8 Dark Spot Treatments That Really Work, According to Dermatologists
As a beauty editor, my ultimate quest is to achieve flawless skin. You know, the I-don’t-even-need-any-makeup type of complexion we all desire. But I’m not quite there yet. The number one thing keeping me from my no-makeup goal? Dark spots. Uneven skin tone keeps me reaching for my makeup bag again and again. I talked to a few dermatologists to find out if there are ways to get rid of discoloration for good.
“Dark spots or hyperpigmentation are due to the overproduction of melanin in the skin by melanocytes,” explains plastic surgeon Melissa Doft, M.D. This extra melanin can be triggered by a lot of different things. “Hormones—both estrogen and progesterone—can increase the level of melanin (why pregnant women see dark spots that often lighten following birth); the sun can increase the level of melanin (why we have more dark spots after the summer); and age can increase the size of the melanocytes (why we see dark age spots in older patients),” says Doft. Other factors, like skin irritation as a result of acne, waxing, and harsh scrubs, can also cause dark spots.