The good news? You don't have to run to the dermatologist and shell out thousands of dollars on pricey laser treatments.
DIFFERIN DARK SPOT CORRECTING SERUM SKIN
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, otherwise simply known as dark spots.
All in all, expect to see a more even-toned, glowy-as-heck complexion soon.Whether caused by sun damage, pregnancy, hormones, inflammation, or breakouts (hello, acne scars), skin discoloration can be a frustrating thing to treat, to say the least. Additionally, ferulic acid doubles down on your skin's defensive barrier against the effects of photodamage. "Compounding vitamin C with another antioxidant helps preserve the stability and boost the effectiveness of the serum," Michelle Henry, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, previously explained. Its vitamin C complex is made up of five dual-encapsulated derivatives of the brightening ingredient, which is further boosted by guava seed oil and fruit extract (which the brand says contains four times more vitamin C than oranges), tranexamic acid, ferulic acid, and vitamin E. Wave goodbye to hyperpigmentation because this serum isn't playing around. Much like the brand's hydration-focused Plum Plump serum, Guava has an enticing, silky-to-the-touch gel-serum texture that absorbs into skin without an ounce of greasiness or heaviness. Glow Recipe's Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum is no run-of-the-mill vitamin C treatment. Just ensure that you're consistent with using these products - every day, folks - and you'll see amazing (but gradual) results in as little as a month. Here are some of the best dark spot correctors and hyperpigmentation-fading products to pair with it. Kim backs this up, adding that SPF combined with vitamin C in the morning minimizes UV damage, prevents excessive melanin production, and contributes to a brighter complexion overall. "Otherwise you are literally throwing your money away investing in other skin-care products," she adds. "Before you spend your money on antioxidant serums and retinoids to improve the tone and texture of your skin, the most important first step is diligent daily sun protection, which is key to reducing the appearance of brown spots," says board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, also based in New York City. "For example, you want to use a vitamin A derivative to increase cell turnover, alpha hydroxy acids to enzymatically exfoliate, and incorporate azelaic acid, kojic acid, or arbutin to reduce melanin production," Kim explains, adding that tranexamic acid is particularly beneficial for melasma.īut there is something else dermatologists recommend across the board to get dark spots under control: sunscreen. "When targeting hyperpigmentation, you want to use multiple ingredients that have different functions," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist David Kim tells us. Often made with the same active ingredients that dermatologists use in prescription compounds, these serums and creams contribute to more even-toned skin and reduced hyperpigmentation with consistent use. That's where these over-the-counter options come in. Although some patients choose to undergo laser treatments for their dark spots to address their hyperpigmentation with customized prescription compounds - Bhanusali often blends a high dose of hydroquinone with kojic acid and vitamin C for his patients - there are ways to combat discoloration without often-expensive in-office procedures and medications. "In general, hyperpigmentation is tough to treat and a chronic condition," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali tells Allure, noting that he explains to his patients that it must be taken seriously because it's so easy for it to recur. Caused by the cells responsible for your skin's color, melanocytes, depositing excess pigment into deeper levels of the skin, these forms of discoloration can be incredibly frustrating for those who strive for an even-toned complexion - especially since it can be tough to reverse. Whether you're dealing with a dark mark left behind by a blemish, spots that indicate sun damage, or hormone-induced melasma, these typically unwanted changes in the skin all fall under the umbrella of hyperpigmentation.