A black spot removal cream is a skincare product that is made to help lighten and fade the appearance of dark spots on your skin. How? Simply because of the active ingredients in the creams that act on melanin formation which leads to dark spot removal. Read more to understand how this cream works.

What is a black spot and how is it caused?

Dark spots are small circular spots on the skin caused due to hyperpigmentation or over-production of melanin pigment. Melanin is a pigment responsible for the colour of your skin whether it is eyes, hair or skin. The more melanin is produced, more darker will be the spot.

Dark spots may vary in size depending on the person and the cause. The colour of the dark spot may range from light brown to dark brown depending on the skin tone of the person. But let us first understand the causes of black spots.

Sun damage:

Black spots that are caused due to sun damage are also known as sun spots. Sunspots usually occur when the skin is overexposed to ultraviolet rays which results in excess production of melanin as a natural defense mechanism to protect deeper layers of skin from sun damage. Over a while, this excess melanin can clump together and form dark spots on the skin’s surface. Areas of the body such as the face, neck, and hands are more likely to get exposed to the sun and develop sun spots.

Hormonal change:

Hormonal changes can lead to different skin pigmentation conditions. One such condition is Melasma. Melasma is a skin problem that is characterized by brown or blue-grey patches on the skin. This condition is observed usually in pregnant females. In women, melasma often fades on its own after pregnancy or after an affected woman stops taking contraceptive pills.

Medication side effects:

High dosage Drugs can lead to dark spots. These include NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs, and anti-viral and anti-malarial drugs which increase hyperpigmentation.

Diabetes:

This is a major condition to be spoken about which causes black spots. It arises from changes to the blood vessels and the skin tissue caused by chronically high levels of sugar in your blood. In people with diabetes, poor circulation often arises when the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the skin is impaired, resulting in damage to small blood vessels. (microangiopathy). The damage appears in the form of small, round and brownish spots present on the skin specifically the shins. Secondly, high blood sugar can perturb collagen production and skin recovery. As a result, your skin is much more likely to be impaired which leads to the appearance of dark patches when the patch fixes itself.

Acne breakouts:

Acne breakouts can lead to black spots, a condition known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. When the skin experiences an acne lesion, such as a pimple or cyst, the inflammation triggers the production of excess melanin in the affected area as part of the healing process. This excess melanin can leave behind a dark spot even after the acne lesion has healed.

Now since we understood the common causes of black spots, let us gain insights into how a black spot removal cream can reduce the pigmentation.

How does a black spot removal cream work?

Black spot removal cream is a popular and safe treatment for reducing the hyperpigmentation of dark spots. These creams act on targetted areas and reduce the overproduction of melanin. When applied regularly, the active ingredients in the cream deeply penetrate through the skin layers reduce hyperpigmentation and also promote the shedding of pigmented skin cells.

These creams also contain ingredients that provide antioxidant protection, soothe inflammation, and improve the skin texture. The overall combination of these active ingredients thereby lightens the skin and prevents further pigmentation. Now what are the active ingredients that are responsible for removing the black spots-

• Hydroquinone: It inhibits melanin production and lightens the black spots.
• Glycolic acid: This is known to be the best active ingredient to reduce hyperpigmentation by exfoliating the pigmented skin cells and promoting even skin tone.
• Vitamin C: It acts as an antioxidant agent that fights free radicals and protects the skin from UV damage thereby removing the sunspots.
• Kojic acid: It is known to inhibit melanin production and promote an even skin tone.
• Licorice extract: this is a unique ingredient known to control excess melanin production thereby reducing the intensity of dark spots.

There are other treatments that can remove black spots. click here to learn more.

In summary, now that you have understood what are the causes of black spots, and how they can be treated using black spot removal creams including all the active ingredients, Make sure you also incorporate them into your skincare routine if you are suffering from black spots. Try them out let us know through the comments!