Remove Dark Spots On Black Skin

How Long Does It Take For Hyperpigmentation To Fade

Once whats causing the dark spots or patches is found and stopped, fading can take time. A spot that is a few shades darker than your natural skin color will usually fade within 6 to 12 months.

If the color lies deep in your skin, however, fading can take years. Discoloration that lies deep in the skin is often slate blue to gray in color. It may also be brown, but the brown is much darker than your natural skin color.

Treatment can speed up the fading of dark spots and patches.

Tiny Black Dots On Skin

Does your skin have small or tiny black spots? Tiny dark marks can appear in various part of your skin. Usually, they can show up on the face, arms, back, shoulders, on genital organs, inner thighs, legs or on any other parts of the body skin.

Tiny black spots on skin can occur due to the accumulation of melanin on one point or part of the skin tissue. Hyperpigmentation of the skin usually appears due to excess production of melanin pigment in the affected area.

Small dark dots can appear on the skin of anybody. However, the adolescent stage is commonly associated with tiny dots on the face that develop from acne. Blemish, zit or dark marks on the face during adolescent cannot develop into serious skin condition but it can make the facial skin look less attractive hence a beauty problem.

A baby face can also develop tiny spots on face. Baby acne caused by milia spots can result to tiny black scarring on the face of infant or toddlers. Heat rash is a common cause of tiny dark, red, brown or black scarring on the skin of children.

Adults cannot escape tiny black dots on the skin. As you grow to adulthood, you are likely to develop more dark dots or patches on your skin. This is a clear reason to explain why people with advanced age have a more prominent dart dots on their body skin.

What Are Black Spots On Skin

Generally, black spots on the skin can be divided into a few categories.

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Blackheads Look Like Tiny Black Dots

Tiny black dots on your nose, cheeks, or forehead could be blackheads caused by clogged hair follicles.

According to PubMed Health, the reason that the tiny plugged pores become black is due to sebum getting clogged in the pore. If the clogged pore is open and exposed to the air, the spot will turn black because of oxidization.10

How A Dermatologist Can Help With Hyperpigmentation

If the treatment youre using fails to deliver the results you want, you may want to see a dermatologist. Dark spots and patches can be a challenge to treat. To get rid of some dark spots or patches, you may need a prescription-strength treatment.

A dermatologist has the knowledge and expertise to safely combine treatments to help you get the best results.

Related AAD resources

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What Are The Brown Spots That We Refer To As Pigmentation Spots

Brownish spots are caused by hyperpigmentation. A darker area appears on the skin’s surface, due to inflammation. This is caused by an over-production of melanin, which leads to the formation of a spot on the skin. However, there are different types of pigmentation spots that must be identified in order to effectively correct them. Small or large Pigmentation spots may :

• – Develop over time, and are called “age spots” or lentigo
• – Form after an inflammation
• – Be caused by extended or repeated sun exposure
• – Appear during times of hormonal imbalance

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What Treatments Do Dermatologists Recommend For Hyperpigmentation

Effective treatment for dark spots and patches begins with sunscreen. Whether youre treating the dark spots on your own or seeing a dermatologist, using sunscreen is essential when you’ll be outside. Applied daily, sunscreen can prevent new dark spots and patches. It can also help to clear existing ones.

Youll want to apply sunscreen to all skin that clothing wont cover.

To get the best result, dermatologists also recommend wearing a wide-brimmed hat when youre outside.

To get the protection you need to prevent dark spots, use a sunscreen that offers all of the following:

• SPF 30 or higher

• One of these active ingredients, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide

• Non-comedogenic formula if you have oily skin

Are you tempted to skip the sunscreen because it leaves a white cast on your skin?

Consider using a tinted sunscreen, which can blend into your skin tone.

How Do You Get Rid Of Dark Spots Fast

Fortunately for you , we’ve got a few treatments to get rid of dark spots and dark patches. Buuut that being said, this is the part where I remind you that the first step to getting rid of dark spots is to see a dermatologist who can identify what type of discoloration youre working with, figure out the cause, and then determine the best treatment options for your skin.

“The cause of the dark spots is actually an important consideration in how to treat them,” Dr. Pierre explains. “Although there is definitely an overlap in treatment plans, different combinations will be used depending on the factors at play.” Basically, a dark spot caused by acne won’t necessarily be treated the same way as a dark patch caused by hormones.

While you wait for that consultation with your doc, find out all about the best at-home products and in-office treatments for fading dark spots, below.

