Breakouts are notorious for showing up on our faces at the most inopportune moments in our lives. What makes them even more troublesome are the dark spots they leave behind even once they’re gone. Dark spots on your face can appear in many different forms – age spots, sun spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma – all of which contribute to a patchy and uneven skin tone.
Dark spots are caused by the increase in melanin production in the affected area, often resulting from overexposure to the sun, hormonal changes, or when your skin is combating inflammation, injuries, or bad breakouts.
Dark spots are usually harmless and rarely require medical intervention. However, if left unattended, they can remain the same for months without fading. While there’s no miracle dark spot remover around yet to make all those painful memories of acne and blemishes disappear, the most common tip to remove dark spots is to apply sunscreen on your face and neck every day. This reduces the chance of development of new areas of hyperpigmentation and prevents the further darkening of existing ones.
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You can now also find dark spot treatments for the face in the form of correctors and serums that help even out your skin tone over time.
Here are some ingredients you should look for when trying to choose the right dark spot serum:
1. Glycolic Acid
Looking for an exfoliant to treat those dark spots? Glycolic acid is a great replacement for harsh physical scrubs that could end up irritating your skin. This chemical exfoliant is a star member of the AHA family that helps dissolve the glue binding dead and discoloured skin cells that highlight dark spots, revealing brighter skin over prolonged use.
2. Retinol
The hype for retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is real. The use of retinol immediately speeds up collagen production and aids in cell turnover, allowing for dark spots to be replaced by brighter, healthier skin. However, remember to slow and steady with this active ingredient, as it can irritate the skin and cause inflammation. Consult with your dermatologist before adding a retinol to your routine, even in the form of a dark spot serum. Start with a lower concentration and build up gradually.
3. Salicylic Acid
Salicyclic acid helps soothe inflammation caused by acne and prevents it from flaring up and leaving scars in your skin. Those with oily, acne-prone skin can really benefit from adding this BHA to their skincare routine. It gently exfoliates the skin, treats the root bacteria causing the acne, clears excess sebum from the pores, and boosts new skin cell production.
4. Niacinamide
An ingredient that pretty much does it all, niacinamide not only helps balance out your skin’s oil levels, but also targets hyperpigmentation. It works on giving your skin an even texture and leaves behind a healthy glow. Perfect for those with sensitive skin, niacinamide also calms and soothes inflammation.
5. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the tried-and-tested formula for adding radiance to the skin. This antioxidant also protects the skin against the free radical damage that greets you daily –– pollution and exposure to UV rays. This damage is what hinders healthy production of collagen, resulting in dull and uneven skin. Vitamin C also obstructs pigment production and prevents melanin from getting darker.
6. Kojic Acid
An antioxidant to actively seek when looking for serums to remove dark spots, kojic acid hinders the production of excess melanin and prevents dark spots from forming in the first place. When combined with other ingredients like vitamin C or retinol, it lightens those dark spots efficiently and in a relatively short period of time.
