WHAT ARE DARK SPOTS AND HOW TO BEST TREAT THEM?

Have you had dark spots on your skin but didn’t know how to treat them? While not dangerous, dark spots, particularly dark spots on your face, can be unwelcome, and some people want to know how to reduce the appearance of them. The good news is, it is possible with targeted treatments and ingredients. Read on to discover what are dark spots, what causes them, and what options you have if you want to reduce their visibility.

WHAT ARE DARK SPOTS?

Dark spots, brown marks or patches are accumulated pigmentations that form on the skin. They’re particularly common on your face, but many people notice them all over their bodies. Dark spots appear when melanin – which is the pigment that determines the colour of your skin – is overproduced. This results in a patch of skin being darker than the surrounding skin, giving you uneven skin tone colour.

Dark spots are common in the following areas:

  • back of the hands
  • face
  • décollete
  • back
  • shoulders.

HOW DARK SPOTS AFFECT PEOPLE

Dark spots can affect people from all sorts of backgrounds. NIVEA decided to take the scientific route and develop products that address the specific needs of people with accumulated pigmentation on their skin. After 10 years of research, NIVEA developed LUMINOUS630® which works at the cellular level to rebalance the pigmentation by lightening and reducing the size of existing spots and preventing the reappearance of new spots at the same time. 

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF DARK SPOTS?

Knowing the main causes of dark or brown patches on your skin can help you understand how to avoid them in the first place. Although some causes are unavoidable, it’s still important to understand why you’ve developed accumulated pigmentation on your skin. Dark, brownish patches on your skin can be caused by several different reasons:

Main Causes:

SUN DAMAGE

The main source of dark spots is sun exposure. This is why brown spots on your face are common, as well as other areas that are often exposed to the sun. When exposed, the skin naturally produces extra melanin as a protection mechanism, resulting in a tan, but when melanin production is unevenly spread, it might cause darks spots to appear.

AGE

Melanocytes are cells in our body that produce melanin. When your skin starts to mature, after the age of 30, the number of melanocytes in both sun-exposed and unexposed skin decreases by 8% to 20% each decade. But the cells that do remain increase in size and ‘hold’ more melatonin. This can cause sun or age spots.

MELASMA

A common skin problem that causes dark patches on your skin is melasma. It can affect areas of your body that are often exposed to the sun such as your face, neck, hands and other areas. It’s much more common in women, as it can be provoked by hormone imbalances triggered during pregnancy, menopause or when using birth control. There is no need to worry, melasma is harmless and doesn’t raise any medical concerns.

POST-INFLAMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION

DARK SPOTS ON YOUR FACE

Dark spots are different to freckles, and they tend to appear due to certain reasons:

  • sun exposure
  • skin ageing
  • hormonal changes: pregnancy, menopause, birth control pill
  • after skin inflammation like acne, or after an injury.
 

HOW TO REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF DARK SPOTS ON YOUR FACE

Depending on the cause, dark spots on your face can sometimes clear up on their own, but sometimes reducing their visibility needs a helping hand.

There are creams and correctors specifically designed to target dark spots. These products contain our NIVEA-patented anti-spot ingredient LUMINOUS630®, which treat unwanted pigments in a targeted area and help reduce future skin discolouration.

 

SKIN-CARE ROUTINE TIPS ON HOW TO REDUCE THE APPEARANCE OF DARK SPOTS ON YOUR FACE

There are some simple tricks you can easily build into your skin-care routine to reduce the visibility of dark spots:

  • Wash your face twice daily. Make sure you use a gentle cleanser or balm.
  • Apply serum and day cream. Use products that are specifically developed to tackle dark spots, like NIVEA LUMINOUS630® Advanced Spot Treatment Serum, NIVEA LUMINOUS630® Post-Acne Marks Serum or NIVEA LUMINOUS630® Anti-Age & Spot Serum that contain complexion-brightening ingredients that target pigment-producing cells to give an even skin tone, working to lighten spots and reduce their size. To prevent further sun damage, try NIVEA LUMINOUS630® Anti-Dark Spot Triple Protection Day Cream SPF 50 [link to product page] during the day.
  • Use a night cream. Try specific night creams, like NIVEA LUMINOUS630® Even Tone Night Cream that specifically regenerates the skin while you’re sleeping.