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Are The Spots On The Face The Same As Those On The Body

The mechanism that causes pigmentation spots to form is nearly the same on the face as on the body. However, there is another cause for spots on areas such as the back, shoulders, arms and even legs: ingrown hair. Growing underneath the skin’s surface, hair creates inflammation that leads to the formation of pimples and dark spots. Today, it is easier to treat spots on a small rather than large surface area. Although great strides have been made in this field, the treatments that currently exist are more effective on the face and hands than on the rest of the body.

L’oral Paris Revitalift 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals from causing oxidative damage to the skin and blocks enzymatic processes that make more pigment in the skin, explains dermatologist Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD. Translation: This L’Oreal serum will help stop those two causes of brown spots in their tracks.

L’Oreal Paris 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum

• May be tough on sensitive skin

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What Is The Best Dark Spot Treatment For Black Skin

Several products are available both over the counter and with a prescription that has been proven safe and effective in treating hyperpigmentation in dark skin tones. The most commonly prescribed treatment is the Kligman Formula, which combines several of the ingredients above to treat hyperpigmentation however, due to the high concentration of hydroquinone in most Kligman Formula variations, it is often not suitable for black skin.

MDacne’s Advanced Dark Spot remover: We’re biased, but we think this is the best way to treat hyperpigmentation in dark skin tonesespecially black skin. It was formulated by a dermatologist, Co-Founder, Dr. Yoram Harth. Inspired by Kligman Formula to help treat dark marks gently yet effectively, it is one of its kind formulated for acne-prone, sensitive skin. This dark spot corrector combines the most effective dark spots corrector available without a dermatologist prescription, with plant-based anti-inflammatory and skin-lightening ingredients for best results. This special formulation is safe and effective for all skin tones, including black skin.

Check out these results! Using her Customized Acne Treatment Kit & Medicated Dark Spot Remover, Pamela has been able to clear her acne and fade her PIH for clear, glowing skin!

Does Acanthosis Nigricans Mean I Have Diabetes

While AN doesnt always mean you have diabetes or prediabetes, it can be a sign of diabetes. So talk to your healthcare provider if you notice signs of AN.

Prediabetes means you have early signs but havent yet developed diabetes. If you have prediabetes, your provider will talk to you about steps to take to reduce your risk of developing diabetes. And if you do have diabetes, you and your provider can discuss treatment options.

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The Best Hyperpigmentation Vitamin C Serums For Dark Spots On Black Skin

It is normal for Vitamin C serums to sting a bit when applied because they are a low pH to help the ascorbic acid penetrate into the skin. Once you open a Vitamin C product you need to use it in 4- 6 weeks because it goes bad quickly. One way to tell if your Vitamin C needs to be replaced is it turns dark. Make sure you keep it out of bright light or sun exposure and that you replace the lid after each use. This will help prolong the life of your Vitamin C serum. You can also keep your ascorbic acid serum in the refrigerator if you are going to go a few days without using it. Vitamin C serums are expensive so take care to get the most out of it by using it up as fast as you can before it goes bad. How you order it in the skincare routine is critical. Follow the order of steps as we recommend in your customized regimen to make sure you are getting the most from your Vitamin C serum.

These are our favorite dermatologist recommended Vitamin C Serums:

Can You Prevent Hyperpigmentation

You can follow the tips below to help prevent hyperpigmentation:

• Use sun protection. UV rays can cause damage to skin of all colors, potentially affecting pigmentation. When youre going to be out in the sun, plan to wear sunscreen, stay in the shade, and wear protective clothing.
• Avoid irritants. Aim to avoid using any cosmetic or personal care products that cause skin irritation or inflammation.
• Seek treatment for skin conditions. Treating inflammatory skin conditions like acne and eczema can help prevent new dark spots from forming.
• Take all medications as directed. Some health conditions, like psoriasis or lupus, can lead to areas of hyperpigmentation, so always be sure to take all medications for these conditions exactly as directed.

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Dark Spots On Face: Causes Types Treatments And Tips

The appearance of black blotches or discoloured skin on the face is a normal concern. This occurs as a result of an increase in melanin leading to dark pigmentation. Thankfully, this is a treatable condition. In this post, we would be discussing what dark spots are, their causes, types, and treatments.

The Best Hyperpigmentation Treatment For Black Skin

Hyperpigmentation is a condition where patches of skin become darker than the normal surrounding skini.e., the fancy term for dark spots. This discoloration results from an accumulation of excess melanina naturally occurring pigment in the body that gives the eyes, hair, and skin their color.

