7 Best Ingredients for Preventing and Treating Dark Spots

#1 Vitamin C

It’s not just for your fruit plate. Vitamin C is a powerful topical ingredient that smooths and moisturizes your skin—and it can even fade dark spots. 

Vitamin C slows the enzyme tyrosinase and decreases melanin production. This means it can help to even out your skin tone of its dark spots and prevent any future discoloration., 

Even better? Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it removes free radical molecules that deplete skin health. When applied topically, vitamin C fends off those aging free radicals to improve your skin’s:

• Collagen production
• Moisture levels
• Firmness and laxity
• Redness or inflammation

And the best part? As an essential nutrient, Vitamin C is tolerated incredibly well by most skin types. Do anti-aging creams work? Our personalized three-step skincare set offers a highly potent form of this topical superstar, so you can soak up its powers in your sleep.

#2 Glycolic Acid

Ever had a friend just rave about their chemical peel? Odds are, that intensive treatment included glow-ifying glycolic acid.

Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid, or AHA. These chemical exfoliants encourage your skin to shed its dead skin cells and push healthy new cells to the surface. The result? Fresh, strong, and bright skin—which can possibly replace any hyperpigmented cells on the surface. Besides lightening a dark spot, glycolic acid can also help:

• Reduce sebum production
• Lighten acne scars
• Prevent ingrown hairs
• Boost collagen production and skin firmness

Thanks to its anti-acne properties, glycolic acid is an excellent choice in a skin care product for those with acne and dark spots. However, don’t go too hard with any AHA. If overused, glycolic acid can leave your skin irritated, swollen, and red. Stick with skincare products that have 10% glycolic acid or less for a safe start.

#3 Azelaic Acid

It’s not an AHA, it’s not a vitamin derivative—it’s a new kind of brightener. If you have sensitive skin with dark spots, consider the gentle power of azelaic acid.

Azelaic acid is topical acid derived from barley, wheat, and rye (maybe that’s why they call it a dicarboxylic acid). Like vitamin C, it cuts down the skin enzyme tyrosinase to lower melanin production. As a result, azelaic acid can help reduce a small dark mark or dark spots in the present and future.

Compared to glycolic or lactic acids, azelaic acid has a higher pH that’s gentler on skin texture. However, that doesn’t mean it has zero exfoliation powers. Azelaic acid is also keratolytic—a.k.a., it breaks down the protein keratin. By cleaning excess keratin out, it can help you avoid acne-causing bacteria or clogged pores.

Make sure to also visit a board-certified dermatologist or another skincare professional if you’re curious about dark spot treatment with chemical exfoliators. Overloading your skin with acids can cause irritation and further breakouts.

#4 Niacinamide

Enter a hot new player in the skincare world. This topical form of vitamin B3 is the precursor to two essential skin-renewing enzymes, one being the healing NAD+. By boosting this enzyme, niacinamide can significantly reduce hyperpigmentation and melasma, even in just 4 weeks.,

Just like vitamin C, niacinamide is also an antioxidant—which means its skin benefits are pretty much endless. By fending off damaging free radicals, niacinamide could help:

• Prevent skin cancerous cells
• Soothe inflammatory skin conditions (acne, rosacea, etc.)
• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles

#5 Kojic Acid

Count mushrooms or soy sauce in your favorite foods? Then you are directly responsible for keeping kojic acid on skincare shelves. This ingredient is a natural byproduct of certain foods and fermentation, and it has some intense skin brightening powers.

Thanks to its high strength, kojic acid has a reputation as a “skin bleaching” agent. However, that doesn't mean you can’t safely use kojic acid to brighten up. Just like vitamin C and azelaic acid, kojic acid safely reduces dark spots by lowering melanin production. To avoid irritation, start with the FDA’s advice to only apply concentrations of 1% or less. 

Even better, research shows that kojic acid can help your skin with:

• Exfoliation
• Wrinkle reduction
• Antibacterial properties
• Antifungal properties

#6 Retinoids

Mention retinoids, and you’ll likely hear some rave reviews. That’s because this unique family of skincare ingredients is like having baby-smooth skin in a bottle. One of its greatest benefits? Brightening the skin.

Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A, and include several different forms like retinol, tretinoin, and retinoic acid. By boosting skin cell turnover (the rate that your skin replenishes its dead cells), they essentially turn back the clock. With time, retinoids can work their magic to replace old hyperpigmented cells with fresh, bright, and healthy new skin.

While retinoids do take more time to show results—anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 months—they are worth the wait. Other research-backed benefits of retinoids include:

• Reducing acne breakouts
• Lowering sebum production
• Smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines
• Improving skin firmness and texture
• Soothing inflammation and redness

#7 SPF

No, sunscreen won’t reverse any dark spots—but it definitely can prevent future ones.

Photoaging, or skin damage from the sun’s UV rays, is responsible for 90% of visible skin damage. Part of that damage may include dark spots, possibly even leading to precancerous actinic keratosis spots. In short, that care-free afternoon under the sun just isn’t worth the risk.

To prevent worsening and developing photoaging dark spots, experts recommend wearing a facial sunscreen every single day—no skips. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the best type of facial sunscreen is:

• At least 30 SPF
• Full-spectrum (blocks both UVA and UVB rays)
• Water resistant
• Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide based
• Non-comodegenic (to avoid clogging pores)

What Are Dark Spots, Anyway?

Before crafting your “glow up” routine, you should ask one last question—what are those dark skin spots, anyway?

All dark spots are considered hyperpigmentation, a skin condition where excess melanin (the molecule that creates skin pigmentation) builds up in the skin. While they’re commonly called “dark spots,” areas of hyperpigmentation can actually appear in a rainbow of colors, including:

• Brown
• Black
• Grey
• Pink
• Red

Some hyperpigmentation is completely natural and expected—it’s a normal part of how your skin changes over time and with age. However, aging is a secondary cause of dark spots. Underneath, there’s always a direct reason why those little patches pop up—whether it’s a lifestyle habit or a medical condition. 

What Causes Dark Spots?

• Sun damage – Those cute freckles you got after playing in the sun as a kid? Technically, those are hyperpigmentation. While freckles can fade, continual sun exposure may create sunspots, a.k.a. solar lentigines. Thanks to the sun’s UV rays (or a tanning bed), your skin may produce an excess of melanin in particular areas. As a result, flat, oval, and darker sunspots may develop, particularly if you’re over 40 and Caucasian.
• Hormonal shifts – Usually a result of changing estrogen and progesterone (two female sex hormones), hormonal shifts can create dark patches called melasma. Hormonal birth control, hormone therapy, and pregnancy can all leave these spots on the face and body. In fact, 15% to 50% of pregnant women end up developing melasma. 
• Skin conditions or injury – When damaged, skin cells can create excess melanin production, leaving behind dark spots called postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Harsh skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, as well as any cuts or wounds, may result in a healed yet darkened spot.  
• Medical conditions – Both genetic and developed medical conditions can overproduce melanin, such as adrenal diseases (like Addison’s), diabetes, and thyroid disorders.
• Medicines – Medications that affect hormones may leave you with dark spots or melasma. However, medications that also change your photosensitivity, or skin sensitivity to the sun’s UV rays, can lead to dark spots. Antifungals, antibiotics, cholesterol drugs, anti inflammatories, retinoids, and diuretics can all increase photosensitivity.

Whether you have melasma or spent years without SPF, there’s good news—dark spots are treatable. Even better, they’re treatable from home with ingredients you can find in quality skincare. 

Brighten Up with PROVEN

Your skin is more than a reflection of your inner beauty—it’s a reflection of your health. And at PROVEN, we believe that everyone has the right to make their skin feel 100% from the inside-out. Whether you’re chasing a brighter complexion or tackling under eye wrinkles, we’re here to make your skincare all about you.

Ready to say bye-bye to those sun spots? Find your personalized routine with our three-minute skin quiz. With our toolkit of effective active ingredients (everything from arnica to retinol), we’ll create a special personalized formulation just for you to address your top skin concerns. All it takes is three simple steps—day moisturizer, night cream, and cleanser. That’s it. 

Your best skin is just three minutes away. Take our quiz now to shine brighter with PROVEN.