If you’ve got dark spots, age spots or acne scars on your face—whether from sun damage, hormonal changes, or post-acne manipulation—chances are, you want to get rid of them as quickly as possible.
But dark spots can be so stubborn! It can seem like an eternity before you see any visible progress—especially if you’re not using the right products, treatments, and ingredients or are trying the wrong over-the-counter products for your skin.
But getting rid of dark spots—and getting rid of them quickly—is possible. Let’s take a look at how you may be able to even out your skin tone, and explore how to get rid of dark spots in 3 days.
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First Things First: Where Do Dark Spots Come From?
Dark spots, which happen due to overproduction of melanin in certain areas of the skin, can be caused by a number of factors.
The Top Culprit? Sun Exposure.
In addition to exposure to UV rays, hormonal changes (especially from hormonal birth control) can play a huge factor in dark spots and discoloration for women, and it can be difficult to know how to get rid of dark spots from birth control. Dark spots are also extremely common during pregnancy (also known as chloasma) and as a result from acne scarring or other injury to the skin (also known as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH, which is especially prevalent in people with darker skin tones). Melasma, or browning of the skin (common in pregnant women) can also produce dark spots, blemishes, breakouts and uneven skin tone.
Always, always wear sunscreen of an SPF 30 or higher to protect skin from developing sun spots, age spots or dark spots from UV exposure.
So sun, hormones, or PIH are the most likely culprits for your dark spots. But what, exactly, should you do if you want to remove dark spots on your face in 3 days?
Get Your Peel On.
And the best place to start? With a facial peel mask.
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the surface of skin - and you may be wondering, does exfoliating remove dark spots? Well, sadly they won't be completely gone, but exfoliation will help to diminish the appearance of dark spots. Exfoliation also allows any other products to penetrate deeper into the skin—which means you'll experience far better (and faster) results from any other products you use to treat your dark spots.
A professional microdermabrasion or laser treatment may help. Getting a chemical peel at the dermatologist is also an option (but people with sensitive skin or people of color need to be mindful; chemical peels that are too intense can actually cause dark spots to worsen due to PIH), but you can also use at-home peels for a similar (and more gentle) effect.
When using a chemical peel (preferably one with glycolic acid, which has been shown to be effective in treating hyperpigmentation), test a small amount of the product on your hand before using it in the facial area. This will allow you test out the potency of the peel and make sure you don’t have any adverse skin reactions before using on your face.
Drench Your Skin In The Right Ingredients
If you’re trying to remove dark spots fast, look for ingredients that are known for brightening the skin, including:
- Vitamin C
- Lemon
- Arbutin
- Licorice
- Bearberry
If your dark spots or skin discoloration is severe, you may also want to see your dermatologist; they can recommend prescription-strength skin brighteners that can deliver results quickly (just make sure to ask about proper aftercare; prescription skin lightening regimens can be harsh on the skin).
Start A Personalized Skincare Routine.
Depending on your skin needs, always check active ingredients for anything that may be too harsh or cause side effects. Anti-inflammatory ingredients like Vitamin E or alpha hydroxy acids will help.
Just remember - wear your SPF everyday, try to stay out of the sun and if dark spots seem to remain or begin to bother you, check with your dermatologist.
