Swipe over for some of my favorite over-the-counter options for “dark spots.” People are often surprised to hear there are so many causes - from old acne, melasma, sun damage, internal causes like diabetes and autoimmune conditions, medication side effects, and so many more! My top recommendation quite honestly is to schedule a consultation with a dermatologist - we can confirm the actual diagnosis and make sure we’re treating the right thing, and come up with a plan to improve the hyperpigmentation (dark spots). Swipe over for a before and after of my beautiful patient - the before was after about a month of already starting prescription treatment for her stubborn adult acne, and the after is two months later, we continued her prescription treatment and also did 2 chemical peels safe for her skin type. With that said, as someone who grew up with low access to care I’m completely aware of the privilege in that recommendation, so I get it that patients can’t always come see us. So here are a few of my tips: The one and only non-negotiable when it comes to treating dark spots - SUNSCREEN! Without daily use of facial sunscreen (even if you’re indoors all day) we are truly just undoing any of the work we’re trying to do with our other actives. So if you only take one thing from this post, make it a sunscreen! The other ingredient I like in the morning for fading dark marks is vitamin C - including a budget and pricier option for you guys here. At night, there are many products we can use (but please DO NOT use them all, the last thing you want is irritation, pick one and stick with it)! Retinol is a fantastic option for many (though not pregnancy-safe), azelaic acid and glycolic acid are rockstars, and lactic acid and mandelic acid are some of my personal favorites that are safe for even sensitive skin types. You may notice I didn’t include hydroquinone in this list - this is our gold-standard for fading dark marks, but I believe it should only be used under the direction of a dermatologist. I use it in my practice with clear directions on how/when to use. If you liked this post make sure to save or share it so I know if you want more content like this!