Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Finding the cause
• Part 2 of 4: Proven effective treatments
• Part 3 of 4: Try home remedies
• Part 4 of 4: Preventing dark spots
• Tips
• Warnings

The chemical that gives color to human skin is called melanin. Overproduction of melanin causes freckles, age spots and other spots with a darker color. These dark spots on your face, also called hyperpigmentation, are caused by exposure to sunlight, hormonal fluctuations, or are a side effect of certain medications. It's not considered a medical condition, but if you have dark spots, you'd probably rather get rid of them than get rich. You can solve the problem by addressing the underlying cause and trying chemical peels, natural treatments, or other methods. See Step 1 to find out what's causing your dark spots and how to get rid of them.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Finding the cause

1. There are different types of dark spots. Since they can be caused by a variety of factors, it's important to learn about the different types so you can see how to get rid of them. There are three types of hyperpigmentation:
   • "Lentigines". These dark spots are caused by exposure to UV rays from the sun. 90% of people over the age of 60 have these so-called liver spots. But there are also many people who get dark spots from the sun at a younger age. These spots appear scattered and do not show a typical pattern.
   • "Melasma". These types of dark spots are caused by hormonal fluctuations. Women can develop these spots when their hormones run wild, such as during pregnancy or menopause. It is also a side effect of the birth control pill and hormonal treatments. Melasma can also appear as a result of a thyroid problem.
   • "Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)". These dark spots are the result of skin damage from psoriasis, burns, acne, and certain skin treatments that hit the skin hard.
2. Determine what is causing your dark spots. Knowing what you're dealing with can help you choose a treatment and adjust your lifestyle to keep more dark spots from appearing. Ask yourself the following questions and determine what is causing your dark spots:
   • Do you often go to the solarium or do you sunbathe outside? If you are exposed to a lot of sunlight and don't use enough sunscreen, you can suffer from lentigines. The best way to get rid of this type of hyperpigmentation is to treat the spots topically and avoid sun exposure.
   • Do you have a medical condition for which you are taking medication? Are you pregnant, are you using the contraceptive pill or are you undergoing hormone treatment? Then you may have melasma. These types of stains are difficult to treat, but some methods can help improve them.
   • Have you had acne badly, have you had plastic surgery or other long-term skin problems? Then you can have PIH, which can be treated topically and disappear over time.
3. Consult a dermatologist for a diagnosis. This specialist doctor has a special magnifying glass that he or she can use to study your skin and determine the cause of the dark spots. In addition, the doctor will also ask questions about your lifestyle to find out what's going on. The skin doctor will advise on the best treatment method for your existing dark spots and how to prevent new ones.
   • Because hyperpigmentation is a common condition that many people seek treatment for, there are numerous products and treatments on the market that promise to make your dark spots disappear quickly. A visit to a dermatologist will help you determine which ingredients are working and which are not.
   • Some good dark spot medications are only available with a prescription, another reason to see a skin doctor about further treatment.
   • Finally, it is important to rule out that melanomas or other types of skin cancer are to blame for the appearance of the spots. If you get a complete check-up every year, skin cancer can be detected in time before it spreads.

Part 2 of 4: Proven effective treatments

1. Start with a natural scrub. If the dark spots are not older than two months, they may be only in the outer layers of the skin. Exfoliating can be enough to get rid of it; it removes the outer layer of the skin and thus brings out new skin.
   • Use a cleansing peel that contains small particles that gently exfoliate the skin and get rid of the outer layer. You can also make your own scrub by adding ground raw almonds or ground oatmeal to your cleansing milk. Apply the scrub in circular motions.
   • Electric peelers like Clarisonic go a little deeper than the standard scrub facial cleanser. The dead skin cells are gently scraped off your face. You can find this device on the internet or at the drugstore.
2. Try a topical acid treatment. You can get them by prescription or buy them at the drugstore. It contains alpha hydroxy acid (fruit acid), beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid) or retinoids. These various acids remove the outermost layer of the skin, which is made up of dead skin cells. This gives newer cells the opportunity to grow and the skin is rejuvenated. These treatments are used for all types of hyperpigmentation.
   • The most common alpha hydroxy acids (fruit acids) include glycolic, mandelic, citric and lactic acids. These acids are often obtained from foods. They exfoliate the skin effectively and are gentle enough for those with sensitive skin. Fruit acids can be found in the form of serums, moisturisers and scrubs.
   • Also called salicylic acid, beta hydroxy acid can often be found as an ingredient in medications and acne skin treatments available at pharmacies. Salicylic acid is available as a cream, serum, cleansing milk or scrub.
   • Retinoid acid is also called tretinoin or retinoic acid. It is a very effective treatment for acne and dark spots. It is available in creams and serums, in the Netherlands only on prescription.
   • If you're looking for drugstore products, try to find a combination of these ingredients: hydroquinone, cucumber, soy, kojic acid, calcium, azelaic acid, or arbutin.
3. Chemical peels can work at three different depths: light, medium and deep.
   • Light chemical peels usually contain fruit acids. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are common ingredients. These peels are considered the most effective treatment for dark spots.
   • Medium depth chemical peels contain TCA, trichloro vinegar.This peel is recommended for the treatment of dark spots caused by the sun. For best results, the peeling is repeated every two weeks until the spots have faded enough. These types of peels are usually not suitable for dark-skinned people, as more dark spots may appear after the skin has healed.
   • Deep chemical peels contain phenolic acid as the active ingredient, also called carbolic acid. These types of peels are often used for deep wrinkles, as well as to deal with severe sun damage. Peels with phenol are very bright and are performed under anesthesia. The result sometimes takes several months after the skin has healed.
4. Try microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is a treatment that uses very fine crystal particles to "sandblast" dark spots. A new layer of skin replaces the skin that has been removed. Treatments usually take place once a month for a number of months.
   • Find an experienced professional. Chafing the skin can cause irritation, which can make the discoloration worse. If someone does not perform the treatment properly, you can become very disappointed with the result.
   • Microdermabrasion cannot be used too often as the skin needs time to recover between treatments.
5. Get information about laser treatments. Laser treatment, also called IPL (Intense Pulsed Light therapy) therapy, uses short flashes of light to break down the melanin causing the dark spots. The colored spots absorb the light and are broken down or evaporated. Your body heals the area by forming a crust and producing replacement new, young, uncolored skin. Laser treatment is extremely effective, but it is expensive and can be painful.
   • Laser treatment is usually the best option if the spots are old. Dark spots older than a year are deep in the skin and light topical treatments can no longer reach them.
   • If you have very fair skin, you will need 4 or 5 laser treatments before the spots are completely gone.

