13 Dark Spot Treatment Options That Dermatologists Swear By

Brighten Skin with Vitamin C

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, vitamin C is one of the more effective natural ingredients that you can count on to lighten existing spots and potentially prevent new ones from forming. We recommend L'Oréal's Revitalift 10% Pure Vitamin C Concentrate which significantly improves skin brightness over time.

Exfoliate with Papaya

What’s a surefire way to brighten the overall tone of your skin? Rinse away that top layer with a natural exfoliant, like papaya: “Papaya has fruit acids known as alpha-hydroxy acids, which is a chemical exfoliant,” says Dr. Engelman. “AHAs are used for dry skin and to anti-age and work to improve skin by removing the top layers of the skin through weakening the lipids that bond them together, thus, removing dull and dead skin cells and revealing healthy skin cells." She explains that papaya is very effective in breaking down skin cells and has been shown to increase collagen production thanks to the removal of dead particles. "Papaya specifically will help brighten and give the skin a youthful radiance," she adds.

To treat your dark spots with papaya, simply mash ripe papaya in a bowl and apply it as a mask to clean skin. Keep on for 15-20 minutes. Then, when removing the mask, you can also use gentle, circular motions for a bit of added exfoliation to remove that dead top layer of skin cells.

Apply Antioxidants

For hyperpigmentation on the skin, Dr. Engelman recommends a product that fights harmful free radicals that accumulate over time with exposure to the sun’s UV rays. “Melanin goes into overproduction in the sun to protect our skin from harmful UV/UB rays, causing spots to look darker than your natural skin tone,” she says. “These sunspots accumulate over the years. An antioxidant helps protect skin against free radical assaults by neutralizing oxidative stress that can cause cell damage, like SkinBetter’s Antioxidant Alto Defense Serum.”

Slather Sunscreen On

As with any skincare routine, the best way to eliminate dark spots is through prevention, which is easily done by protecting your skin from the sun. "SPF is a UV filter and UV light causes melanogenesis, or the over stimulation of melanoma, which can exacerbate, worsen or prolong hyperpigmentation. If SPF is used appropriately, while not perfect, it can help to block melanogenesis," explains Dr. Henry. "I recommend using an SPF 30 for daily use or a 50 if you are going to be outside for more than an hour." Whether you use chemical or mineral sunscreen is completely up to you.

Brighten with Yogurt

Another naturally skin-brightening item you probably already have in your home is yogurt, which may work to fade dark spots by exfoliating the skin. Like the chemically exfoliating properties found in papaya, yogurt breaks down dead skin cells thanks to lactic acid, which is found naturally in dairy products: “Using yogurt with cow’s milk could be effective in calming the skin since it has lactic acid. Lactic acid is an AHA, which improves discoloration and age spots,” Dr. Engelman says. “This acid is gentler on the skin than other chemical exfoliants. Since it is derived from dairy, it helps to correct pH imbalances. It works to improve tone and texture, and reduces redness.”

Yogurt can be applied to clean skin alone or mixed with additional ingredients known to improve the skin’s health— like honey— which is antibacterial and great for acne-prone complexions. Adding oatmeal to a yogurt mask will help slough and soothe dry skin, just be sure to rinse this mask away carefully, so as not to tear or irritate the skin.

Get a Laser Resurfacing Treatment

For intense and/or stubborn dark spots, an in-office treatment may be the only solution. Enter: laser resurfacing treatments. These use light energy to treat certain pigments in the skin, which means they help to treat certain types of hyperpigmentation.

"The most popular laser resurfacing treatments are fractionated lasers, like the Fraxel, because they can be used for all sorts of dark spots," explains Dr. Henry. "This type of laser creates little micro-channels, or little wounds. When the wound heals, the pigment is extruded through the skin and we call this microscopic epidermal necrotic debris or MENDS for short."

Make a DIY Turmeric Face Mask

For ages, people in India, parts of Central America, and other subtropical areas have looked to turmeric for its many healing properties, from reducing inflammation to aiding the digestive process. Turmeric’s benefits also extend to the area of skincare, and it has been shown to inhibit the skin's melanin production, which results in spots due to hyperpigmentation.

