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Albina Gavrilovic/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images En español Dark spots are the new wrinkles. Whether you call them age spots, sunspots, liver spots or brown spots, we want them gone. You have two options for dealing with them: Either make it a DIY project (less expensive, painless, no downtime but requires patience), or let a dermatologist take over with in-office procedures (costly, more immediate results, requires downtime and there’s a definite ouch factor). Here’s expert advice from three board-certified dermatologists — Christine Choi Kim, M.D., of Los Angeles; Corey L. Hartman, M.D., of Birmingham, Alabama; and Joshua Zeichner, M.D., of New York City — plus a few beauty editor tips from me. Lois Joy Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at Ladies’ Home Journal and a founding editor of More magazine. She has written three books: The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup and The Woman's Wakeup. Editor's note: This article was originally published on Sept. 2, 2021. It has been updated with new products. When we see changes in our skin, it can be easy to immediately move to panic or assume the worst. However, there are many reasons dark spots may appear, and they may even be easily reversible. While some dark spots could signal a skin issue, others are relatively harmless. That said, you may still be determined to remove dark spots on your face for aesthetic or personal reasons—and we can help. There are many ways to treat dark spots, no matter what’s caused them. Keep reading or use the links below to learn how to remove dark spots on your face and restore your clear complexion.
Why Do People Get Dark Spots?There are many reasons why people get dark spots but here are some of the most common culprits: AgingAlso known as age spots, they are small, flat dark spots on the skin. Age spots are often caused by sun damage in your younger years and become more noticeable as you get older. Those with light skin or have a history of intense sun exposure or several sunburns are most at risk of getting dark spots on the face and body. True age spots don’t need any treatment, but you may still want to remove them or simply lighten them. Hormonal ChangesThere is a wide range of medications that affect the hormone balance within your body. And as such, the use of these medications may lead to dark spots on the skin. For example, using birth control can increase your chances of getting dark spots on the face and body. If you think this may be the reason for your dark spots, consider looking into whether this is a side effect of one of the medications you take or speak with your prescribing doctor to see if that could be the case. Sun DamageAs mentioned before, sun damage is one of the main causes of dark face spots. Sun spots are caused by UV sun damage, which speeds up melanin production and gives skin its color. This is why the spots are dark. They usually appear on areas most exposed to the sun, such as the face, shoulders, arms, and hands. |