Dark spots are known to be notoriously difficult to manage. They can appear due to sun damage, acne scars, hormonal changes, and just from ageing. However, there are steps you can take to fade those spots and achieve a more even skin tone and keep it that way.
Here’s a 5-step approach that combines patience, prevention, and powerful ingredients for a brighter you:
1. Sunscreen is Key:
Don’t even think you can fade your dark spots without wearing sunscreen. Sun exposure is a major culprit for dark spots. Make sunscreen your everyday BFF, rain or shine. Choose a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours, especially if you’re sweating or swimming. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses provide additional protection.
Consistency is crucial, when it comes to sunscreen so choose one you like and use it every day.
2. Don’t Pick Your Skin :
Picking your skin is a sure way to make your dark spots worse or even cause your skin to scar. In addition to making your fingers harbour tons of bacteria, picking introduces them to your skin, making things worse and redder. Picking can irritate the surrounding skin, triggering more breakouts and making acne even more stubborn. It also disrupts your skin’s natural healing process, meaning those blemishes linger longer.
3. Use Acne Fighting Ingredients:
Look for products containing ingredients known to tackle hyperpigmentation. A multi-pathway approach that uses different ingredients will give faster results. So look for products which have multiple active ingredients and ensure different products in your routine tackle dark spots.
Examples
- My Topicals Faded
- Touch Bright and Clear Cream
- Junderm Brightening discolouration serum
4. Use Exfoliants
Exfoliation removes the top layer of dead skin cells, which can trap pigment and make dark spots appear worse. Exfoliation stimulates the production of new skin cells, which naturally fades existing dark spots and helps prevent new ones from forming.
This book shows different ways to exfoliate your skin safely without damaging your skin barrier.
You learn the types of exfoliation & the benefits, how often to exfoliate and how to choose the best one for your skin.
It is a must-have for anyone who wants to get it right off the bat & prevent skin barrier damage.
Certain exfoliating ingredients, like AHAs (think glycolic acid) and BHAs (like salicylic acid), can help lighten dark spots by targeting melanin production.
Examples :
- The Ordinary Glycolic acid toner
- Paula’s Choice 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant
- Touch Glycolic Acid Toner with 7% Glycolic Acid
5. Use Retinol
Retinol speeds up cell turnover, pushing out pigmented skin cells and revealing brighter, more even-toned skin underneath. It also helps regulate melanin production, the pigment that gives skin its colour. By keeping melanin in check, it prevents dark spots from forming and fades existing ones.
Retinol also stimulates collagen production, which plumps and thickens the skin, making dark spots appear less noticeable. Ensure that you use your retinol in a separate routine from your exfoliants.
Advanced Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
Sometimes skincare alone is not adequate depending on the depth and age of the spots so you need more advanced treatments.
Chemical Peels: These treatments remove the top layer of skin, revealing brighter, smoother skin underneath.
Laser Treatments: Lasers target specific pigments, effectively lightening dark spots.
If you would like to learn exactly how to put together a routine that tackles dark spots and shows you how to prevent them then enrol in the CLEAR SKIN ACADEMY. Here you will learn how to create a personalised routine and the best products to use.
Find out about the different types of Retinods and different AHAs and what they do for your skin. You can also pay for the Clear Skin Academy HERE.
Follow me on social media
