed hat in my car that I use ONLY while driving to keep the sun off my face. Remember, aging UVA rays penetrate glass, so if you spend a lot of time in your car, seriously consider getting a hat or even long sleeve driving gloves to prevent age spots on your hands and arms too! 

4. Be careful with breakouts. As for dark acne spots, your best bet for preventing them is to treat your skin and avoid picking at pimples. That’s right, no pimple popping—no matter how trendy those videos are!

5. Visit a Dermatologist or your Esthetician. As we said, forgoing acne treatment can lead to dark spots down the line. For that reason, if you’re dealing with acne-prone skin, visit your derm/esthetician and get tailored advice. 

HOW CAN YOU MINIMIZE THE APPEARANCE OF DARK SPOTS ONCE YOU HAVE THEM AT HOME?

Ready to learn how actually to minimize the appearance of those dark spots? Pay attention to these five tips:

1. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!

Alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid can help exfoliate the skin’s surface and reduce the appearance of dark spots over time. How often should you exfoliate, you ask? There’s no one answer—it depends on the individual. While some people can handle daily exfoliation, others may only need to once or twice a week. Pay attention to how your skin responds to determine what works best.

I have always preferred chemical exfoliation (like acids in facial serums) to manual exfoliation (like facial scrubs.) This is because acids can be a gentler way to loosen the bonds of dead skin cells on the surface of our skin and break them up so that they shed off, which leads to a brightening effect over time. Scrubs can’t go “as deep,” so to speak, and tend to rip up our delicate skin barrier. Grainy scrubs are a lazy, ineffective method of exfoliation and damage our moisture barrier. This is not ideal for drier skin types or anyone over 40.

To help lighten dark spots, I recommend acids like AHAs (alpha hydroxy or “glycolic.”) These acids are tested and safe to use long term (even pregnant women can use them!) They work just at and slightly below the surface level to brighten up dark spots. It’s a good idea to use an overall brightening product with AHA all over in the evening and follow up with your moisturizer/night cream. The AHAs will go a long way in balancing the overall appearance of your skin tone. 

You can also use a two-pronged approach – an AHA serum AND a separate dark spot corrector. More on that in the next section. 

2. Use a dark spot corrector. 

Another skincare product worth using is a dark spot-correcting cream or serum. Look for fragrance-free products that say “brightening” on the label. Look for antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E. Kojic acid and niacinamide is also great for brightening and helping dark fade spots.

Your dark spot corrector product can be used in addition to an acid serum. If you want to layer them:

1. Use your dark spot corrector FIRST.
2. Apply it in any of the areas you are concerned about.
3. Wait for that to dry for a few minutes, then proceed with your acid serum.

The best way to incorporate a dark spot corrector into your routine is to use your acids at night and your dark spot correction product in the morning under your moisturizer and SPF. That way, you can avoid unnecessary irritation if your skin is sensitive. However, if your skin can handle it, you can use your spot corrector morning and night until you achieve your desired results. After that, you can use it once a day or a few times a week. I never advise my clients to use an acid serum twice daily – that’s overkill. 

3. Take sun protection seriously. 

Now that you know that dark spots can be caused by sun damage—and may have experienced it firsthand—it’s essential to up your sun protection game if you haven’t already. Please take all the sun protection tips I’ve shared above seriously. You must wear your SPF daily – even on cloudy, rainy days! If you feel like you can’t remember, ensure that your daily moisturizer has SPF in its formula.

 Apply water-resistant formulas for beach and pool days since they take longer to sweat off. Apply those formulas at least 30 minutes before exposure, and remember to reapply at least every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.

4. Add a peel pad to your nighttime skincare routine. 

As you age, your skin’s natural ability to shed dead skin cells slowly declines, which can cause dark spots and uneven tone to become more visible—and this can leave your skin looking duller and older. Look for a peel tailored to your specific skin type, but don’t overdo it. Only use exfoliating toners or pads at night, and wear your SPF during the day to prevent your skin from re-darkening. 

 I often recommend peel pads without alcohol and additional moisturizing ingredients like ceramides to avoid over-drying out your skin. ( It is common for even oily skin to dehydrate if you overuse or get too zealous with peel pads! 

Since peel pads are usually a lot stronger than regular acid facial serums (and are typically done in a “series” – either days or weeks – I strongly advise you to stop using other acids while using peel pads. 

NEVER use them on a damp face. That will enhance acid absorption and open you up to irritation. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least 10-15 after washing your face before applying any peel pad! Use peel pads in the evening only to prevent irritation from the sun. 

5. Use a vitamin C serum. Another potent skincare ingredient to look out for is vitamin C, and one of the best ways to utilize this ingredient is by using a vitamin C face serum. The anti-aging and anti-dark spot action of Vitamin C products is amplified when you use SPF too! (You can use Vitamin C products during the day under your SPF, but the other brightening products I mention use only at night.)

If you are waiting for results, I advise picking a skincare night treatment and sticking with it for at least 30 days to see visible results. It’s not a good idea to constantly switch up products and ingredients since you can’t track ANY results, good or bad. 

Did you know I have an Amazon Store?

It contains a huge curated list of some of my skincare favorites and recommendations – products that I love and have personally vetted, either for myself or for my clients. The products from these lists have hundreds (if not thousands) of positive reviews and perform well. 

I list products in a very accessible price range (with a few exceptions). Since I constantly research, review, and recommend products, I continuously add to the list to keep things fresh. 

Most, if not all, of my recommendations, contain expertly formulated ingredients that have been proven to work and are endorsed by reputable dermatologists and licensed estheticians worldwide. In addition, most are fragrance-free, SLS-free, dye-free, silicone-free, and essential oil free, AND they contain minimal ingredients (without unnecessary garbage and fillers you don’t need!)

To check out my Amazon Store, click here.