Who doesn’t dread dark spots? They make one’s face look dull and take away from the natural beauty of our complexion. When you’re not wondering how to remove dark spots caused by pimples you may be trying to deal with dark spots left by sun rays. It’s a very common problem and for years, we’ve wondered how to get rid of such blemishes. Do you finally want to know the solution to dark spots? Well, read on.

Dark Spots on the Skin: Causes, treatments and More: The Basics

Dark spots are caused when the skin is damaged. When this happens, the melanocyte in the base layer of the skin gets stimulated. In non-sciency words, it leads to excess melanin production in one particular area aka the dark spots. Factors such as sun damage, hormonal imbalance or any kind of injury to the skin can cause pigmentation. While you may know how to remove dark spots caused by pimples, hyperpigmentation due to a rash or ageing is a whole different ball game. Well, we’ve come up with you can deal with them.

Causes for Dark Spots on the skin & How to Treat It

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1. Acne

When acne is picked or pinched, it leads to blemishes. The remnants that acne leaves behind can also be dark spots. Sometimes they leave angry red marks or as they heal, they turn a dark purplish spot. If you’re not lucky, stubborn acne will turn dark and can take weeks to subside and fade. But not all hope is lost, especially when it comes to how to remove dark spots caused by pimples.

Instructions on How to Treat It

When treating acne spots, we have to tackle the problem at its root. If you want to know how to remove dark spots caused by pimples, first tend to your oily skin which is one of the most common causes of a pimple. Start your routine by washing your face with Pond’s Bright Beauty Foaming Brush Facewash. This lightweight and creamy facewash gently takes care of your face to get rid of the day’s grime while deeply cleansing your pores to prevent acne from forming in the first place. Since it comes with an inbuilt brush, you can easily exfoliate your face to keep it squeaky clean.

Follow it up with the fast-absorbing Pond’s Bright Beauty Spot-less Glow Serum to take care of the already-formed dark spots. Since this hydrating serum is loaded with hero ingredients such as Gluta-Boost-C, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, it can easily smoothen out the harshest of blemishes.

If you need a little added help, why not try a moisturising booster like the Simple Daily Skin Detox SOS Clearing Booster? Free of harsh chemicals, it uses natural wonders like witch hazel, zinc and thyme to control excess oil while calming any irritation. You can either use it as a spot corrector and apply on affected areas or apply it all over your face!

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2. Sun rays

Sunrays, at any season or time of the year, can cause them too! It isn’t the visible rays of the sun that are behind it – instead, it is the UVA and UVB rays. Along with the visible sun tan, constant exposure can damage your skin and leave behind dark sun spots, especially near your eyes. It can also cause severe photodamage which is responsible for premature ageing and fine lines on your face.

Instructions on How to Treat It

While your usual sunscreen will do the trick in protecting your skin from UV rays, we’ve just discovered the niftiest little skincare product. The Pond’s Serum-Boost Sunscreen Serum combines the magic of SPFs in sunscreens and the active ingredients of serums to give a potent sunscreen serum. If you have ever hated the white cast that sunscreens leave behind or are tired of an extra skincare step, this is for you.

Just apply a few drops of this non-sticky serum all over your face, ears and neck 20 minutes before stepping out. It has SPF 50 to prevent any further sun damage while the niacinamide in it works on fading existing dark spots. Phew, the worlds of beauty and technology just keep on collaborating to give us such gems, don’t they?

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3. Irritation

If you have sensitive skin that is super prone to scarring, then chances are that a slight injury to your skin could also lead to pigmentation in the area. Therefore, a lot of times, common problems such as allergic reactions, rashes or even cosmetic treatments such as chemical peels could lead to the appearance of hyperpigmentation on your skin. To treat this issue, it is important to give your skin a boost of antioxidant-rich and repairing serums to properly heal the skin and prevent it from further damage.

Instructions on How to Treat It

Vitamin B3 aka niacinamide is especially helpful as it prevents the transfer of melanocytes to the surface, thus banishing dark spots formed for whatever reason whether it is acne or rashes. It also repairs the skin and evens its tone to lighten such spots. So, why not try the Simple 10% Niacinamide + Pro-Vit B5 Booster Serum which is suitable for all skin types? You don’t have to worry about any parabens, artificial scents or other harsh chemicals that can cause any allergies as all it uses is niacinamide and vitamin B5. It works at a cellular level to not only repair dark spots but also works on soothing irritated skin by keeping it hydrated and soft.

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4. Melasma

Melasma is caused due to hormonal imbalance in the body, and therefore most women experience melasma during/after pregnancy. Discolouration caused due to melasma is usually most prominent around the forehead, cheeks and nose. While this type of pigmentation usually goes away on its own, a good way to prevent it from getting worse is by applying a generous amount of sunscreen every single day.

Instructions on How to Treat It

To control the hormonal imbalance, you need to maintain your pH levels. This is where a toner comes in as it tones the skin literally and maintains the pH balance to avoid discolouration. Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner is one such toner which takes the help of allantoin along with other natural ingredients like vitamin B5 and witch hazel to keep your skin refreshed and hydrated. Take a generous amount on a cotton pad and wipe it over your face after washing your face in the morning and night.

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5. Age spots

Age spots are dark flat pigmentation marks that can range from tiny freckles to large spots and are fairly common in middle-aged and older women. Constant exposure to the sun for years can also hasten these age spots as UV rays quicken melanin production.

Instructions on How to Treat It

Along with sunscreen, you need to keep the skin hydrated. The Pond’s Super Light Gel is the perfect moisturiser as it uses glycerine, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to keep your face hydrated all day long. It locks moisture deep into your skin to give it a fresh and glowy finish. On top of it, hyaluronic acid prevents future dark spots while vitamin E is known to treat dark spots caused by hormones, something we need to keep an eye on especially as we near menopause.

FAQs about Dark Spots on the Skin: Causes, treatments and More

Q1. Can I get rid of freckles?

This is perhaps the most common type of benign pigmentation that is common in people with lighter skin tones. The main reason for developing freckles is exposure to sunlight. But if you start taking precautions or avoiding direct sunlight, then they tend to lighten over time.

Q2. Can dark spots be removed?

Yes, mostly all types of dark spots can be removed from acne aftermath to sun tan. However, it should be noted, for some really difficult dark spots, you may need to try out a laser treatment.

Q3. How can I reduce dark spots naturally?

Along with drinking water and eating healthy, there are several DIY face packs you can try with natural ingredients such as lemon juice, yoghurt, aloe vera, tomatoes, papaya and honey.