How to Brighten Up Sun Spots or Brown Spots

Apply sunblock to protect your skin at any age.

Sun spots or brown spots on the skin are often caused by sun damage. The spots contain melanin, a component that the skin uses to defend itself against ultraviolet rays. As a result you may see yellowish or brown spots on your face, neck, chest or hands. Begin a good skin-care regimen to lighten the sun spots and get rid of hyperpigmentation.

Things You'll Need

• Sunblock
• At-home peel
• Retinol cream
• Skin lightening serum

Instructions

1. Wear a good quality sunblock that contains the ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Products that contain these ingredients reduce the risk of damage from UV exposure and keep new brown spots from forming.

2. Apply a mild at-home chemical peel that targets brown spots. These products may contain low concentrations of glycolic acid or salicylic acid. The peel gets rid of damaged cells, allowing new cells to replace them.

3. Use a retinol cream. Retinol is a form of vitamin A, an important antioxidant that stimulates the reproduction of skin cells. The retinol cream works underneath the surface of your skin, so you might not see results right away. In two to three months, the skin should look more even and the brown spots should fade.

4. Dab a skin lightening serum or gel directly on brown spots to fade them. Look for active ingredients like niacinamide and kojic acid.

Tips & Warnings

• If at-home measures are unsuccessful, see a dermatologist about laser therapy and other in-office procedures.

• Be aware that sunblock differs from sunscreen. Sunblock keeps the sun’s ultraviolet rays from penetrating your skin, while sunscreen absorbs the sun's rays.

• Creams containing retinol tend to increase sun sensitivity. Use sunblock and avoid spending too much time outside during retinol therapy.

References

• “Eva Scrivo on Beauty”; Eva Scrivo; 2011
• “The Skin Type Solution”; Leslie Baumann, M.D.; 2006