Where are those pesky dark spots coming from? 

The answer is: they are a result of our skin protesting UV radiation, which contains more energy than the skin can cope with. The excess energy damages the sensitive mechanisms that control skin pigmentation, specifically, synthesis of melanin and its delivery to the keratinocytes. 

What is simultaneously fascinating to the scientific part of our minds and annoying to the beauty concerned part,  is that the damage extends deep into the dermis, so that superficial exfoliation cannot be counted upon to eliminate the sunspot. 

If you have tried to do something about your dark spots already, you may have come to the conclusion that they are very persistent indeed. Even if you peel that area with a chemical peel, the new skin will eventually develop a sunspot almost as dark as the one you had before.

Exposure to ultraviolet light is a deciding factor and prevention will do the trick. Of course this is our message and it bears repeating. So much of the damage we are working to erase comes from Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS*). UV is such a stressor. We can nip these problems in the bud by limiting our exposure to sunlight and wearing sunscreen as a matter of habit, regardless of the time of year.

After the fact? Try some exfoliation, Vitamin A, UV repair cream, mixed in with a healthy does of patience. It took a lot of UV, ROS* and many years to age your skin to the point it is at now. Don’t try to rejuvenate it within days, this mentality can lead to additional harm. Patience will help, look at this as an opportunity to cultivate your inner garden.

Skin Actives Solutions To Fade Dark Age Spots

Addressing dark spots can range from adding some DIY ingredients to a cream you already love, or taking a look at a ready-made product. Here’s what Skin Actives Scientific has for you:

Apocynin - If you haven’t read our blog article on why we love this antioxidant ravaging active ingredient, check it out here. Meanwhile, we use it in our cutting-edge Advanced Ageless line, to combat damage from ROS*.

Kojic Acid - Kojic acid has a long and established history in the skin care industry for its ability to address hyperpigmentation. Add some to your favorite cream, or find it in our top shelf hyperpigmentation formulations such as UV Repair Cream and Skin Brightening Cream.

ROS Terminator - This cocktail of antioxidants can turn any lotion or cream you are currently using into an ROS terminating machine! 

UV Repair Cream - Great for both healthy prevention as well as skin repair, UV Repair Cream is great if you want to avoid UV damage in the future, or if you want to reverse damage now. It’s no substitute for sunscreen, but well worth working into your routine!

Skin Brightening Cream - A lot of people are looking to bleach their skin to remove signs of sun damage. At Skin Actives, we don’t believe in that process, which can be very harmful, especially to people with darker skin tones. Skin Brightening Cream uses kojic acid mixed with powerful antioxidant lipids to slowly and gently reduce the melanin produced in dark spots or hyper pigmented areas.