December 14, 2024

16 Best Products for Hyperpigmentation: Murad, The Ordinary, Dr. Barbara Sturm & More

With that in mind, here’s what you need to know to put together your plan for glowing skin and a more even tone, stat.

How quickly can I fade hyperpigmentation or remove dark spots?

“Treating hyperpigmentation takes time and patience – consistently with products will yield gradual but significant results,” explains Pauline. “Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate results, as improvement often happens over weeks to several months. ”

How fast treatment works also depends on the cause of the hyperpigmentation, and which products you’re using to treat it, adds Dr. Robinson. “An over-the-counter lightening product won’t have much, if any, impact if the trigger is hormonal shifts that haven’t stabilised, or if you’re still lying in the sun without SPF protection. ”

What about different skin tones?

“When addressing hyperpigmentation, it’s important to consider that different skin tones may respond differently to treatments,” says Pauline. “People with paler skin tones are generally more susceptible to sun damage and should prioritise sun protection to prevent further darkening of spots. Those with darker skin tones more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may prefer a gentle approach, avoiding aggressive treatments that might irritate the skin. ”

Elizabeth also stresses the importance of sun protection for darker skin tones, too. “Hyperpigmentation is very common on Black skin tones due to the amount of melanin in the skin. SPF is absolutely crucial – it helps to prevent hyperpigmentation and dark spots, and can also help to fade existing ones. ”

What ingredients should you look out for?

There are three primary groups of hyperpigmentation-zapping ingredients. The first are those that halt pigment production: “This can occur by blocking tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for melanin production,” says Dr. Ilyas. These ingredients include azelaic acid, vitamin C, kojic acid, and alpha-arbutin. “Peptides are also key,” adds Elizabeth. “Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of skin. They carry messages to your skin, so they’re incredibly valuable in skincare. I use a stable peptide called Melanostatine 5 which blocks tyrosinase. ”

(There’s also hydroquinone, which, due to its potentially hazardous effects, is usually excluded across the board these days. )

Next are those that increase cell turnover, like retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid. “By increasing the rate of exfoliation, the goal is to accelerate how quickly the excess pigment present in the skin can be removed,” Dr. Ilyas says. As such, an exfoliating treatment or face scrub can help, but only in moderation, she says: “Exfoliation can play a role in managing hyperpigmentation but there is a need to strike a balance, as excess exfoliation can also contribute to excess pigmentation. ”

And finally, some ingredients, such as niacinamide and tranexamic acid, block the transfer of pigment from the pigment-producing cells to your skin cells. “By reducing how much melanin is transferred, the hope is that less melanin will spread through the skin cells,” says Dr. Ilyas.

Whether you find them in brightening face cleansers, exfoliating toners, actives-packed face serums, or all of the above, the best products for hyperpigmentation should deliver on at least one of these three points.

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