Dark spots | Causes And How To Fade Them
A dark spot on the skin occurs when a particular area produces more melanin than usual. It does not concern medically, but many people feel uncomfortable with them on their skin.
Dark spots typically appear on parts of the body that are commonly exposed to the sun, like the face, shoulders, and back of the hands.
They range from light brown to dark brown, depending on a person’s skin tone.
Read Also: Home Remedies for Acne | Ways to get rid of Acne
So today, we will be looking at some causes and home remedies for it:
What Causes Dark spots?
It can be caused by many factors, the most common of them are:
- Sun Damage
After exposing your skin directly to sunlight, you can develop a dark spot. These dark spots are also called sunspots, liver spots, or solar lentigines, and it appears on areas of your body that get much exposure to sunlight.
- Hormonal Changes
Melasma is another cause of dark spots. It is a skin condition that leads to small patches of skin discoloration due to hormonal changes. It is usually common among women who are pregnant.
- Medication Side Effects
A particular medication can also cause dark spots as its side effect. Some medicines can increase skin pigmentation, resulting in dark areas—medications like tetracyclines, psychotropic drugs, among others.
- Inflammation
Inflammation caused by acne, eczema, injury to the skin can also result in them.
- Irritation
Cosmetic changes on the skin can irritate the skin causing dark patches to form.
- Diabetes
Diabetes and conditions associated with diabetes can affect the color of the skin, causing it to look darker.
Read Also: 6 Lifestyle Habits That Can Result To Heart Disease
How Do You Get Rid Of Dark Spots?
Most times fade on their own, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait forever in hopes of the dark spot fading.
There are home remedies that contain specific natural ingredients that may help fade dark spots on the skin. First, you start your day with sunscreen.
Effective dark spot treatment begins with sunscreen. They protect the skin from the sun help prevent further darkening.
Now to the natural or home remedies for dark spots:
- Vitamin C
It is known to decrease melanin formation. They are a depigmenting agent that is effective in brightening the skin and even skin tone.
Fruits like lemon juice are rich in vitamin C, or you can get over-the-counter vitamin c serum for the skin.
- Aloe vera
Aloe Vera possesses exceptional healing properties, especially when it comes to the skin. They can be used to fade dark spots and stabilize the melanin levels in the cells.
Research has shown that applying Aloe vera gel to the skin when pregnant helps in reducing melasma.
- Papaya or Turmeric
These two agents can be used to even out the skin. Papaya contains skin brightening properties that fade out dark spots so does turmeric.
Turmeric can be used as a face mask, mixed with honey to fade out black holes, proven to be very effective.
Disclaimer: Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is at your own risk. This article is strictly for informational purposes. The author is not a medical practitioner and as such you should not substitute the information here for professional advice.