Though hyperpigmentation can occur in people of all skin tones, it tends to be more frequent in people with darker skinparticularly black skin. The reason is that darker skin contains a higher amount of melanin in the skin cells and a tendency to overproduce additional melanin in response to external factors. While hyperpigmentation is totally treatable, people with darker skin need to take extra caution to safely and effectively treat dark spots. Please read below for dermatologists’ tips for the best ways to treat hyperpigmentation in black skin .

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What Causes Discoloration In Darker Skin Tones

When spots or patches appear on your skin that are darker than your skin tone, its called hyperpigmentation. “Hyperpigmentation is a term used to describe areas of skin that have more pigmentation than intended by nature, dermatologist Craig Kraffert, MD, explains. These areas visibly contrast with the surrounding unaffected skin, leading to the unevenness of color and/or tone.” For those with darker skin tones two types of hyperpigmentation, in particular, are the most common cosmetic concerns:

• Melasma: “Melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation more common in women. Its often induced by birth control pills and pregnancy and exacerbated by both sun and heat,” Kraffert explains. “Your tendency to develop melasma is based in both genetic and hormonal components. It primarily develops on the cheekbones, forehead, and upper lip, but can also be on the nose, chin, lower cheeks, and lateral neck.
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs when the skins cells overproduce melanin as a response to injury, resulting in discoloration and uneven skin tone. “We see this after acne where dark spots are left after the acne lesions resolve and after any kind of trauma to the skin such as scars,” says Vic Narurkar, MD, of Bay Area Laser Institute. Since darker skin has more melanin, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation isyou guessed itmore commonly seen in those with darker skin tones.

Normal Mole Looks Like A Dark Spot On The Skin

A raised black spot on your skin could just be a dark growth that is classed as a regular mole or beauty mark. Normal dark moles can grow anywhere on your body like your face, neck, abdomen, or groin.

Dermatologist Dr. Amanda Oakely says that most people have some type of moles on their skin. Moles can be of varying colors, and red moles are not uncommon. Normal moles can also be black or brown skin growths. Some other features of normal moles can be:4

• Dark flat or raised skin spots that range in size from being a tiny black dot to many centimeters across.
• Dark brown or black bumps that can have a flat or uneven surface and may have rough edges.
• Raised dark bumps that appear in groups or clusters.

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Whats The Outlook For Black People Experiencing Hyperpigmentation

Most of the time, hyperpigmentation will gradually fade. But this can take time, so its important to be patient and stick to your treatment plan. Many types of hyperpigmentation will fade in about 6 to 12 months.

But some types of hyperpigmentation may require longer or more intensive treatment. For example, hyperpigmentation that impacts the dermis may take years to fade and, in some cases, can be permanent.

Its vital to continue to protect yourself from the sun during your treatment. Because sunlight can make an already dark area darker, its possible to undo weeks or months of treatment with an afternoon of intense sun exposure.

What Are The Best Kinds Of Dark Spot Correctors

Unsurprisingly, dark spots come in many varieties, much like each skincare product in your routine.

Dark spot correctors most commonly come in serums or spot treatments, but you can also find moisturizers with sunscreen that use ingredients that will help reduce the appearance of dark spots,Bruce Katz, MD, director of JUVA Skin & Laser Center and clinical professor of dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told The Post.

Some of the most effective active ingredients to treat dark spots are acids like tranexamic, glycolic and kojic acids. Retinoids can also treat dark spots by accelerating cell turnover, he adds. Vitamin C is also something to look for, as studies have shown it helps impede melanin production, which can help reduce dark spots.

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When Should I See A Dermatologist About Acanthosis Nigricans

Any time you notice changes in your skin, see your healthcare provider or a dermatologist. Small markings or changes may seem insignificant, but they may indicate a problem. Acanthosis nigricans can be a sign of prediabetes or diabetes. Talk to your provider so you can get the proper care.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Acanthosis nigricans is a treatable skin condition that causes dark patches on your body. It is often a sign of prediabetes or diabetes. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if you have an underlying condition causing AN. A healthcare provider can help you get treatment to reduce the marks and help you feel and look your best.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 02/11/2021.

References

How To Get Rid Of Light Spots And Patches

To give you expert advice, we turned to Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, FAAD, who is a board-certified dermatologist and Director and Founder of the Skin of Color Center and Pigmentary Disorders Clinic at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Dr. Elbuluk recommends these three self-care tips for anyone who notices light spots:

When to see a dermatologist:

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