Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition that can affect us all, especially as we get older. Apparent as patches of darkened skin, it's something you may feel self-conscious about, but fortunately, there is pigmentation cream available to buy to help improve its appearance. We spoke to the experts; Skin + Me Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Malvina Cunningham, and Award Winning Aesthetician and GP, Dr Ahmed El Muntasar. Using their knowledge, we've found the best pigmentation creams and serums to help fade those darkened areas and help your confidence glow.

Here’s why we love niacinamide: A publication in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology , states that niacinamide can repair the skin barrier and improve skin moisture, as well as reduce inflammation, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkling. To speed up the process of lightening acne scars, Graf suggests using products with active ingredients, like AHA and vitamin C. Sunscreen is a must no matter what your skin care routine is. But when it comes to dealing with acne, sunscreen also plays a key role in preventing scars from becoming darker. Mona Gohara, MD, board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine Reviewers say this product does a good job at keeping all types of acne at bay and has helped prevent maskne. Some even say they saw results in a matter of a week.If you have severe pigmentation issues and are not seeing results from an OTC product, speak to a dermatologist about your treatment options. Laser resurfacing, peels, and microdermabrasion help treat discoloration if you don’t want to go the prescription cream route. But that’s not the only impressive feature. A triple peptide blend supports the benefits of retinol while strengthening the skin. You’ll also find xanthophylls, potent carotenoids that exert a powerful defense against aging, environmental stressors, and blue (HEV) light emitted from electronics — that’s something most of us can get on board with. Skin Lightening Creams: The Bottom Line Despite the moisturizing benefits that mineral lightening oils provide for those with dryer skin, those with oilier skin may want to pass on this type of cream, as this can cause terrible reactions such as acne and breakouts, making your skin much worse. What are the other skin concerns you have? Salicylic acid will brighten the skin, exfoliate it, and prevent new acne scars.,” she says. How can I lighten acne scars fast? Rave Review:"Seriously, if you struggle with bikini line irritation after shaving, buy this stuff for real. I'm so happy I finally found something that works and hope this review helps someone else avoid an expensive and painful 10 year-long battle to find a solution to their razor burn problems!"

One of the most common causes of hyperpigmentation is UV exposure from the sun which you can prevent through sun avoidance, wearing protective clothing, and liberal use of broad-spectrum sunscreens," says Dr Malvina, something Dr Ahmend echoes. Besides using these products to improve acne scars, there are a few other changes you may want to make to your skin care routine. Use sunscreen Additionally, she recommends applying a thin layer and avoiding multiple harsh active ingredients all at once, leading to dryness and heightened sensitivity. Talk with your doctor The one thing that allows this cream not to be suitable for those with sensitive skin is also the exact reason as to why it’s so effective for lightening complexion. This cream combines 2% hydroquinone with a massive 10% glycolic acid, which allows for better absorption for the hydroquinone and fights against hyperpigmentation to reveal fresh new lighter skin. Acne and dark spots don't just happen on the face, and that's exactly why Bushbalm made an oil that's safe to use on even the sensitive bikini and underarm area. "For those looking to naturally brighten the skin without harsh bleaching products, this is a go-to," says Tiffany Clay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Atlanta, GA. "Bermuda Oil works because it contains a natural exfoliant in lemon essential oil to help minimize the appearance of dark spots, and it also contains tea tree oil which helps calm inflammation.”Joshua Zeichner, MD, dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at NYC's Mount Sinai Hospital

One of the most common complexion gripes is dark spots (a.k.a. sun spots, age spots or hyperpigmentation), which can make skin appear uneven, less clear and dull. Dark spots can appear on your face as well as body areas such as hands and décolletage as a result of sun exposure, genetics, hormones and inflammation, says Howard Murad, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Murad Skincare, and often become more prevalent with age. Margarita Lolis, MD, board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Skin Laser & Surgery Specials of NY & NJ Sometimes, it can take 4 to 6 months for acne scars to fade on their own. Since acne scars are skin damage that has affected the texture and color of the skin, acne scar treatments can help lessen these effects with active ingredients and exfoliants,” she says. Are products for acne scars actually effective? If you're wondering what specific ingredients to look for in a dark spot corrector, here are some others Dr. Kapoor recommends:

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The number of applications per week varies based on the product. Some products are meant to be used daily, while others should only be used a couple times per week.

This whitening system is safe, gentle, and a natural way to fade away unwanted blemishes. Zeta White is a skin lightening system that is both effective and gentle enough to get promising results that will reveal glowing skin! Although most superficial breakouts heal on their own without leaving a significant mark, there are others that leave a more noticeable scar behind. According to Dr Ahmed, it can be both generalised (all over the body), or appear as localised pigmentation. "When it comes to localised pigmentation, this is the one that really affects people the most," says Dr Ahmed. "People think of skin cancer such as melanoma, it can be benign like Seborrheic keratosis, post-inflammatory such as after acne, eczema, or after certain medication." Skin lightening, also referred to as skin whitening, is when a chemical substance is used to lighten the skin and/or even out the color by reducing the melanin (the pigment that gives human skin, hair, and eyes their color) in the skin. While numerous chemicals in skin lightening creams have proven effective, several have been deemed toxic and dangerous and were even banned in many countries — including the U.S. Retinoid gels will speed up skin cell turnover and decrease the swelling of the skin and will effectively fade acne scars,” Graf explains.Reviewers say the glycolic acid keeps their skin soft while fading some dark spots, and it even improves their skin texture. Azelaic acid has the same pH level as your skin (5.5). Along with lightening, it’s excellent for calming chronic redness (especially for chronic conditions like rosacea) and evening out the skin tone. The toner contains salicylic acid, which is known to help reduce breakouts and fade discoloration caused by breakouts.