Everything You Should Know About Dark Spots on Skin
Dark Spots on skin occur when some spots on your skin produce excess melanin than the usual amount. Melanin is a skin pigment which makes your hair, eye, and skin appear darker.
Usually, these dark spots aren’t a cause of concern and don’t require treatment, though some people may prefer to remove them. In today’s post, we will look at the causes and home remedies for dark spots on skin.
What causes dark spots on skin?
There are many causes of small dark spots on skin, which are described here:
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Sun Damage
Also called solar lentigines, liver spots, or sunspots, people can develop dark spots on skin from the sun. Sunspots occur on the body parts which are exposed to the sun like hands, face, or arms.
Recommended Read: Red Dots On Skin: Causes and Natural Remedies for Red Spots
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Hormonal Changes
Melasma is a kind of skin condition which results in small patches of discoloration on the skin. This is more common in females, especially during pregnancy.
American Academy of Dermatology said that – “Melasma is caused by hormonal changes.”
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Medication Side effects
Certain medications can cause dark spots on skin. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, psychotropic, and tetracyclines drugs are some medicines that are responsible for causing this kind of skin condition.
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Inflammation
Dark spots on skin can be caused due to skin inflammation and conditions like eczema, acne, skin injury, or psoriasis.
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Wound Healing
When a wound get healed then dark spots on skin may remain and fade away with time.
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Diabetes
Diabetes can cause small dark spots on skin. Conditions related to diabetes that cause dark skin include acanthosis nigricans. Some people misconsider their age spots.
What are the Symptoms of Dark Spots on Skin?
Dark spots on skin include light brown and dark brown spots. The shade of dark spots depends on skin tone. The texture of these spots is the as same as the skin.
Dark spots are common in the following areas:
- Face
- Back
- Shoulders
- Back of the hands
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How to lighten Dark Spots on Skin by Home Remedies?
Here are some home remedies that are effective to remove dark spots on skin. You need to choose the remedy based on your type of skin.
1. Aloe Vera
The plant of aloe vera has an active compound named “Aloin”. As per many studies, the leaf extract and aloin have skin-lightening properties. This is how you can lighten dark spots on skin. 
How to Use:
- Apply aloe vera juice directly on your dark spots and leave it for 30 minutes and apply the same twice a day.
- Prefer lukewarm water to rinse it off.
- Complete the process with a moisturizer.
2. Vitamin C
Citrus fruits like lemons, mandarins, and oranges have a high amount of Vitamin C. They are very effective to lighten dark spots on skin and enhance collagen production in the body.
Lemon juice is a famous home remedy to get rid of dark spots on skin from the sun or any other cause. However, it may irritate sensitive skin and make it dry. So, don’t use lemon juice to treat dark spots if you have sensitive skin.
How to use:
- Take a lemon slice and gently apply on the dark spots for 10 minutes. Follow this for two times each day.
- Rinse with lukewarm water. After rinsing, apply a serum or moisturizer.
Pro Tip: If you’ve sensitive skin, mix 1 tablespoon of rose water or normal water with a tablespoon of lemon juice. Apply using a cotton ball.
3. Yogurt
Yogurt has lactic acid that helps to remove dark spots on skin. The combination of yogurt and lemon makes an amazing face mask that can be used to make these spots disappear on the face.
How to use:
- Take proper amount of yogurt for your dark spots and apply it either alone or in combination with other ingredients like honey or oatmeal.
- Leave it for sometime and rinse it with normal water.
Pro Tip: Make sure you take off the mask carefully otherwise it may irritate your skin.
Recommended Read: White Spots on Skin – Types, Causes, and Remedies
4. Orange Peel
Orange peel has hesperidin. Research highlights that this ingredient is effective to lighten dark spots on skin.
Prepare an orange peel face mask by mixing water with dry orange peel powder. Apply it on these spots just once a day.
How to use:
- Mix orange peel powder with honey and milk in a bowl.
- Make a smooth paste using these 3 ingredients.
- Apply a thin layer of the paste on your dark spots, let it dry, and rinse with lukewarm water.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric is a very powerful and natural ingredient to lighten and brighten skin. Also, it helps to lighten the dark spots.
How to use:
- Make a paste by mixing 2 tablespoons each of flour and rice water, and 1 tablespoon of turmeric. Mix well.
- Apply this paste on the dark spots using a Q-tip.
- Leave it for 20 minutes.
- Rinse with lukewarm water.
- Apply moisturizer of serum after rinsing.
Hope the above remedies have answered your question “How to remove dark spots on skin?”
The Final Wrap Up
Hyperpigmentation or dark spots on skin can have a variety of causes. Generally, they are harmless and don’t need treatment; however, if dark itchy spots on skin causes irritation then you need to immediately consult a doctor.
You should know the process of dark spots removal, via both home remedies and OTC prescriptions. takes some time to show the results, but the regular application will definitely remove dark spots on skin.
