Dark spot on face treatment ranks as one of the highly-sought cosmetic procedures in dermatological circles. You'd be surprised to know that you're not the only one dealing with the aftermath of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, also known as PIH. From age spots to freckles to scarring, there's no shortage of the reasons why anyone would want to fade dark spot on face. Fortunately, however, there are several solutions to getting rid of dark skin spots on face that you can pursue to have and keep a flawless complexion. Speaking of which, the ideal dark spot remedy is one that is dermatologically compatible with your skin type.
What Is A Dark Spot?
If you have been looking at how to clear dark spots on face, then the first question (or second) that pops up into your mind is, 'What is a dark spot?' Well, let's take a quick look.
Dark skin spots on face - also known as age spots, hyperpigmentation, liver spots, solar lentigines - are essentially melanated patches that can be a consequence of a number of things that we will get into later. Although they mostly appear after middle age, they can still show up unannounced in your 20s or early 30s, especially if you have a tendency of spending a lot of time in the sun.
These spots, which can develop almost anywhere, are commonly seen on parts that receive the most intense unprotected or unshielded solar exposures. And this includes;
- The shoulders
- The arms
- The back
- The back of your hands
- The forehead
Additionally, dark spots on face from acne or otherwise are also linked to several skin conditions and can be a side effect of a particular subset of medications too. And although dark spot skin is virtually harmless and is more of a cosmetic problem than anything else, heavily melanated skin is sometimes an ominous sign of a serious underlying medical condition. Having said that, with the right application of products, you can fade or at least make these unsightly marks less conspicuous and visible. And if you are wondering what's good for dark spots on face, then you'll find the following two sections quite informative.
What Causes Dark Spots On The Face?
While there are several dark spots on face causes, a majority of them revolve around the collection and overproduction of melanin, the skin's main pigment that is responsible for the natural tone of your complexion. Free radical damage also has a hand in this too.
So, what causes dark spots on the face? Here's a quick primer.
Repeated and Lengthy Exposure to UV Light Rays
Regardless of the source, UV light rays are the single biggest cause of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. The offending source can be the sun just as much as it can be an artificial emitter e.g. tanning beds. Either way, with time, this kind of hyperpigmentation takes root at some point in your late 30s and 40s when your complexion starts to betray the several decades of UV rays exposure that you may have subjected to it.
As far as this goes, those with fair skin and light-colored hair are often at a higher risk of developing UV-rays-related hyperpigmentation than those with darker skin, particularly if you have had several sunburn episodes in the past.
Certain Skin Conditions
There are quite a few diseases and skin conditions that are associated with dark spots which can crop up at any age, notwithstanding your discipline with using sunscreens. They include the likes of;
- Melasma: Also known as chloasma, melasma is commonly thought to be a pregnancy mask.
- Post-inflammatory acne hyperpigmentation: These are dark spots that form in the wake of a nasty skin breakout or an inflammatory acne lesion. They are sometimes just mere uneven skin discoloration that refuses to go away.
- Riehl's melanosis: It's an unusual form of contact dermatitis that is believed to be as a result of prolonged sun exposure.
- Erythromelanosis follicularis: A medical condition that is typically characterized by dark to reddish-brown patches on the neck and face.
- Poikiloderma of Civatte: A benign skin condition that appears to turn parts of the neck dark or reddish-brown color.
Some Medications
There are some medications whose side effects appear to make one's skin hypersensitive to UV light exposure. Which, as you would imagine, makes you more prone to dark spots and hyperpigmentation. They include the likes of:
- Estrogens
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics like tetracyclines, Declomycin, Minocin and Adoxa
- Amiodarone and other related treatments used to treat irregular pulses
- Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin
- Treatments for emotional and mental disorders such as phenothiazines
- Sulfonamides
Other Unrelated Causes
Dark spots can also be seen when one is suffering from conditions such as; Addison's disease, liver disease, pituitary tumors, hemochromatosis (also known as excess iron).
Dermatologist Treatment For Dark Spots On Face
If you're agonizing over questions such as, 'What can I use for dark spots on my face?' then you will be relieved to know that there are a few solutions to your complexion conundrum that you can explore. One of them is seeking professional help from a qualified and seasoned dermatologist for your dark spots.
Speaking of which, dermatologist treatments for dark spots on face are often at times used in close collaboration with other topical remedies, especially if you have sensitive skin. Under this category, your option are;
- Chemical Peels: Your dermatologist can recommend chemical peels to make the dark spots less visible or conspicuous. Speaking of peels, the best in the game often contain glycolic acid or/and salicylic acid in their formulation. A perfect choice would be Bloommy's Peel Pads that are specifically optimized for removing the top-most layer of the skin that harbors 90% of the unwanted pigmentation. Removal of this damaged layer reveals evenly-toned and healthier skin underneath and, in effect, minimizes the visibility of the dark spots.
