Dark spots can be caused by a number of things, including exposure to the sun (age spots, sun spots, liver spots, solar lentigines, or senile freckles), inflammation from things like acne or psoriasis (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), hormonal changes (melasma), and healing or healed wounds to the skin from burns, cuts or insect bites. All of these types of dark spots, known as hyperpigmentation, are in turn caused by the overproduction of melanin.

Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes located in the deepest, or basal, a layer of your top layer of skin, your epidermis. It is the substance that provides pigment to your hair, eyes, and skin. Sun exposure increases melanin production as a defense mechanism for your skin because melanin absorbs UV rays to protect your skin and the DNA in your cells from damage by the sun.

Damaging the skin through inflammation or injury can also trigger increased melanin production. This is why people with inflammatory acne often have dark spots long after their lesions have healed.

But face creams for dark spots can help all of these types of hyperpigmentation.

Does Vitamin C Fade Dark Spots?

Yes. Vitamin C interferes with the enzyme tyrosinase, which is essential to the production of melanin. This helps to fade dark spots on the face. And, since Vitamin C protects against both UVA and UVB rays which cause the skin to defend itself by overproducing melanin, it helps to prevent dark spots from forming. Furthermore, Vitamin C aids in cell turnover, which helps to bring fresh, new skin cells to the surface, fading dark spots.

Also, Vitamin C evens your skin tone through its interference with melanin production, further fading dark spots.

Vitamin C also plays an important role in the prevention of dark spots through its powerful antioxidant properties. Since it is an antioxidant, Vitamin C scavenges and destroys free radicals that would otherwise damage your skin and your cells’ DNA, leaving dark spots behind. Free radicals are unstable atoms that are missing an electron which they seek from the healthy cells of your skin, causing profound damage. But, Vitamin C can supply that electron, thereby protecting your skin.

You encounter free radicals in your environment every day from UV exposure, pollution, cigarette smoke and even from some of your body’s own metabolic processes. Vitamin C can not only protect you from developing dark spots due to free radical damage, but it can also repair the damage done by free radicals. This is because Vitamin C stimulates the production of collagen, the protein that provides structure to your skin and keeps it smooth, plump, and firm.

What does Vitamin C do to Your Skin?

As a potent antioxidant, Vitamin C protects your skin from free radicals which can damage your skin, including the collagen that supports your skin, and leave dark spots behind. It not only prevents this damage, but repairs any that does occur through its ability to stimulate the synthesis of collagen in the skin. And, Vitamin C can help your skin protect the collagen your skin already has from degrading.

Vitamin C also lightens the skin, including dark spots, by interfering with the production of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. Vitamin C won’t change your skin’s color, however, but it will brighten your complexion by promoting cell turnover, getting rid of those dead, dull skin cells and replacing them with bright, new cells.

Vitamin C is also an anti-inflammatory, which means it can help calm inflammation that causes dark spots to form, and will reduce the redness that goes along with inflammation. Also, Vitamin C helps ease the symptoms of inflammatory acne and even helps to heal the acne lesions. And, it helps to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots caused by inflammation) from forming. Vitamin C can help fade any dark spots that do form as a result of the healing of acne lesions.

Best Treatment for Dark Spots on the Face

It’s a good idea to consult your dermatologist about what may have caused your dark spots before you decide on a treatment for them. Dark spots have many causes, such as excess sun exposure, hormonal changes, medications, aging and injuries due to inflammation.

Some of the most commonly used treatments for dark spots on the face are hydroquinone, kojic acid, Vitamin A derivatives, such as retinol and Vitamin C. However, as of September, 2020, no over the counter face creams for dark spots were permitted to contain hydroquinone under the CARES Act. Some prescription strength hydroquinone products may still be permitted under the act.

Hydroquinone is a bleaching agent that works in much the same way as Vitamin C, by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase to reduce the production of melanin. The problem with hydroquinone is that, not only can it be irritating to the skin, but if you don’t apply it carefully, just to the area of concern, it can bleach the skin around your dark spots too.

Kojic acid also inhibits melanin production by interfering with its production process. This ingredient can cause contact or allergic dermatitis which can result in irritation and swelling of the face. Kojic acid can also cause sun sensitivity.

Retinol works by increasing cell turnover, which causes the dark spots to eventually fade. It can also cause skin irritation and sun sensitivity.

On the other hand, Vitamin C has several mechanisms of action to treat dark spots on your face. Not only does it interfere with melanin production, but it also fights free radical damage, both of which help to prevent dark spots. Vitamin C can also help fade dark spots through its interference with melanin production as well as its ability to promote cell turnover. And, Vitamin C fades dark spots and brightens and lightens your skin without changing your skin’s natural color as some of these other products can.

Vitamin C is clearly the best overall choice in a face cream for dark spots due to its versatility and multiple methods of action. And, it does not make your skin more photosensitive, so it’s a safer option than kojic acid or retinol.

How to remove Dark Spots on the Face Fast

While there may be some face creams for dark spots, or DIY treatments that claim to get rid of dark spots fast, the truth is it takes a bit of time to see results. In fact, it can take a few months to really see significant changes.