To fade dark spots with turmeric, make a mask using one part turmeric to one part honey. If you wish, you can enhance the lightening process with a few drops of lemon juice, as long as your skin isn’t too sensitive, and the citrus won’t come into contact with open skin, like recently broken pimples.

Turn to Acids

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) work to increase and improve skin cell turnover, which helps shed dead and dull cells that may lead to the appearance of dark spots. "Products that contain lactic acid, glycolic acid, citric acid, and malic acid—each is a natural, alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from bilberry extract, sugar cane extract, sugar maple extract, and citrus extracts that provide mild exfoliation to help enhance skin texture and reveal healthy new cells," says Dr. Engelman. We love Glow Recipe's Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum as it combines both types of acids with protective antioxidants.

Soothe Skin and Reduce Spots with Almond Oil

Another skin-strengthening ingredient that’s used both in the kitchen and on the complexion is sweet almond oil, which Dr. Engelman likes to use to treat discoloration in the skin. However, the almond oil commonly used to cook isn’t quite the same as that used on the skin, which is often fortified with additional vitamins and minerals. “The presence of Vitamin E and niacin help with hyperpigmentation and improving skin tone,” she says.

Because sweet almond oil is generally viewed as non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores) you can add it to your nightly routine as a makeup remover or moisturizer meant to help protect the skin barrier. If using as a makeup remover, apply to dry skin and remove with a washcloth before following with cleanser. If using it as a moisturizer, apply a few drops to clean, dry skin and allow it to absorb before continuing with the rest of your routine.

Get a Professional-Grade Chemical Peel

Chemical peels are incredibly effective treatments as they shed the upper layers of your skin, but as such, it's important to consult a dermatologist who can choose the correct combination of ingredients based on your skin type and concerns.

"The amount of pigment that goes away depends on the depth of the peel and the depth of the pigment," says Dr. Henry. "There are many different kinds and the concentrations and combinations used will determine the depth of the peel. " She warns that people with darker skin should err on the side of caution and use a less aggressive peel, as the stronger the peel the higher the risk for scarring and/or hyperpigmentation.

Reverse Photo Damage with Tomatoes

Rather than slathering this ingredient on your face, tomato works best when taken systemically. According to a 2011 study, participants who ingested between around 55 milligrams of tomato paste with olive oil per day saw protection from acute and long-term photo damage brought on by UV rays. Why is tomato paste so effective? Tomatoes are naturally rich in lycopene, which has multiple potential health benefits, including sun protection. Not a fan of tomatoes? Look to other similarly-hued fruits and veggies, like guava, pink grapefruit, watermelon, and red sweet peppers. But don't apply to the skin—this benefit is reaped strictly through diet.

Ask Your Derm About a Prescription

If you have a dark spot that just won't go away no matter how many over-the-counter products and natural DIY solutions you've tried, it may be a good idea to visit a dermatologist. They'll help you figure out the cause of your hyperpigmentation and subsequently find the best way to treat it.

"When treating clients’ dark spots with medication, I use hydroquinone but in a limited, safe way," begins Dr. Henry. "I also use retinoids or a topical tranexamic acid. It’s always based on a patient’s needs and usually requires custom combinations and more than one treatment."

Reduce Scarring with Aloe

For some people, dark spots aren’t the result of hyperpigmentation, but scarring, which can be especially apparent on those with more melanin-rich skin: “Scars are unpredictable, which can make them difficult to treat. The most important thing is to treat right away,” Dr. Engelman explains. “The more pliable your skin is, the less chance there is that scars will occur, so adding moisture back into the skin with oils and lotions can reduce the appearance and prevent new ones from forming.” A tried and true ingredient that may be used to improve your skin’s health from the inside, or outside, is aloe. Aloe can be ingested in the form of a drink or applied to the skin as a moisturizer or skin healer by breaking the leaf of an aloe plant and dabbing the sticky substance onto your scar.

Don’t have an aloe plant on hand? Aloe vera gel can be applied directly to the face, as can many cleansers or moisturizers that contain aloe, like Mario Badescu's Aloe Lotion, which reduces redness.