Part 3 of 4: Try home remedies

1. Coat your skin with the juice of a citrus fruit. Citrus fruits contain a high content of vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid. Vitamin C removes the outer layer of the skin without causing damage. These are a few ways:
   • Squeeze fresh juice and pat your skin with it. Women have used pure lemon juice to lighten their skin for centuries, but you can also use orange, grapefruit, or lime. Cut the fruit in half and squeeze the juice into a cup or bowl. Dab it on the dark spots with a cotton ball. Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse well. Repeat once or twice a day.
   • Make a lemon and honey face mask. Mix the juice of half a lemon with two teaspoons of honey and apply it on your face. Leave on for 30 minutes and then rinse well.
   • Scrub the juice of a citrus fruit and powdered milk. Mix 1 teaspoon of water, 1 teaspoon of powdered milk and 1 teaspoon of the citrus juice you like best into a soft cream and massage your face with it. Then rinse well.
2. Try vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps repair damaged cells and strengthen new ones. You can use vitamin E topically on your skin or maximize its effectiveness by also eating foods that contain a lot of vitamin E.
   • "Topical Application": Massage your dark spots with Vitamin E oil. The spots will disappear if you do this daily.
   • "Food Sources": Add these foods to your diet for more vitamin E: nuts (almonds, peanuts, pine nuts), sunflower seeds, wheat germ oil and dried apricots.
3. Use a papaya. The papaya fruit contains the enzyme papain. Papain helps to exfoliate the skin to allow new cells to develop. Papaya also contains Vitamin C and Vitamin E, so it is a superstar among dark spot removers. Papain is most concentrated when the papaya is still green, but you can also use a riper fruit. Peel the papaya, remove the seeds and try one of the following treatments:
   • Cut a piece of papaya and place it on the dark spot or hold it against it. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Repeat this twice a day for best results.
   • Make a papaya face mask. Cut the papaya into pieces and use a mixer to make a smooth paste of the fruit. Spread the mask on your face and neck. Leave it on for 30 minutes. Then rinse well.
4. Use aloe vera. Aloe vera has many health benefits. It is an excellent moisturizer and heals sunburns. It can also help with dark spots. If you have an aloe vera at home, you can cut a piece off, squeeze the pulp in your hand, and immediately spread the juice on your dark spots. You can also buy aloe vera in gel form. Pure aloe vera works best, so make sure you buy a product with 100% aloe vera.
5. Try red onion. Onions have a high acidity and can therefore lighten dark spots. It's worth it if you don't have a lemon on hand! Peel a red onion, cut it into pieces and put it in the mixer. Dab the onion on your dark spots with a cotton ball and leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

Part 4 of 4: Preventing dark spots

1. Stay out of the sun as much as possible. Exposure to UV radiation is one of the most common causes of dark spots. No matter what kind of dark spots you have, harmful sun rays can make the problem worse. As a precaution, it is best to stay out of the sun. To protect your skin from too much UV rays, take the following precautions:
   • Use sunscreen. Also use sunscreen with a factor of 15 or higher in winter.
   • Wear a hat and sunglasses in the bright sun. Cover the rest of your face with sunscreen.
   • Do not use the tanning bed. Direct exposure to UV radiation is very harmful to your skin (and also your internal organs).
   • Don't sunbathe. When your tanned skin becomes lighter again, dark spots are left behind.
2. Check which medications you are taking. If your melasma is caused by drugs, you may be able to get rid of it by switching drugs. Discuss your problem with your doctor and see if you can take something else that doesn't have dark spots as a side effect.
3. Be careful with professional skin treatments. Hyperpigmentation can be the result of a skin treatment that has not been done properly. Plastic surgery or deep chemical peels can leave dark spots. Before starting a skin treatment, make sure that the practitioner or doctor has sufficient experience and has achieved good results.
4. Don't keep touching your face. If you find a pimple, don't keep touching it. The more you touch it, the more chance of dark spots. Dark spots arise when the pimples have disappeared!

Tips

• Be patient. Dark spots can be very stubborn and take time to get rid of. Be consistent in sticking to the method you have chosen.
• When your skin is dehydrated, the cells renew less quickly. Drink plenty of water to help treat your dark spots.

Warnings

• Hydroquinone, a well-known skin bleaching product, has been linked to cancer, pigment cell damage, dermatitis and other skin problems. Most skin specialists do not recommend it, unless all other options are unsuccessful.
• Always follow the instructions on the packaging of products that you use to treat your dark spots at home.
• Do not use products with salicylic acid if you are allergic to aspirin.
• You can have a dark spot treatment from a doctor or beautician. Strictly follow their post-treatment instructions.
• Don't go out in the sun with lemon juice on your face, as it can burn your skin.
• Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen when using a skin bleaching product.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use salicylic acid.