That being said, it is interesting to note that the most popular natural ingredients proposed for removing dark spots from the face, lemon juice, aloe vera, and tomatoes are all rich in Vitamin C. However, it is important to note when trying a DIY method for fading dark spots, you should never use lemon juice. This can actually make your dark spots worse. Further, it will make your skin more sensitive to the sun, causing you to burn more easily and badly.

Beautystat’s Universal C Skin Refiner, on the other hand, can transform your skin in just 4 weeks. This serum is clinically proven to show significant lightening of dark spots on the face within that time. With the world’s first stable, pure, 20 percent Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) formula, you can be sure to get all the benefits of Vitamin C for your face.

Best Face Cream for Pimples and Black Spots

When choosing a face cream for dark spots that also treats acne, there are a few factors to consider. First, will it help to prevent acne? Topical retinoids (Vitamin A derivatives) have long been used to both treat and prevent acne. Retinoids help regulate sebum production.

Sebum is the waxy, oily substance that is excreted from your pores to keep your skin moisturized. It is also responsible, along with dead skin cells and a bacterium called Cutibacterium acnes, for the formation of acne lesions, including whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, papules, and cysts.

Vitamin C also helps to reduce sebum production, thus helping to prevent acne.

Retinoids fight inflammation, so they help prevent dark spots from forming after acne has healed. They also promote cell turnover and collagen production, so they can help to prevent and repair some of the scarring that occurs after the acne has healed. Retinoids are often paired with antimicrobials to fight acne, especially severe acne.

Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory which helps to prevent dark spots from developing once acne lesions have healed. Further, this powerful vitamin has antimicrobial effects which help to prevent acne from occurring. Vitamin C is known for its healing ability as it stimulates collagen production which promotes skin regeneration, thus helping to both prevent and heal acne scarring. Vitamin C also promotes cell turnover, though perhaps not to the same extent as retinoids.

But, Vitamin C also interferes with the production of melanin, which helps to prevent and fade dark spots. Vitamin A is actually important to the formation of melanin, so rather than interfering, it actually helps in melanin production. Plus, Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids) cause your skin to become sensitive to the sun, whereas Vitamin C actually protects your skin from both the UVA and UVB rays of the sun.

Also, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which fights free radical damage, thus preventing dark spots from forming.

So, while face creams containing retinoids (Vitamin A) may be the most common choice for severe acne, the best face creams for dark spots are still those that contain Vitamin C. And, Vitamin C can also both prevent and treat acne and acne scarring.

Beautystat’s Universal C Skin Refiner is a great example of such a product. Not only does it contain 20 percent stable, pure Vitamin C; but also squalene for moisture that won’t clog your pores; and the powerful anti-inflammatory EGCG from green tea and tartaric acid, a natural exfoliant which helps unclog pores and balance your skin’s pH level so that all these ingredients will absorb into the deeper layers of your skin for a faster and longer lasting result.

Before you choose any product for use on acne, you should consult your dermatologist.

Best Cream to Remove Dark Spots on the Body

The best creams to remove dark spots on the body will likely contain ingredients such as Kojic acid, retinoids, Vitamin C, tranexamic acid and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic or lactic acid. Kojic acid, retinoids and tranexamic acid are all exfoliants that help fade dark spots by increasing cell turnover. AHAs are more powerful chemical exfoliants that can be used to lighten hyperpigmentation.

The above ingredients are often found together in creams and treatments to remove dark spots from the body to increase their effectiveness.

While Vitamin C has much to offer, its gentler, albeit powerful modes of action may be more suited to the skin of the face.

Which Vitamins Lighten Skin?

Vitamin A, known as retinol or retinoids, can help to lighten skin because it stimulates cell turnover, which causes new, fresh and lighter cells to rise to the top layer of your skin. This cellular turnover helps to fade dark spots. But, Vitamin A can actually promote the production of melanin in your skin, so you certainly wouldn’t want to use it during the day, not to mention that it increases sun sensitivity.

Vitamin B12 also boosts the regeneration of skin cells, helping to even out your skin tone.

Finally, Vitamin C is likely the best vitamin for dark spots, as it can lighten your skin in a number of ways. First, it also stimulates cell turnover, which brings bright, new cells to the surface of your skin. This evens out your skin tone and brightens your complexion.

Vitamin C can also accomplish this through its antioxidant power, as it fights free radicals and prevents them from damaging your skin. Further, Vitamin C repairs the damage done by free radicals that leaves your skin looking lifeless and dull. It does this by stimulating the production of collagen, the protein that is vital to your skin’s structure, thus leaving your skin brightened and with a more even tone.

Second, Vitamin C actually prevents the formation of dark spots on your skin through its ability to provide the missing electron to free radicals and render them harmless.

Third, Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory and can therefore help to prevent dark spots from forming as a result of inflammation caused by such things as acne, psoriasis, or even bug bites.

Fourth, since Vitamin C protects the skin against the harmful rays of the sun, both UVA and UVB, it helps to prevent the formation of dark spots through the overproduction of melanin. However, Vitamin C should never be used as a substitute for sunscreen. You should always use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when going out.

Finally, Vitamin C actually interferes with the production of melanin by inhibiting the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme necessary to melanin formation. This also helps to both prevent and fade dark spots.