HOW LUMINOUS630® CAN HELP TACKLE DARK SPOTS

Our patented anti-dark spot ingredient, LUMINOUS630® has helped many people tackle their dark spots around the world. It targets dark spots at their roots, rebalances melanin production and works at the cellular level to provide you with a brighter and glowing complexion.

PROFESSIONAL TREATMENTS FOR DARK SPOTS

There are professional dark spot treatments available at cosmetic salons, but before committing to either one of the following, make sure you seek medical advice from a licensed professional to find the best suited one to your skin and pigmentation concerns:

MICRODERMABRASION

It’s a procedure that involves the removal of a mechanical layer of the epidermis. For this purpose, special diamond or corundum crystals are used.

CHEMICAL PEELS

There are various types of medical chemical peels and treatments available that are based on the use of vitamin C and fruit acids.

LASER THERAPY

This tends to be the most effective and versatile anti-dark spot therapy. For it to be effective, however, you’ll need several sessions before the discolouration disappears.

HOW TO REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF DARK SPOTS ON YOUR FACE: TOP TIPS

  • Use dark spot corrector creams that specifically target dark spots on your face 
  • Wear SPF – sunscreen is your best defence against dark spots on your face. Get into the habit of wearing a high SPF facial cream over your regular moisturiser every day, even on cloudy, cool days. Aim for an SPF of at least 30.
  • Adapt your skin-care routine to include products that contain ingredients designed to reduce visibility of dark spots.

HOW TO PREVENT DARK SPOTS ON YOUR SKIN

Not all causes of dark spots on your skin can be prevented – some occur naturally due to age and other factors. That being said, the brown spots on the skin that are caused by sun damage can be prevented. Here are some of our top tips:

  • Use sunscreen. By using a high-SPF sunscreen, you protect your skin from sun damage, and ensure it stays as healthy as possible.
  • Cover up. Even if you use sunscreen, your face, neck and other overexposed areas are more prone to developing dark spots than others. Try a baseball cap or wide-brimmed hat to give your face and neck some protection from the sun.
  • Avoid the midday sun. The sun is the most intense between noon and 2pm. During these hours, you’re much more likely to suffer sun damage that can lead to brown spots on your skin. Try to find some shade during this part of the day and enjoy the sun at times when it isn’t as damaging to your skin.
  • Try not to touch your skin too often. If you have a spot or mosquito bite you keep scratching or picking, it can lead to inflammation, skin damage and discolouration. Make sure you wash your hands before touching your face.

SKIN-CARE TIPS ON REDUCING THE VISIBILITY OF DARK SPOTS ON YOUR BODY

If your body is regularly exposed to the sun, you may develop dark spots on those parts. And just as your face responds to a good skin-care routine, so does your body. Make sure you use at least SPF 30 or higher before going outdoors and cover your body whenever possible.

Vitamin C, vitamin B12 and vitamin E can also help reduce the appearance of dark spots on your body. Vitamins E and B12 promote collagen production (this is what gives your skin its elasticity and bounce), while vitamin C is well-known for its antioxidant, firming and brightening effects. Vitamin E can also soothe scarring which can decrease the appearance of dark spots on your body.

We recommend using body lotion regularly – twice a day if you can – and applying it to damp skin for maximum effect. Try a body lotion with natural almond oil and vitamin E for deep hydration and care.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BROWN SPOTS

WHEN SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT BROWN SPOTS?

Brown spots are usually harmless, but if you’re uncertain, see a dermatologist to be sure.

WHAT AGE DO YOU START GETTING DARK SPOTS?

There’s no specific age you start getting dark spots, as it depends on many factors. Generally, people who are more exposed to the sun tend to develop dark spots sooner.

ARE BROWN SPOTS ON SKIN NORMAL?

Brown spots can be caused by multiple things, but most frequently it’s the skin’s natural reaction to the sun’s UV rays.

ARE BROWN SPOTS ON THE FACE PERMANENT?

With targeted creams, serums and ingredients you can reduce the appearance of brown spots on your face.

WILL A CREAM REMOVE DARK SPOTS?

If the cream is specifically developed to tackle dark spots, it can reduce their visibility on your skin.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO REMOVE DARK SPOTS?

Make sure you read the description of your cream carefully as it will indicate when you’ll be able to experience a visible reduction of their appearance.

CAN DARK SPOTS FADE COMPLETELY?

The right creams can help you reduce their visibility significantly.

DO DARK-SPOT CORRECTORS ACTUALLY WORK?

If they have the right ingredients, they can reduce the visibility of dark spots on your face and skin.