Dark Spots Types, Symptoms, & Causes

Dark spots on your skin are commonly created by hyperpigmentation, or the skin around there is forming melanin in excess. This normally happens when the skin is damaged. Dark spots on the face are typically an indication of skin damage.

Melanin is basically responsible for giving the skin and hair their color. But the overproduction of melanin causes dark spots to appear in various portions of the body such as the neck, face, arms, and chest.

Hyperpigmentation is a very common problem. There are many women, actually millions of them, of all skin types and races who have dark spots, so you are absolutely not the only one.

Some of the factors that might lead to this condition are; hormone imbalance, over-exposure to the sun, pregnancy, vitamin deficiencies, certain medications, too much stress, and lack of sleep.

These dark spots and patches on your face can be the reason for embarrassment and this can even lead to low self-esteem.

Sunspots, age spots, spots from chickenpox, acne spots, what so ever be the cause, no one wants spots all over the skin. The brown patches on the skin are definitely one of the most irritating beauty concerns ever. But the good thing is that they can be treated easily.

 

Types of Dark Spots

There are different types of dark spots which might appear on your skin.

Moles: In medical terms, moles are called pigmented naevi. Due to the thickening of the pigment melanin, brown or black spots occur on the skin and these spots are either raised or flat. With age, moles can either grow or disappear.

Age Spots: The aging process brings with it spots which appear on hands, face, and chest. They might look like freckles but the spots caused due to aging are larger and even more irregular in shape. Treatments available for age spots are laser for dark spots on the face and lightening creams.

Vitiligo: in this case pigment is totally lost and this affects 1% of the entire population. The causes of this condition are abnormal nerve cells which prevent the body to produce autoimmune or pigment reactions when attacked by pigment cells.

Birthmarks: These marks appear at the time of birth or either after the birth. They have various colors, shapes, and sizes.

The cause of occurrence of birthmarks is to date unknown, but few experts suggest that it might be due to the deformities of blood vessels that happen as early as the embryo’s first month.

Some birthmarks disappear while others might stay forever.

Liver Spots: these spots are not due to liver problems. These dark spots are most commonly found on the skin of people after the age of 40. These spots are flat, black, or brown spots that appear as a result of aging or due to sun exposure or any other sources of ultraviolet light.

These spots are found on the face, forehead, shoulders, and forearms

Melasma: Women are found to be more prone to this problem usually when they are pregnant (their appearance is more likely during the second half of pregnancy) or when taking birth control pills.

Pills and hormones can increase the melanin production in the body that can result in the appearance of uneven brown spots on the chest and face.

 

 

Symptoms

Skin Symptoms are likely to occur along with dark spots.

• Itchy skin
• Burning feeling
• Swelling, redness, or warmth
• Flaky skin, peeling (occasionally)

 

Symptom relating to the bodily system can also occur

• Glucose intolerance
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Little interest in sex
• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Joint pain
• Missed menstrual periods
• Loss of appetite
• Lower abdominal pain
• Pain in the upper right abdomen

 

Causes

Hyperpigmentation: is usually caused when the skin becomes damaged in any particular area. This leads to more production of melanin in the skin, making a particular patch of your skin look darker.

Hormonal Imbalances: like those that are associated with pregnancy can lead to the triggering of over-pigmentation of the cells.

Skin Disorders: People tend to get dark spots on their skin as they age and the skin is unable to reproduce as readily, which makes it difficult for the skin to eliminate the damaged areas.

Excessive Sun Exposure: This can also cause your skin to start producing more melanin in order to protect itself from the Ultra violet rays.

Liver Damage: Spots appearing on the skin are also a sign of liver damage because your body might be less effective in removing the toxins from the cells.

Acne Scars: Acne or scars can leave dark spots on the skin which will take some time to fade.

Sometimes dark spots are actually scars left by acne. These scars take some time to fade away, usually about two or three months. But if u want to speed up the process, you should consider chemical peels. Chemical peels in general, are good for white skin and laser treatment for dark spots on the face is more preferable for the darker skin types.

 

Should you see a doctor?

If the dark spots on the skin are persistent or they give you reasons to be concerned about them, you should definitely speak to your doctor. Seek medical assistance for dark spots if you develop, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, fatigue, or depression along with the appearance of dark spots in your mouth or the mucus membranes.

