Acne is bad enough on its own, without the aftermath of dark spots and acne scarring. To start, if you’re not sure if you have dark spots or acne scarring, be sure to check out our blog post “Acne Scars vs. Dark Spots.” Once you’re sure you have dark spots, keep reading and we’ll go over how you can remove them effectively, and what to expect from the treatment in return.
Dark spots have many different causes. Some are leftover post acne marks, some are sun spots from UV damage, and others can be caused from hyper-pigmentation. Whatever the cause, they can be quite frustrating and hard to conceal because they’re so darkly pigmented. Having dark spots can really lower your self-esteem and make you not want to leave the house bare-faced.
How can I reduce the appearance of my dark spots?
1. Do not pick at or pop your pimples.
This is very important. If you have blackheads or whiteheads (and especially cystic acne,) do not squeeze them or pick at them, because when you do you are damaging the surrounding skin tissue which can lead to dark spots or in extreme cases, acne scarring. It’s best to let your skin take its natural course of healing, so that the problem doesn’t worsen. Also, when you have acne, putting your hands on your face can further irritate your skin or even cause more breakouts by spreading the bacteria from your pimples to other inviting pores on your face.
2. Use a dark spot treatment nightly.
Using a dark spot treatment regularly is important if you want fast results. By using a spot treatment that helps lighten the pigmentation, you’re essentially helping your skin to speed up cell turnover. When this happens, the dark, damaged cells are renewed more quickly than they would on their own, resulting in a more even skin tone.
Our Dark Spot Corrector contains alpha-arbutin and kojic acid to help restrict the melanin production and reverse the signs of discoloration. It also has niacinamide and daisy flower extract to assist in slowing melanin production and reducing inflammation.
We recommend using a dark spot treatment 1-2 times a day, depending on how sensitive your skin is. If you have very sensitive skin, you might want to only use it once every other day.
3. Exfoliate twice a week.
Dark spots are embedded in your skin, and until all the layers of pigmented cells have been shed, it is going to stay there. Most dark spots resolve on their own, but it can take 6 months – 1 year for this to happen. It’s a pretty slow process!
You can help expedite this process by exfoliating once to twice a week. This will help shed any dead skin cells you may have, and it will give way to new, fresh skin underneath. By removing dead skin cells and any debris that are lingering, you will also help your beauty products to penetrate more deeply – including your Dark Spot Corrector!
4. Try a retinol.
Retinol not only works as a great anti-aging ingredient, but it’s also effective at reducing the appearance of dark spots. Clinical studies have shown that retinol penetrates into the dermis, giving your skin a collagen boost and increases cell activity to push the discoloration up and out faster.
Retinol helps with dark spots, but may not be strong enough on its own to completely remove them, especially if they have been there for an extended period of time. It’s best to use retinol on newer spots, or in conjunction with other skin lightening ingredients to help speed up the process.
5. Wear SPF daily.
Wearing an SPF daily, especially when you’re going to be in the sun for more than 20 minutes, is really important for your skin. The more we’re exposed to the sun, the more chance we have of developing premature wrinkles, fine lines, and sun spots. The sun contributes to the formation and deepening of dark spots by stimulating the skin’s production of melanin which can cause the spot to worsen.
An SPF is also important if you’re using any products that create sensitivities to UV light, like a Dark Spot Corrector or Retinol. You might find they can make you sensitive to the sun because these products help give way to new skin cells. These younger skin cells are more delicate than mature skin cells, making them more susceptible to burning.
FAQ’s
Help! My skin is dry and peeling from my Dark Spot Corrector, is this normal?
Since a Dark Spot Corrector helps increase cell turnover, the older skin cells will shed off, giving way to new skin underneath. Because of this, it can look a lot like dry skin, and depending on how sensitive you are to the ingredients, your skin might even peel a little. This is a completely normal reaction to using a pigment lightening product. If you are particularly sensitive to it, we would suggest using it once every other day.
How do I add a Dark Spot Corrector into my skincare routine?
A basic skincare routine should consist of cleansing and moisturizing at least once daily.
First, you’ll want to cleanse your skin and then pat dry. Cleansing is important! You always want to apply skincare products to clean skin so they can penetrate the layers of the skin and work at a deeper level.
Second, apply the Dark Spot Corrector as a spot treatment on any hyper-pigmentation you have. It helps fade freckles, post acne marks, sun spots, age spots, and melasma. Allow the product to fully absorb before applying any other serums or spot treatments to the same areas. Lastly, apply an all-over moisturizer.
Do I have dark spots or acne scars?
This is one of our most frequently asked questions! To learn the difference between the two, please read our blog here: https://navanskincare.com/blogs/news/acne-scar-vs-dark-spot
As always, if you have additional questions, we invite you to reach out to our friendly Skin Care Specialists who are always available to chat in the bottom right hand corner of your browser for your own personalized skin care advice! :)
