Breaking Down Dark Spots Treatments That Actually Work

There are so many treatments formulated to help fight gegen pigmentflecken that it can be difficult to know where to begin. What ingredients do you need to look for in a product? Which ingredients help to permanently get rid of dark sports? We know these are some of the challenges that our readers face every day. That is why we spoke to top dermatologists to get to the bottom of treating pigmentflecken on the face safely. Continue reading to learn more. 

What causes dark spots?

Also called hyperpigmentation, dark spots are brought about when the body produces excess melanin in your skin. Several different things can trigger this overproduction of melanin. Theyinclude hormones (both progesterone and estrogen) which tend to increase the production of melanin, pregnancy, and sun exposure. It explains why we experience more dark spots just after the summer and the fact that women have dark spots that lighten up after giving birth. Also, the size of melanocytes can increase with age, explaining why older people are more likely to see dark spots. 

Other factors, for example, skin irritation resulting from waxing, harsh scrubs, and acne, can cause pigmentflecken. 

Treatments

Vitamin C is a topical antioxidant known to help in the blockage of free radicals to prevent oxidative damage to your skin. This can cause fine lines, dull complexion, and wrinkles among other problems. Also, vitamin C hinders enzymatic processes that lead to the production of melanin, which is critical in reducing skin discoloration. 

Vitamin C also has the benefit of only targeting the areas of the skin with pigmentflecken, not the entire skin. 

To use vitamin C, simply massage 2-3 drops of the liquid onto clean skin. It is advisable to do this before you apply sunscreen. 

For a long time, medical experts saw hydroquinone as the gold standard when it came to the treatment of dark spots. The ingredient is sold over-the-counter in 2% concentration or less, but its concentration in the prescription hydroquinone can be 4% minimum. The compound inhibits the tyrosinase enzyme, which often helps the body to produce melanin. Less tyrosinase means that the body also produces a smaller amount of melanin. 

Hydroquinone can sometimes produce effects pretty quickly in only two weeks. But most people should give it eight to 12 weeks depending on certain factors. These include how deeply the product penetrates the skin, the gravity of hyperpigmentation, and how long the problem has been there. 

Just like any topical product, hydroquinone can cause redness, burning, and dryness to the skin. That is why it is recommended to do a spot test before you apply it to the body. This enables you to see how it will react to the skin and prevent adverse effects. 

Ghosting is yet another probable side effect of using hydroquinone. This is a situation where there is skin lightening outside the area originally intended. Fortunately, this problem can be avoided by applying hydroquinone sparingly in the middle of the spot and towards the edges.

For a start, apply hydroquinone at night and then increase it to twice daily. 

Many skin lighteners contain kojic acid, and the treatment works best if it is used in combination with hydroquinone. It suppresses a vital factor in pigment cell activity. Applying topical kojic acid has one great risk, which is allergic dermatitis. It explains why the treatment is mainly found in low concentrations. People with sensitive skin should be mindful of the doses they use and only apply them at night. This is because it can cause irritation and inflammation. You also need to be patient with the results. You may need to wait for several months before you see significant improvements in your hyperpigmentation.

Use kojic acid only at night and make sure you only apply it to the areas affected by dark spots.

Derived from soybean, soy extract has been found to help in brightening the skin by several studies. It explains why it is a common ingredient in many skin-lightening treatments. Soy functions as a corrector of dark spots by stopping melanin from getting to the skin’s top layer say AAD. 

To use soy in the fight gegen pigmentflecken, apply it twice a day (at night and in the morning) to dark spots. This is best done before you use your usual moisturizer. 

Lasers are among the most effective treatments for reducing dark spots although they are also the most expensive. Under this treatment method, a focused light beam with a specific target breaks up and eliminates the pigment particles found in the skin. It can be used in treating unwanted pigmentation. Its disadvantage is that it produces a less focused beam of light and may also have undesirable effects on the nearby skin. 

The ideal laser treatment for dark spots will create a cooling blast. Find out from your laser technician or dermatologist whether the laser that they use treats fast with a focused light beam. This is important to prevent burns or inflammatory responses.

6. Chemical peels

Chemical peels and similar exfoliating treatments get rid of surface-level dead skin cells, which helps to brighten the skin’s appearance. This improves the way it reflects light, making it glow. The treatments will stimulate the production of more collagen with time, reduce dark spots that appear, and increase cellular turnover. However, don’t use a strong chemical peel as it can burn your skin. While you can use at-home peels, they only slough off dead cells of the skin instead of getting deep into the skin to brighten dark spots.

Also, remember that chemical peels tend to be harsh, especially when applied to sensitive skin. Therefore, make sure you consult your dermatologist to tell you how it may react to you before you use it. 

Conclusion

Given the humongous options for treating dark spots available, choosing an effective and safe one can be a challenge. That is why we have explained the most effective methods gegen pigmentflecken that not only fade dark spots but also do so safely. Remember to always follow instructions to the latter and to consult with your dermatologist before using any method.