How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation

Sunspots, acne scars, brown patches – hyperpigmentation is that unwanted spotting on your skin that can be so difficult to get rid of. In most cases hyperpigmentation fades over time, but sometimes it can be stubborn.

So how to get rid of hyperpigmentation? Well today I’m sharing 5 methods on how to get rid of these unwanted spots and some tips on how to prevent it as well!

Causes of Hyperpigmentation

There are many causes to hyperpigmentation. The pimple you wish you never picked, too many years worshipping in the sun without sunscreen, or even genetics can lead to hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.

These are common skincare issues that plenty of people, like me, suffer from, yet most of the time, just end up being hidden behind makeup. Well, through proper skincare you can actually treat these issues, so you can lighten the load on your foundation and let your natural skin shine through.

The cause of skin discoloration is the result of excess melanin – a natural pigment that gives color to skin. The most common issues of hyperpigmentation are: age spots on skin that is often exposed to the UV exposure and pollution; melasma, often as a result from hormone fluctuation; and scarring, which happens after acne, bug bite, or other trauma to the skin once it heals and leaves a mark behind.

How to get rid of hyperpigmentation and prevent it

1. Vitamin C serum for skin

We all the health benefits of vitamin C for the body, so it’s no surprise also does the same for your skin! Vitamin C is a topical antioxidant is a powerful brightening ingredient that is proven to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

Vitamin C for skin helps to block free radicals from causing oxidative damage to the skin which can lead to wrinkles and a dull complexion, and also inhibits enzymatic processes that produce melanin in the skin. Therefore help to reduce dark coloration of the skin.

My favourite vitamin Cs:

• Skinceuticals CE Ferulic
• Dermalogica Biolumen C
• Almuier MD EverActive C &E
• TruSkin Vitamin C Serum (affordable option!)
• The Ordinary Vitamin C Brightening Serum (affordable option!)

How to use it: Massage a few drops daily onto cleansed skin before applying sunscreen in the a.m.

2. Retinol

Retinol is another skincare ingregredient that works extremely well to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation. It stimulates cell turnover and makes our skin cells to shed old cells that are clogging our pores and prompts them to generate new cells.

In addition Retinol is a great ingredient for treating acne as as well as a great anti-aging ingredient as well!

My favourite Retinols:

• Dermalogica Retinol Clearing Oil
• Skinceuticals Retinol 0.3
• Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Retinol Oil
• The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane

How to use: Apply retinol to clean skin at night time. It may cause some irritability as your skin build tolerance to it, so start using. it a couple times a week and buid up to daily use. Make sure you use sunscreen when you use retinol.

3. Niacinamide

Niacinamide is another ingredient has proved to be an excellent treatment for getting rid of hyperpigmentation, age spots and melasma.

My favourite Niacinamides:

• Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Face

How to use: Apply a few drops of Niacinamide daily to your skin. I like to do it in the evening opposite to my Vitamin C and typically alternate it with my Retinol at night since my skin is more on the sensitive side

4. Exfoliating your skin

Regularly exfoliating your skin can increase cell turn over and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation over time.

Make sure that while you’re exfoliating, the products you use are gentle, especially if it’s for healing acne. You don’t want to irritate your skin more which can lead to hyperpigmentation itself.

My favourite exfoliating products:

• Neutrogena Bright Boost Face Micro Polish
• Alya Skin Pomegranate Exfoliator Facial Cleanser Scrub
• Dermalogica Micr0foliant

How to use: Exfoliate cleanses skin on a daily to weekly basis depending on skin sensitivity and tolerance.

5. Wear sunscreen daily

Protecting your skin from UV damage will prevent hyperpigmentation from forming, so it’s important to wear sunscreen daily. And since dark spots will get darker with sun exposure, you’ll want to minimize exposure to the sun.

My favourite sunscreens:

• Dermalogica Prisma Protect Sunscreen SPF 30
• Skinceuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Mist Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 55

Here’s also deep dive into all my favourite sunscreens here!

How to use: Apply sunscreen daily in the morning and re-apply as needed.

6. Chemical Peels

For more severe hyperpigmentation, you might want to look into chemical peels. I would always suggest that you get this professionally done, but there are also many at OTC home kits that you can try to.

Chemical peels work by using acids to remove the outer layer of the skin, and the hyperpigmentation along with it. I love how chemical peels improve both the hyperpigmentation of my skin along with my skin tone and texture. So it’s a great treatment that improves your overall skin we well.

However with chemical peels, there is also some down time associated with it. You may have some redness, swelling and even peeling that may last up to a week or so depending on the strength of the peel and the sensitivity of your skin. You may also need a series of 3-5 treatments to get the best results.

7. Laser Treatments

Like chemical peels, laser treatments are an effect way for how to get rid of hyperpigmentation. This should be a treatment that is professionally done as well for safe and effective results.

I’ve found that IPL laser treatments have been particularly effective for me. It only targets pigmented areas and I find the downtime is minimal compared to chemical peels. You’ll also need to do a series of 3- 5 treatments for best results.

More skincare posts:

• How to Get Glowing Skin
• Best Amazon Beauty Products Under $50
• I Tried Brow Lamination and Now I’m Obsessed
• 5 Clean Beauty Brands That Should Be On Your Radar
• I Used Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel for 14 Days and This Is What Happened

Have any products that have helped you for how to get rid of hyperpigmentation?
Let me know in the comments below.

XOXO,