What Causes Dark Spots on Your Face?

For many, skin care goals include glowing, healthy, and supple skin, unmarred by breakouts or bumps. But even if you’ve put the days of acne behind you, you may still face other skin care antagonists—dark spots.

Dark spots and skin discoloration are common and perfectly natural events for human skin. That pesky spot you’ve noticed by your hairline or on your cheek is most likely caused by an overproduction of melanin, a substance responsible for skin pigmentation. But what jump-starts this overproduction in the first place can vary.

While they’re often harmless, skin color changes can still be unsettling. Whether you’ve been typing “What causes dark spots on face?” into a Google rabbit hole, or you’re curious to learn best practices for preventative care, this guide is designed to walk you through possible dark spot causes and advice for identifying solutions that help you put your freshest face forward.

Where Do Dark Spots Come From? 

Dark spots or brown spots, sometimes called age spots, sun spots, or liver spots, are dark patches on the skin that indicate skin cell damage. This increased coloration, also known as hyperpigmentation, is related directly to melanin.

Melanin is a blanket term for three molecular types in your body responsible for the pigmentation, or coloring, of your skin, hair, and eyes. Ratios and interactions between these different melanin types determine your skin color. 

Produced by melanocytes, cells in your skin’s base layers, melanin is key in protecting your body from the sun’s UV radiation. But skin cell damage, whether UV exposure-related or not, can trigger melanin overproduction as a protective response. Masses of excess melanin can then appear as darker areas, producing those areas we commonly know as “dark spots.”

Common Causes of Dark Spots

As a result of cell damage, dark spots can have a host of causes, including natural cell breakdown. However, substances or interactions that come from outside of your body can alter the chemical makeup or interactions of your skin cells and are most likely to result in these visible symptoms. 

Common causes of dark spots include: 

• Sun damage – Sun exposure subjects the skin to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV rays can destroy cells, disrupt physiological processes, and cause overproduction of melanin—both as a response to damage and as a protective measure to mediate radiation levels. 
• Hormonal changes – Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen have been linked to changes in skin pigmentation. Menstrual cycles or pregnancy, in particular, can cause hormone levels to rise or fall and affect biological processes, all of which can impact your skin.
• Injury – When your body is injured, the damaged area often becomes inflamed as your body works to heal and remedy the distressed cells. Inflammation can also be related to acne or burns. Your facial skin is particularly fragile, and trauma can leave behind dark spots. 
• Medication – Some medications can make the skin more sensitive to UV exposure, allowing UV radiation to penetrate quicker and deeper and leaving individuals more prone to visible damage like dark spots. 
• Genetics – Dark spots may simply be in the cards for your skin type. For example, freckles are one form of skin pigmentation that can be passed down from parent to child. 
• Hormone-related disorders – Chronic medical conditions that affect your hormone levels can often produce physical symptoms that may appear as dark spots on the skin. In particular, disruptions with the thyroid, which regulates hormone production, can have a domino effect. 

Dark Spot Risk Factors 

Aside from the causes mentioned above, you may be more likely to develop dark spots due to certain circumstances or stages in your life. Consider the following factors: 

• Age – As we age, our body’s processes slow down, including our skin’s ability to renew itself and stave off damage. Though experts have yet to identify the exact chemical causality, Harvard Health tells us that dark spots are common in those over age 55.
• Constant sun exposure – UV radiation is the leading cause of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Whether you live in a sunny climate or have a profession that requires extra time outdoors, consider taking particular precautions to stave off damage, like wearing sunscreen and protective clothing daily.
• Pregnancy – As we mentioned above, hormonal changes can trigger skin changes. Pregnancy can cause excessive hormone fluctuations that have been directly linked to conditions like melasma, a blanket term for chronic, re-appearing, or short-lived dark spots or patches on the skin.
• Vitamin deficiencies – Nutrients are vital to the body’s processes. In particular, vitamin C, gleaned from a variety of fruits and vegetables, is a key anti-inflammatory compound. Those with restricted diets may be at risk for lower vitamin intake, the results of which can show up in your skin.

How to Treat Dark Spots in 4 Ways

You may be asking, “How to get rid of age spots?” or “How to fade dark spots on your face?” Treating dark spots can be equated to healing your skin cells. While your body is built to regenerate, and some spots may resolve on their own, many people opt for topical treatments to kickstart the process. Treatments should be tailored to work with your unique genetic makeup. 

Consider these science-backed solutions: 

• Sun protection – Of course, the number one care method is prevention. Wear sunscreen daily, and if you plan to be out in direct sunlight, consider protective coverings like long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat to avoid excessive UV exposure.
• Chemical peel – This solution often uses an acidic mix to “peel” away the outermost layer of skin. To avoid scarring and blisters, it’s recommended that the chemical peel treatment be administered by a skin professional.
• Vitamin C – Another treatment option is Vitamin C for dark spots. This anti-inflammatory compound inhibits melanin production and can provide potential skin brightening effects. Try a vitamin C-enriched topical serum, or add some more tomatoes or citrus fruits to your diet.
• Azelaic acid – This acid, extracted from rye and wheat, can help decrease melanin production by interacting with those base producer cells. Successful studies have involved solutions of less than 20% azelaic mixed with a hydrating cream.

Other compounds that have been studied in relation to their skin-lightening and melanin-suppressing properties include aloesin, from the aloe vera plant; niacinamide, found in yeast and root vegetables; and kojic acid, found in mushrooms and fungi. 

Know Your Skincare Solutions with PROVEN 

Caring about your skin sometimes requires you to dig a little deeper into the hows, whats, and whys of skincare science. Before you know it, you’re comparing concentrations of ingredients and scouring the research results yourself. But you shouldn’t have to be your own dermatologist to get results.

That’s why PROVEN’s skincare products place you and your needs at the center of production. 

The best ingredients for dark spots are a combination of anti-aging and brightening agents. Our personalized skincare set harnesses the age-old healing properties of vitamin C (a brightening agent), kojic acid (a melanin inhibitor), and granactive retinol (an anti-aging and renewing super substance).  

Using a custom AI algorithm that responds to your personal Skin Genome Quiz, our products pair variable skin types with expert science. Dark spots shouldn’t dim your day. Take our skin quiz and let PROVEN light up a path toward radiant skin. 

Make sure to check with a board-certified dermatologist for regular skin health checks. In particular, if you notice irregular moles or spots that grow larger, seek professional medical care immediately.