Best lotion to remove dark spots on body

Dark spots and hyperpigmentation can be quite a conundrum—and a tricky one to solve. You can spend years diligently attending to your skin regimen—the right cleansers, the right moisturizers, the right anti-aging serums, the right SPF—only to have your smooth complexion struck down almost overnight by hyperpigmentation, more commonly known as dark spots.

“In fair-skinned individuals, hyperpigmentation is often caused by sun damage and often accumulate with age,” says Omar Ibrahimi, MD, founder and medical director of the Connecticut Skin Institute. “In skin of color, meanwhile, hyperpigmentation can be caused by anything that irritates or injures the skin. This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and acne is a common source of PIH in ethnic skin and is sometimes more disruptive than the actual acne itself.” Then of course, there’s melasma, a special type of pigmentary condition, which tends to occur during pregnancy or during other times of hormonal change (think menopause or the start of taking birth control pills), Ibrahimi adds. “Sun exposure drives the melasma to darken.”

Dermatologists have plenty of tools in their tool belts to help patients deal with pesky darks spots. “We use laser resurfacing treatments and other light-based devices such as IPL to ‘remove’ the damaged skin and simultaneously heat the second layer to promote the formation of new skin cells with a more even texture and tone,” explains Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University. “Chemical peels with ingredients such as glycolic, salicylic, lactic, carbolic, or trichloroacetic acids may be used to resurface and refresh as well.” The good news? You don’t have to run to the dermatologist and shell out thousands of dollars on pricey laser treatments. There are a wide variety of dark spot correctors that really work—and are available over the counter, at every price point.

To make sure you pick the best (and most effective) product for removing dark spots, our experts recommend looking for cream or serum that contains ingredients like vitamin C (an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and brightens skin), niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3 that slows pigment production), hydroquinone (a lightening agent that inhibits the pigment-forming enzyme tyrosinase), retinol (a vitamin A derivative that evens tone and texture), or glycolic or lactic acid (which are alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate dead skin cells). And remember: Sunscreen is a non-negotiable. Gohara recommends applying a daily sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher that uses mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or iron oxides.

Ahead, we asked to dermatologists to recommend the best dark spot correctors for your face, including a budget-friendly drugstore cream and a treatment designed specifically for darker skin tones.

Our Top Picks

• Best on Amazon: Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum
• Best Dermatologist-Created Treatment: ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener
• Best Editor-Loved Product: Verso Dark Spot Fix
• Best for Face: Skinfix Correct+ Dark Spot Corrector
• Best for Dark Skin: Melé Even Dark Spot Control Serum
• Best for Sensitive Skin: Glytone Enhance Brightening Complex with Azelaic & Glycolic Acids

1

Best On Amazon

Differin

Dark Spot Correcting Serum

2

Neutrogena

Rapid Tone Repair Spot Corrector Face Serum

3

Best For Face

Skinfix

Correct+ Dark Spot Corrector

4

Best with Niacinamide

L'Oréal Paris

Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector

5

Best For Night

Olay

Regenerist Retinol 24 Max Night Face Moisturizer

6

Best All Around

Scientis

Cyspera Intensive Pigment Corrector

7

Best Serum

SkinCeuticals

Discoloration Defense

8

Best For Brightening

La Roche-Posay

Pigmentclar Dark Spot Corrector Face Serum

9

Best For Dark Skin

MELÉ

Even Dark Spot Control Serum

10

Editor's Pick

Verso

Dark Spot Fix

11

Best for Black Skin

Hyper Skin

Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum

12

Best Drugstore Buy

L'Oréal Paris

Revitalift Vitamin C Serum

13

Best Dermatologist-Created Treatment

ZO Skin Health

Retinol Skin Brightener

14

Best With Sunscreen

Aveeno

Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer

15

Best for Melasma

SkinMedica

Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum

16

Best Antioxidant Serum

Skin Ceuticals

C E Ferulic

17

Best for Acne Scars

Shani Darden Skin Care

Retinol Reform

18

Best for Mild Spots

Ghost Democracy

Lightbulb Vitamin C Serum

19

Best with Vitamin C

BeautyStat

Universal C Skin Refiner

20

Best for Sensitive Skin

GLYTONE

Enhance Brightening Complex with Azelaic & Glycolic Acids

21

Best for Anti-Aging

Eau Thermale Avène

RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream

22

Best Retinol

Skin Better

AlphaRet Overnight Cream

23

Best Budget Buy

Ambi

Fade Cream

24

Best For Hands

Goldfaden M.D.

Hands to Heart Brightening Hand Treatment

25

Best Cleanser

Neostrata

Resurface Foaming Glycolic Facial Cleanser

Brian Underwood Brian Underwood is the beauty director of _O, The Oprah Magazine.

How do I remove dark spots on my body?

How to remove dark spots.
Laser treatment. Different types of lasers are available. ... .
Microdermabrasion. During microdermabrasion, a dermatologist uses a special device that has an abrasive surface to remove the outer layer of the skin. ... .
Chemical peels. ... .
Cryotherapy. ... .
Prescription skin-lightening cream..

Can lotion remove dark spots?

Skincare tips on how to get rid of dark spots on body Vitamin E can also soothe scarring which can decrease the appearance of dark spots on body. We recommend using body lotion regularly - twice daily if you can. Apply to damp skin for maximum effects.

Which cream removes dark spots permanently?

Glowpink Dark Spot Corrector Cream is ideal for women who wish to remove dark spots, pigmentation, blemishes, acne scars and uneven skin.

What removes dark spot fast?

Turmeric In a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of turmeric to 1 tablespoon of honey and to accelerate the process, a few drops of lemon juice. Apply the mask for 15-20 minutes and rinse with hot water to reveal a drastically reduced scar. Skip the lemon juice if you have sensitive skin and avoid using it on fresh scars.