Struggling with dark spots on your face? You’re not alone. Discover effective treatments and tips on how to get rid of dark spots on face, from topicals to home remedies. Learn what works best and what to avoid for clearer skin.
While some folks arereallyinto drawing fakefreckleson their face, others are trying to figure out how to get rid of dark spots. (Such is life, amirite!?)
If you’re dealing withdark spotson your face, you probably havehyperpigmentation. This basically means your skin is going overboard producing melanin (the pigment that gives your skin its color) in a concentrated area.
Hyperpigmentation is typically caused byacne scars, excesssun exposure, or hormonal changesfrom pregnancy or menopause. But while these spots are harmless, you might wanna get rid of them for aesthetic reasons. (You do you!)
There are tons of topicals that can help lighten and brighten dark spots, but some products can actually be super dangerous. Here’s the deal on the best ways to treat dark spots on your face, plus how tospotany problematic treatments.
How to remove dark spots from your face
According to theAmerican Academy of Dermatology (AAD), most dark spots fade on their own over time, but it “may take a long time.”
Not patient enough to wait? No worries, there are lots of treatments that can help fade ‘em.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is prob the most popular topical out there for dark spot lightening, but it’s also potentially dangerous. Plus it has a long,problematichistory of being used as anall-over skin lightener, but we’ll save that story for another day.
A smallish2013 studyfound 4 percent hydroquinone is an effective treatment for facial melasma, a condition that causes discolored patches. But because of its risks, it’s recommended people use hydroquinone on a short-term basis, and in targeted areas, if at all.
While previously available over the counter, theFood and Drug Administration (FDA)changed its status in 2021, so you’ll only be able to get hydroquinone via a prescription. Though it’s considered safe for cosmetic use, there are potential safety risks at higher concentrations.
There are lots of concerns that hydroquinonecould cause cancer. While more research is needed to know for sure, a2021 research reviewconcluded it’s highly toxic to aquatic life and rodents, and it may induce leukemia, liver cancer, or certain types of tumors in animals.
Since its safety is mostly a mystery,it’s not FDA approved. It’s also worth noting that it’sbanned in places like the EU, Australia, and Japan. In Canada, it’sclassified as toxic. In the U.K., the public has been urged by the government to avoid it “at all costs.”
If your dermatologist prescribes hydroquinone to treat dark spots, stop using it immediately if you experience:
Kojic acid
Kojic acidis another popular hyperpigmentation treatment. Though2013 researchdetermined 0.75 percent kojic acid cream to be less effective and slower-acting than 4 percent hydroquinone at combating hyperpigmentation, it still seems to do the trick.
FYI, it’s oftenmore irritating to the skinthan hydroquinone. In terms of safety concerns, there’ssome limited evidencethat it promotes tumors and is a weak carcinogen in large amounts. Researchers still maintain that it’s safe for cosmetic use in concentrationsup to 1 percent.
Other side effectsmay include:
Retinoidsare derivatives ofvitamin Athataid incell turnover and speed upexfoliation. It can take3 monthsto see a big diff in your skin, but over time retinoids can help fade dark spots.
A2019 reviewalso linked retinoids to improvements in photoaging (which often includes dark spots caused by sun exposure — aka “age spots”).
Keep in mind that retinoids can be super drying and make your skin more sensitive to the sun. ApplyingSPFand moisturizer can help protect your skin from even more damage.
Other potential side effectsinclude:
These symptoms often go away as your skin gets used to the retinoid. But if these symptoms persist, head to a doc.
Chemical exfoliants
Chemicalexfoliantsuse gentle acids to break up dead skin cells and can be pretty effective at treating hyperpigmentation. Theseexfoliantsinclude:
These can be bought over the counter, but you can also go to a derm for stronger options.
If you’re opting for over the counter, it’s a good idea to do apatch testfirst. You’ll also need to lather on thesunscreento protect your delicate skin in the interim.
Chemical peels
Medical-gradechemical peelsare in-office treatments that use stronger chemical exfoliants to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin but also come with longer recovery times. Your skin will take about2 to 3 weeksto heal from a deep chemical peel.
Keep in mind that they may causeskin irritation. In-office treatments can alsocause:
Laser therapy
Zap! A more intensive way to lighten dark spots is seeing a dermatologist forlaser treatment. This process uses concentrated light energy to break up the pigmentation or remove the skin layer by layer.
There are many laser treatments out there that are effective and work more quickly than topicals to lighten dark spots. That being said, there are risks,including:
The lasers may sting or burn — how intense it feels depends on your pain threshold as well as your unique treatment needs.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasionis another treatment that sloughs off dead skin cells but this time, it’s a physical exfoliant. When you head to an aesthetician for this procedure, they’ll use a handheld device with an abrasive surface to basically sand off the top layer of skin.
A2021 reviewconcluded that microdermabrasion can help reduce the appearance of dark spots, wrinkles, pores, and improve the appearance of the skin.
Though microdermabrasion can take anywhere from5 to 16 treatmentsto see results, the recovery is pretty minimal. Your skin will also be more sensitive to the sun, so load up on theSPF.
Potential side effects alsoinclude:
These symptoms should go away on their ownwithin a few days.
Can you get rid of dark spots with home remedies?
There are at-home remedies that might help remove dark spots. But we’ll be real, the limited evidence points to mild rather than jaw-dropping results. That being said, since these methods are also pretty cheap and unlikely to cause any adverse side effects, they may be worth a try.
Hit up your local drugstore (or your kitchen cabinet) for these home remedies:
Since it’s possible to have an allergic reaction to any substance, it’s a good idea to do apatch testbefore trying any of these.
Dark spot treatments you should avoid
While we’ve outlined the potential risks of other treatments, there are some things weknoware bad for your skin, like bleach. TheAADwarns against using liquidbleachon your skin since it can cause super serious burns.
Some skin-lightening products might also have unlisted ingredients like steroids, which shouldn’t be used without medical supervision.
Many skin lighteners (especially those with hydroquinone) containmercury, which is highly toxic. Mercury might be hiding on an ingredient list as:
Scope out reputable companies and online stores when shopping. When in doubt, visit a derm for support.
Keep in mind that even with safe products, you gotta use them as instructed and stop using right away if any weird side effects happen.
So, can you prevent dark spots on your face in the first place?
There are def a lot of dark potential side effects of skin lightening.
While you’re able to’t necessarily avoid hyperpigmentation from hormonal causes, avoiding skin damage may help you prevent some forms of hyperpigmentation.
The best things you can do to protect your skin from dark spots include:
Though dark spots often fade on their own over time, many treatments can speed up the process. Since popular skin lightening agents like hydroquinone are potentially very toxic and banned in many countries, it’s smart to talk with a derm about the best and safest option for you.
Other treatments likeretinoids,microdermabrasion, andchemical exfoliantsare known to be pretty safe and effective.