 

Getting rid of dark spots (home remedies)

How to get rid of the dark spots on the face is the concern of many people. There are a few erasers that can be used in solving the problems of “how to get rid of dark spots”, “how to clear dark spots”, “how to reduce dark spots”, “how to remove dark spots on skin”.

There are many types of dark spot treatment available from natural treatments to home remedies etc.

Vitamins

Vitamins can help to remove the dark spots on the skin or fade dark spots.

Vitamin E can be applied directly to dark spot areas before going to bed. This will provide your skin with a lot of antioxidants which can help in evening the skin tone. Open a capsule of vitamin E and dab all the contents on any area which you wish to lighten. Not only will it lighten the skin tone but also it will fade dark spots.

Increasing the intake of vitamin C helps in reducing the amount of melanin that your skin produces. Eating oranges, strawberries, and other foods will be effective which are known to have a lot of vitamin C. Vitamin C intake can help you to remove dark spots on the skin more quickly.

• Sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen every time you step outside, despite the weather, can help fade dark spots which already exist on the skin and also prevent more sunspots from forming. Apply sunscreen generously on the entire face, 30 minutes before exposure to the sun. The best creams for dark spots are that have titanium oxide and zinc oxide, as these are more effective in removing the dark spots on the skin.

• Castor Oil

 How to get rid of dark spots on your face? Applying castor oil to the skin two times a day can bleach your dark spots. In circular motions, gently rub the castor oil into the areas which are affected.

• Green Tea Extracts

How to clear dark spots? Apply green tea extract to the skin. it has plenty of antioxidants that will help in removing free radicals. Green tea also helps the body in producing healthier collagen.

• Milk

How to reduce dark spots? Take a cotton ball, dip it into the milk and then dab milk onto the darkened area. Leave the milk on your face for about 8 to 10 minutes before rinsing your face. Repeat this remedy for about 6 weeks two times daily; it will help eliminate dark patches. This is the easiest home remedy for dark spots and also the best dark spot remover.

• Aloe Vera

How to remove dark spots on skin? Rub aloe vera juice on your dark spots 1 to 2 times daily for several weeks. This can help in getting rid of the skin of dark spots and any discoloration.

 

Other home remedies for dark spots available are:

Application of honey, pineapple, horseradish, potato, tomato, papaya, yogurt, turmeric, or cucumber can help you with the problem of how to get rid of dark spots on your face. Leave them onto your skin for a few minutes, as they will bleach the skin and remove offending marks. These are simple home remedies for dark spots.

Many people with dark spots keep asking questions like;

How to clear dark spots, how to get rid of dark spots, how to reduce dark spots, how to remove the dark spots on the skin, and here we give you the best solutions.

Masks to make for dark spot treatment:

• Lemon Juice:

Squeeze some lemon juice and dab it on your dark spots for about two weeks, this can make them fade away. To make this remedy more effective, combine lemon juice with horseradish, honey, or cider vinegar. This remedy is effective for the spots which are caused by acne. This is the best dark spot remover.

• Sandalwood Powder Mixture:

Make a paste using glycerin, rose water, and sandalwood powder. Apply this to your face as it helps to remove dark spots or age spots. Milk or honey can also be used instead of rose water.

• Brown Sugar and honey:

Make a mixture out of brown sugar and honey. Scrub your face with this, every two weeks. This will help in removing the developed dead skin cells which can cause discoloration.

All these masks are very effective and the best dark spot remover.

 

Medical treatments for removing dark spots

• Chemical Peels

During the chemical peel procedure, the doctor applies a mild acid concentration in order to remove the outermost layers of your skin. Then a neutralizer is applied in order to reveal the skin which is underneath, the one that was not affected due to excess melanin.

This is an effective way for reducing pigmentation and evening out your skin tone. There are various types of peels which can range from milder (lactic, glycolic acid, etc) to stronger peels (phenol peels and TCA) which deeply penetrate into your skin.

While it might be effective, but it requires many treatments to be undergone before the results get visible.

Also, there are different risks associated, such as redness, irritation, and even further discoloration of the skin.

• Laser Therapy

Laser treatment for dark spots on the face is done using a laser, which penetrates into the skin in the affected areas, and the UV light emitted is absorbed by the skin cells, which then kills them. This treatment makes the skin look darker initially, but then that fades within a week or so and then reveals a clear skin.

Laser treatment for dark spots on the face/Laser for dark spots on the face is effective in removing the dark spots on the skin without combining other treatments with it.

