Whether you're dealing with a dark mark left behind by a blemish, spots that indicate sun damage, or hormone-induced melasma, these typically unwanted changes in the skin all fall under the umbrella of hyperpigmentation. Caused by the cells responsible for your skin's color, melanocytes, depositing excess pigment into deeper levels of the skin, these forms of discoloration can be incredibly frustrating for those who strive for an even-toned complexion — especially since it can be tough to reverse. Show "In general, hyperpigmentation is tough to treat and a chronic condition," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, tells Allure, noting that he explains to his patients that it must be taken seriously because it's so easy for it to recur. Although some patients choose to undergo laser treatments for their dark spots to address their hyperpigmentation with customized prescription compounds — Dr. Bhanusali often blends a high dose of hydroquinone with kojic acid and vitamin C for his patients — there are ways to combat discoloration without often-expensive in-office procedures and medications. That's where these over-the-counter options come in. Often made with the same active ingredients that dermatologists use in prescription compounds, these serums and creams contribute to more even-toned skin and reduced hyperpigmentation with consistent use. "When targeting hyperpigmentation, you want to use multiple ingredients that have different functions," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD, tells us. "For example, you want to use a vitamin A derivative to increase cell turnover, alpha hydroxy acids to enzymatically exfoliate, and incorporate azelaic acid, kojic acid, or arbutin to reduce melanin production," Dr. Kim explains, adding that tranexamic acid is particularly beneficial for melasma. But there is something else dermatologists recommend across the board to get dark spots under control: sunscreen. "Before you spend your money on antioxidant serums and retinoids to improve the tone and texture of your skin, the most important first step is diligent daily sun protection, which is key to reducing the appearance of brown spots," says board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, also based in New York City. "Otherwise you are literally throwing your money away investing in other skin-care products," she adds. Dr. Kim backs this up, adding that SPF combined with vitamin C in the morning minimizes UV damage, prevents excessive melanin production, and contributes to a brighter complexion overall. Got your sunscreen checked off? Good. Here are some of the best dark spot correctors and hyperpigmentation-fading products to pair with it. Just ensure that you're consistent with using these products — every day, folks — and you'll see amazing (but gradual) results in as little as a month. All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Dark spots and hyperpigmentation can be quite a conundrum—and a tricky one to solve. You can spend years diligently attending to your skin regimen—the right cleansers, the right moisturizers, the right anti-aging serums, the right SPF—only to have your smooth complexion struck down almost overnight by hyperpigmentation, more commonly known as dark spots. “In fair-skinned individuals, hyperpigmentation is often caused by
sun damage and often accumulate with age,” says Omar Ibrahimi, MD, founder and medical director of the Connecticut Skin Institute. “In skin of color, meanwhile,
hyperpigmentation can be caused by anything that irritates or injures the skin. This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and acne is a common source of PIH in ethnic skin and is sometimes more disruptive than the actual acne itself.” Then of course, there’s melasma, a special type of pigmentary condition, which tends to occur during pregnancy or during other times of hormonal change (think menopause or the start of taking birth control pills), Ibrahimi adds. “Sun exposure drives
the melasma to darken.” To make sure you pick the best (and most effective) product for removing dark spots, our experts recommend looking for cream or serum that contains ingredients like vitamin C (an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and brightens skin), niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3 that slows pigment production), hydroquinone (a lightening agent that inhibits the pigment-forming enzyme tyrosinase), retinol (a vitamin A derivative that evens tone and texture), or glycolic or lactic acid (which are alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate dead skin cells). And remember: Sunscreen is a non-negotiable. Gohara recommends applying a daily sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher that uses mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or iron oxides. Ahead, we asked to dermatologists to recommend the best dark spot correctors for your face, including a budget-friendly drugstore cream and a treatment designed
specifically for darker skin tones. Our Top Picks • Best on Amazon:
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 1 Best On Amazon Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 2 Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Spot Corrector Face Serum 3 Best For Face Skinfix Correct+ Dark Spot Corrector 4 Best with Niacinamide L'Oréal Paris Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector 5 Best For Night Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Max Night Face Moisturizer 6 Best All Around Scientis Cyspera Intensive Pigment Corrector 7 Best Serum SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense 8 Best For Brightening La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Dark Spot Corrector Face Serum 9 Best For Dark Skin MELÉ Even Dark Spot Control Serum 10 Editor's Pick Verso Dark Spot Fix 11 Best for Black Skin Hyper Skin Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum 12 Best Drugstore Buy L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Vitamin C Serum
13 Best Dermatologist-Created Treatment ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 14 Best With Sunscreen Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer 15 Best for Melasma SkinMedica Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum 16 Best Antioxidant Serum Skin Ceuticals C E Ferulic 17 Best for Acne Scars Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform 18 Best for Mild Spots Ghost Democracy Lightbulb Vitamin C Serum 19 Best with Vitamin C BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner 20 Best for Sensitive Skin GLYTONE Enhance Brightening Complex with Azelaic & Glycolic Acids 21 Best for Anti-Aging Eau Thermale Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream 22 Best Retinol Skin Better AlphaRet Overnight Cream 23 Best Budget Buy Ambi Fade Cream 24 Best For Hands Goldfaden M.D. Hands to Heart Brightening Hand Treatment 25 Best Cleanser Neostrata Resurface Foaming Glycolic Facial Cleanser Brian Underwood Brian Underwood is the beauty director of _O, The Oprah Magazine. Which cream is best for removing dark spots on face?Best Dark Spots Removal Creams For Body. Fabindia Vitamin E Cream De-Pigmentation. ... . Khadi Omorose Anti-Blemish Cream. ... . VLCC Almond Honey: Deep Nourishing & Skin Brightening Body Lotion. ... . Garnier Light Complete Moisturising Serum-In-Lotion. ... . Nivea Whitening Even Tone Body Lotion.. Which product is best for removing dark spots?Best Overall: Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum. ... . Best Value: Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector. ... . Best Splurge: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. ... . Best Peel Pads: Dr. ... . Best Exfoliator: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. ... . Best With Retinol: Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform. ... . Best With Vitamin C: Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum.. What removes dark spot fast?Turmeric
In a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of turmeric to 1 tablespoon of honey and to accelerate the process, a few drops of lemon juice. Apply the mask for 15-20 minutes and rinse with hot water to reveal a drastically reduced scar. Skip the lemon juice if you have sensitive skin and avoid using it on fresh scars.
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