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. Show “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. What do dermatologists recommend for dark spots?Here are 6 ways to treat dark spots, according to a dermatologist. Rapid Tone Repair Vitamin C Serum Capsules. ... . Revitalift Derm Intensives Glycolic Acid Face Serum. ... . Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. ... . Rapid Tone Repair Night Cream. ... . Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector. ... . Revitalift Derm Intensives Vitamin C Serum.. What is the best procedure to remove dark spots on face?Laser and intense pulsed light.
Some laser and intense pulsed light therapies destroy melanin-producing cells (melanocytes) without damaging the skin's surface. These approaches typically require two to three sessions. Wounding (ablative) lasers remove the top layer of skin (epidermis).
Can dermatologists fix dark spots?Microdermabrasion (procedure): During this procedure, a dermatologist will smooth away age spots. Studies show this can be quite effective, especially when a patient also has a chemical peel. In one study, some patients were treated with microdermabrasion once every two weeks for 16 weeks.
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