• Skin Lightening Creams (dark spot removal creams)

This treatment contains ingredients like kojic acid, hydroquinone, azelaic acid, and retinol.  These ingredients have proven to reduce skin pigmentation. The dark spot removal creams should contain these.

These creams can either be bought by the doctor’s prescription or over the counter, depending on the severity of your condition and the expected results that you want.

The best cream for dark spots and skin lightening is Illuminatural 6i.

As it is dark spot removal cream, it helps in removing all types of dark spots, it’s clinically proven skin lighteners make sure that the production of melanin is blocked completely.

Also, it has natural exfoliants that remove the dark pigmented cells and help in promoting the regeneration of healthy skin cells.

Prevention

Prevention is always better than the cure and especially when it comes to the dark spots on the skin, there are many precautionary measures one can take. To prevent dark spots from occurring here are a few tips:

• Never go out without wearing a sunblock with a minimum of 30 SPF.

• Do not expose yourself too much to the sun, or else, never exposure without using the necessary protection.
• Treat, if any, existing skin problems and never wait for them to get even worse.
• Avoid scratching your skin, especially if you have any wounds.
• Avoid using harsh soaps.

Never hesitate to consult a dermatologist. It’s better to be safe than to be sorry.

 

Best dark spot correctors to use

Dark spot correctors for getting rid of the dark spots are best in serum form as they are likely to be more concentrated. Avoid cream-based dark spot correctors. If you are suffering from dark spots which are acne-related, it is recommended to get a professional diagnosis before you begin any treatment.

Get rid of the dark spots with these best dark spot correctors. All these have got the best dark spot corrector reviews.

The first dark spot corrector in the list is

• Specific Beauty Skin Brightening Serum

It’s a mix of antioxidants, retinol, and licorice, which brightens up the skin.

• Clinique dark spot corrector

Clinique’s best dark spot corrector to date can be compared to the prescription products, and it has been proven 53% to improve the skin tone over a certain course of time.

• Miracle Worker Dark Spot Corrector

This has proven to work within four weeks,” Philosophy’s Miracle Worker Dark Spot Corrector” is safe to be used by those with sensitive skin.

• Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Corrector

It is a daily moisturizer from Garnier which fights age spots, acne spots, and dark spots, plus it’s very affordable.

• L’Oréal Paris Youth Code Dark Spot Correcting & Illuminating Serum Corrector

This is a gentle and lightweight formula that goes on smoothly, without a greasy feeling.

• Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum

In less than 10 days, this serum starts working wonders on the dark spots.

This makes your skin’s future look brighter and its proprietary acid and glow-enhancing vitamin C suppresses the long-term production of the darkening agents.

• Lancome Bright Expert Dark Spot Corrector

This is an expert in removing dark spots.

• Proactiv Hydroquinone Cream Dark Spot Corrector

This one focuses on the acne scars that transform into dark spots; also it works on age and sunspots.

Some other dark spot correctors are:

• Vichy ProEven Total Dark Spot Corrector
• SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening System
• Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Dark Spot Corrector
• Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution
• Kiehl’s Dark Spot Solution
• Ambi Age Spot Corrector
• Pharmaskincare Age Spot corrector
• Skin Renew Dark Spot Corrector
• ULTA Renew Complete Repair Dark Spot Corrector
• L’Oreal Paris Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector
• Giorgio Armani Luminessence Dark Spot Corrector Serum
• Murad Rapid Age Spot Lightening Gel
• Murad Post Acne Lightening Gel
• Dior Snot Anti-Spot Serum
• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind
• Dermis Skin Fade Cream
• Bremen Research Labs Clinical Strength Dark Spot Eraser
• StriVectin-EV Get Even Spot Repair
• ProX Even Skin Tone Spot Fading Treatment

 

Always search before buying any product in this case the dark spot corrector reviews should be very positive as it is a matter of serious concern. When you spend a heavy amount on a product you need to focus on the reviews of it. Some dark spot corrector reviews might not be positive which means it’s not that effective. Wisely spend your money! There are so many dark spot corrector reviews available on websites that it is almost an impossible task to find a genuine product. So in this case read carefully the ingredients it contains or else consult a dermatologist.

The best dark spot corrector review shows that it has worked on many people. This means that a particular product is most effective in dealing with dark spots.

Best dark spot corrector reviews are of ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY. If your primary concern is uneven skin tone, Advanced Dermatology is recommended. This is a powerful skincare program that not only targets the uneven skin tone but also the dark spots, all signs of aging which include wrinkles and loss of firmness.