Sun spots: These dark brown clusters can take months, or even years, to show up in sun-exposed areas. Once they show up, they usually don’t fade unless you treat them. This pigment shift stays near the surface of the skin, so you can treat it with creams and scrubs. Use sunscreen daily to prevent sun spots or to keep them from getting worse. Melasma (Chloasma): These dusky, symmetrical spots stem from hormone changes during birth-control use or pregnancy. When these hormones combine with sun exposure, dark spots can appear on the cheeks, forehead, and upper lip. This form of hyper-pigmentation tends to return easily, even if you treat it. Post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation: You may get dark spots that linger after a burn, pimple, or other skin abrasion. This is especially common in darker skin tones but can happen to anyone. In this case, the melanin is deep within your skin, and the dark spots may take six to twelve months to fade. [1] X Research source
You can find chemical exfoliants and facial scrubs in drugstores, grocery stores, and bath-and-body stores. Read reviews of a product before you buy it. Some scrubs may be sold to treat acne and other skin conditions; these scrubs often use acids and chemicals to deep-clean your skin.
Kojic acid is a popular treatment, but it can irritate sensitive skin. Be careful. If you have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant, avoid using azelaic acid, which comes from wheat.
Animal studies have linked hydroquinone with cancer, but those animals were fed and injected with the drug. Most human treatments stop at topical application, and no research suggests toxicity in humans. Many dermatologists deny the cancer link. [2] X Research source Most patients show the first signs of skin lightening within a few days, and most of the effects act within six weeks. After the treatment, you can switch to an over-the-counter cream to keep up the brighter pigment.
You can also blot a makeup pad with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and sugar. Scrub the dark area for 2-3 minutes, then rinse with water. For a heavier treatment, slice a lemon into halves and squeeze the juice onto the dark skin. Rinse after 10 minutes. Avoid sun exposure after using lemon. Use these treatments at night, when you won’t see UV rays for a while. If used on your whole face, lemon juice will lighten your whole complexion, not just your dark spots.
