Sunspots, liver spots, age spots, melasma: Whatever you want to call it, hyperpigmentation is something that many women contend with at some point in their lives. The good news is that science is on our side. We have access to so many (perhaps too many) products now, which why we tapped Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, for some help with navigating the aisles.
"When treating hyperpigmentation over the counter, I generally recommend combining exfoliating products with those that interfere with pigment production," says Zeichner.
1. Apply a product with retinol or alpha hydroxy acid, which will enhance cell turnover (key for helping your skin shed dead cells that store extra pigment).
2. Use a brightening product, like a vitamin C serum or something with niacinamide, which is a form of vitamin B3 that has skin lightening and calming benefits.
3. Slather on sunscreen. Ideally one with broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays and reapply every couple of hours (which is where a brush-on formula comes in handy).
Stick to this regimen for a few months and if you're not seeing the improvement you want, visit your dermatologist to discuss in-office options such as lasers or peels. Glow on, friends.
