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Tips to help fade away dark spots on your face

Published: September 26, 2023 |8 minutes to read

Written by: Anita Slomski

Illustration of woman applying lotion to her face in the sunshine.

A beauty mark is one thing. But when dark spots aren’t adding to the allure, these strategies can help to fade them — and keep them from coming back.

Age spots, liver spots and sun spots: these names all refer to darker patches of skin. They can arise from a number of different causes, including sun damage and age. And while these spots don’t generally cause health problems, lots of people wish they would simply go away.

A good skin care regimen has plenty of tools to help. Some products can help keep them from appearing in the first place, and others can gently wear away the darker skin, making room for lighter skin to grow. A dermatologist can offer additional options, including procedures and prescription creams.

If those dark spots are a nuisance, there’s plenty to learn and do about them.

In this article:

What causes dark spots on the face?

Dark spots (or hyperpigmentation) occur because of an overproduction of melanin, a pigment in the skin. Hyperpigmentation can happen for many reasons. Some of them include:

  • Aging, which makes skin thinner and leaves it more vulnerable to damage

  • Hormonal shifts from menopause, pregnancy or the use of birth control pills

  • Inflammation from acne or eczema

  • Injuries to the skin, such as burns, cuts or sun exposure

Not all dark spots are created equal, though. And not all of them will stick around for the same amount of time.

If the spots are the result of scarring or injuries (called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), they may gradually fade over time. Hyperpigmentation that occurs with pregnancy may also disappear after delivery when hormones return to normal.1

But dark spots that result from aging or sun exposure generally persist. They’re also likely to get darker if the skin isn’t protected from the sun.

How to help prevent dark spots

No one can stop aging, of course. (Although some products can help reduce the appearance of aging skin.) But other causes of dark spots are easier to control.

One important step is to wear sunscreen and take other steps to protect skin from sun damage. Dermatologists advise wearing sunscreen every day to help prevent not only dark spots but also skin cancers. Choose one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and is water-resistant and broad spectrum — meaning that it protects against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.2

Anthony Rossi, MD, a dermatologic surgeon with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, favors mineral-based sunblocks that contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which are usually less irritating for sensitive skin.3

Such products include CeraVe Mineral Hydrating Sunscreen for Face with Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide and Hyaluronic Acid and Coppertone Pure and Simple SPF 50 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion with Zinc Oxide.

Research also suggests that visible light — the light you can see from light bulbs and screens (on the TV, phone or laptop) — can create a greater degree of hyperpigmentation than UV radiation, especially in people with darker skin.4

Broad-spectrum sunscreens block some harmful radiation from the sun but not visible light. However, tinted sunscreens, which are visible on the skin, block artificial light as well as ultraviolet radiation. Choose one that contains iron oxide, which is effective at blocking blue light from screens, the wavelength that may be most likely to promote hyperpigmentation.5

Mineral-based tinted sunscreens for the face include La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Fluid Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen, CeraVe Tinted Mineral SPF 30 Hydrating Sunscreen for Face and Neutrogena Purescreen+ Tinted Mineral Sunscreen.

How to help fade dark spots on the face

Hyperpigmentation is generally harmless. But for people with unwanted dark spots, many over-the-counter (OTC) dark spot skincare products may help to reduce the appearance of them.

Chemical exfoliants

One approach is to try chemical exfoliants, which gently wear away the top layer of skin cells, encouraging new skin cells to form and fade existing dark spots. Ingredients include alpha hydroxy acids, such as lactic acid and glycolic acid, and beta hydroxy acids, such as salicylic acid.6

“These products can be helpful if used correctly,” says Dr. Rossi. “But if they are overused, they can cause inflammation, which can then lead to more hyperpigmentation, creating a vicious cycle.”7

Some exfoliants with alpha hydroxy acids include La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 Dark Spot Corrector and Vichy LiftActiv B3 Dark Spot Corrector.

Kojic acid

Another approach is to use kojic acid, a chemical that inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in the production of melanin.8 This material is derived from certain fungi and bacteria and can also be found in sake, a Japanese alcohol, and miso, the basis for miso soup.9

Retinoids

Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A and increase the turnover of new skin cells. These products shouldn’t be used during pregnancy, however, because they can cause birth anomalies. Retinoids can also make skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light, highlighting the need to wear sunblock and take other steps to protect skin from the sun.10

Some products with retinoids are Neutrogena Rapid Tone Retinol + Vitamin C Dark Spot Corrector, Urban Skin Rx Retinol Rapid Repair & Dark Spot Treatment and Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Facial Serum.

Topical vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant. By inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, topical vitamin C can decrease melanin formation and reduce hyperpigmentation.11 “Vitamin C serums can be very beneficial as they can even skin tone because they are whitening, brightening and overall good for skin health,” says Jeannette Graf, MD,12 an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.13

Purchase topical vitamin C from a brand you trust, warns dermatologist Danny Del Campo, MD, of Chicago Skin Clinic.14 “Topical vitamin C becomes inactivated very easily if it’s not blended correctly or if it’s stored in the wrong bottle or it’s too old,” he says. “You want to be sure you are putting the active ingredient on your skin, not just expensive oil.”15

Some products with vitamin C to try are Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Dark Spot Corrector with vitamins C and E and exfoliating lipohydroxy acid, La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Serum with Salicylic Acid for Sensitive Skin and RoC Multi Correxion Brightening Anti-Aging Serum for Face.

Hyperpigmentation on darker skin tones

People with darker skin may have a greater risk of these spots developing. For instance, more than 65 percent of African Americans may experience hyperpigmentation symptoms.16

“Darker skin has more melanin and can be more prone to hyperpigmentation from ultraviolet radiation, inflammation or irritation,” says Dr. Rossi. “I encourage people with darker skin to wear sunblock because their skin can get very hyperpigmented and develop an uneven complexion from UV exposure alone.”17

When to see a dermatologist about dark spots

Dark spots can take 6 to 12 months to fade away on their own, and extremely dark spots can take longer to disappear.18 If speeding up this process with OTC products doesn’t show results within six to eight weeks, it may be time to see a dermatologist, says Dr. Del Campo.

Also, if a dark spot changes color or size, appears suddenly, itches, tingles or bleeds, that spot may not be true hyperpigmentation and could be something else, including a sign of melanoma, a skin cancer.19

A visit to a dermatologist can also help assess whether medications might be causing greater sun sensitivity. Some antimalarial drugs, blood pressure medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, psychotropic drugs and tetracyclines may increase skin pigmentation.20

A dermatologist might also recommend a stronger prescription-strength topical cream. For extremely resistant hyperpigmentation, a dermatologist can also do several types of procedures (like chemical peels, cryosurgery, laser treatments, microdermabrasion or microneedling) to get rid of dark spots.21

“Procedures can be used to address different forms of hyperpigmentation,” says dermatologist DiAnne Davis, MD, who practices in Dallas.22 “Cryosurgery can be an option for fair-skinned individuals, depending on the cause of hyperpigmentation. But cryosurgery should not be used for people with skin of color due to the risk of hypopigmentation” — making the spot lighter than the surrounding skin.23

It’s never wrong to consult a physician with concerns about the appearance of skin. Their advice might include OTC products, prescriptions or procedures — or a combination of approaches.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements, and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.