Hadley King, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology. Castilla recommends a combination approach to treating hyperpigmentation—that’s why she loves the trio of synergistic brightening ingredients present in Skinceuticals’ Discoloration Defence formula: tranexamic acid, kojic acid, and niacinamide. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Often referred to as the “mask of pregnancy,” melasma is characterized by brown patches that commonly form in women with fluctuating hormone levels, such as during pregnancy.

Nasarian agrees, adding that “sun exposure to sunlight can keep those pesky dark marks around for even longer and extend the time it takes for them to fade. This was thanks to the product's light-diffusing technology that combines titanium dioxide and a film-forming polymer to begin balancing the appearance of uneven pigmentation within days. This powerful combination makes it tough enough to tackle dark spots and hyperpigmentation without causing irritation to more sensitive skin types. In an independent, third-party clinical study with 29 subjects, aged 35 to 65, experts determined that 100% of participants saw improvements in dark spots after four weeks. You can invest in salon treatments, like microdermabrasion or chemical peels, or opt for a more manageable—and budget-friendly—at-home routine to get the job done.Niacinamide (vitamin B3) - Helps to brighten the complexion, improve uneven skin tone, balance oil production, reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and supports the skin barrier. Vitamin C Serum For Face】Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help to brighten and even out the skin tone by inhibiting the production of melanin. Some chemotherapy drugs can also cause temporary hyperpigmentation, per the advocacy group Cancer Connect.

Why It's Worth It: Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut and associate clinical professor at Yale University, recommends Neutrogena's travel-friendly Rapid Tone Repair 20% Vitamin C Serum Capsules. The molecules penetrate the skin’s surface and draw moisture from the environment into the deeper layers of the skin, helping to plump up the skin and improve its overall appearance.Niacinamide is a potent (and versatile) antioxidant that brightens skin by fading hyperpigmentation, reducing redness, and contributing to an increased production of ceramides, which help to strengthen the skin barrier. The latter is most accessible both from a convenience and cost perspective, since you can use them daily in the comfort of your own home. This ingredient is known to help not only lighten [hyperpigmentation] but decrease recurrence, which is crucial," Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Roberta Del Campo, MD, tells Allure. This can lessen the thickness and darkness of the afflicted skin by exfoliating the skin and promoting cell turnover. In addition to addressing the pigment issues, a good product will have moisturizing agents like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and maybe even a retinol to boost cell turnover," says Doris J.