- Laser treatment: Using laser to remove dark spots on face is quite a popular practice within cosmetic circles. Here, concentrated light energy is used to slough off the skin's exterior-most layers thereby burning off the dark spots in the process. The risks here include swelling, bruising, scarring, possible infection and notable changes in your overall skin texture.
- Microdermabrasion: There are mainly two types of microdermabrasion, each of which involves physically eroding the surface cells of the skin. One of them is crystal dermabrasion, whereby a machine uses finely-grounded crystal rub and scrape away these epithelial cells. A diamond-tipped wand is used instead in mechanical dermabrasion to get rid of the dark spots. Both of these approaches are equally considered to be low risk.
- Cryosurgery: It is a method of fading age spots and melanated dark spots freezing these patches with liquid nitrogen. The ultra-cold temperatures cause the darkened skin to peel off leaving effectively bleached skin underneath.
That said, if you have been exploring the subject of dark spots on face from acne how to remove on a budget, then the following home remedies could be appealing to you.
Home Remedies For Dark Spots On Face
The best dark spot remover home remedies are those that utilize easily available ingredients and can be applied without needing specialized equipment. Here's how to lighten dark spots on face at the comfort of your home.
Apple Cider Vinegar Used in Collaboration with a Suitable Skin Brightener
Apple cider vinegar naturally contains acetic acid and studies show that it can lighten dark spots and melanated patches. To improve its efficiency in fading the dark spots, you may want to add a naturally-formulated skin brightener such as Bloommy's Papaya Kojic Acid & Glutathione cream in the equation.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a natural dark spot remover whose outstanding dermatological properties can be traced back to aloin, a natural-forming depigmenting compound. Aloin, as a matter of fact, has proven to be an effective non-toxic lightening and hyperpigmentation treatment that has shown remarkable promise in brightening dark patches permanently. Using it is even easier, with the only thing that you have to do is apply it to the melanated spots before going to bed then rinsing it off the next morning.
Green Tea Extract
Extensive research shows that green tea extract can have a depigmenting effect if applied to heavily melanated spots. While you can apply green tea extract directly, experts still recommend using it in collaboration with a suitable carrier oil to improve its lighting effect.
Red Onion
The dried skin of red onions has been shown to have potent scar-and-skin lightening effects that make a formidable dark spot remover home remedy. In fact, that's the reason skin brightening creams that contain allium cepa demonstrate a decent ability to fade post-acne hyperpigmentation marks.
Licorice Extract
Licorice extract has been shown to contain an array of active ingredients that can lighten dark spots and hyperpigmentation patches. This is the main reason many home remedies for dark spots on face will at some point involve applying a licorice-extract-containing cream at least twice a day.
Milk
As unusual as it sounds, milk - especially sour or buttermilk - features rather prominently in the guide of how to get rid of dark spots on face naturally. Apparently, it seems as if the lactic acid in the milk can precipitate a lightning effect that can fade skin discoloration if applied regularly enough. And to do so;
- Soak a cotton ball in the sour milk
- Rub over the milk-soaked ball evenly on the dark spots that you want to fade
- Repeat this daily for best results
Tomato Paste
Tomato paste contains lycopene, an active natural ingredient that has been shown to be quite integral in protecting one's complexion against long-term and short-term effects of photodamage.
Orchid Extracts
Orchid extracts are as effective and potent as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in getting rid of hyperpigmentation. It's the reason almost every other DIY dark spot remover features applying orchid-rich fruit extract to the melanated spots continuously for at least 8 weeks in a bid to improve the appearance and size of the photo-damaged patches.
Lemon for Dark Spot
Lemon dark spot treatment has been around for generations now. Experts believe its potency and unique ability in combating age spots can be traced back to the vitamin C and citric acid that makes just the perfect nature-given bleaching agent. If anything, when used over a considerable length of time, lemon juice appears to lighten dark spots by either breaking down the excess melanin or simply preventing its overproduction. Under this, you could try out the following anti-hyperpigmentation lemon combinations.
- Lemon juice and baking soda
- Lemon juice and turmeric
- Lemon juice and coconut oil
- Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar
- Lemon juice and parsley
You should, however, conduct a spot test to determine whether or not your skin is sensitive to the rather abrasive lemon juice when deployed at full strength. If it is, you may want to dilute the lemon juice for dark spots on face with a little distilled water if it feels too harsh for your skin.
In Closing
As much as home remedies for age spots and dark spots can be quite effective in making the blemishes less conspicuous or noticeable, the real goal is preventing the melanated spots from showing up in the first place. And in the unfortunate event that they crop up, getting rid of them from inside out should be your first priority. Regards this, incorporating a suitable supplement to be taken on a daily basis such as Bloommy's Glutathione Whitening Pills can make a day-and-night difference as far as achieving a flawless complexion goes.
