Important note: If you have melasma, lasers are considered third-line treatments, as they have not been found to get rid of excess melanin production, according to a review published in March 2017 in the International Journal of Women's Dermatology. If you’re not a fan, there are skin care products that can help minimize the appearance of dark spots and even out your skin tone. Editor Tip: A slew of alpha and beta hydroxy acids, including glycolic, mandelic, and salicylic acids, exfoliates dead skin and diminishes the look of dark spots. Unfortunately, certain skin types and tones are naturally more prone to post-acne hyperpigmentation and redness, especially those with melanin.

Finding products that are actually safe to use during pregnancy can be a real challenge—luckily, this dark spot corrector from The Ordinary can stay in your skin care routine through every trimester. When inflammation is the cause of discoloration it is often referred to as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.White birch extract helps even skin tone and peony extract protects skin against free radicals, which can lead to dark spots. Editor Tip: Ava Shamban, MD, a Beverly Hills-based board-certified dermatologist, previously explained to Allure that azelaic acid loosens dead, pore-clogging skin cells and reduces instances of inflammation caused by acne. Kim is a fan of mandelic acid in general because its gentler nature means it's likely tolerated by most patients — in a nutshell, it has larger molecules, so it doesn't penetrate the skin as deeply or as quickly as other acids.

Glamour may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. While we can’t do much to prevent hyperpigmentation, there are solutions to speed up the fading process.Hexylresorcinol - A synthetic ingredient with antioxidant properties that fights free radicals and has been shown to have a skin-brightening ability.