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If brown spots and discoloration bother you, now is the time to act. All summer long we can be so good at putting on sunscreen, wearing sunscreen clothing, and hanging out in the shade only to see unwanted discoloration on our skin. It’s almost impossible to completely avoid sun damage, in part because it’s the heat given off by the sun (in addition to UV rays) that activates pigment cells.
If your sunspots have already appeared and you’re looking for a way to minimize their appearance, I have good news – it’s entirely possible! You just have to know which products and techniques can help. Keep scrolling for seven ways to get rid of post-summer sunspots.
How to get rid of sunspots in 7 steps
The aim is to calm down the pigment cells so that sunspots fade and the skin becomes radiant and even again. While it can lighten over time, discoloration needs to be treated with powerful active ingredients and professional treatments to make it disappear quickly.
1. Choose your timing wisely
Prevention is a year-round task if you’re serious about minimizing brown spots. You know how to do it: sunscreen, a hat, and keeping your skin as cool as possible (remember, heat, like UV light, triggers pigmentation). But if it really matters turning back the effects of sun damage, it pays to be strategic about timing. I always tell people that late autumn and winter are the best times of year to get rid of sunspots. This is because your pigment cells aren’t constantly being triggered by heat, sun, or a combination of both. Once temperatures start to drop, you can work with visibly fading brown spots without the constant reactivating of pigment cells. Trust me, your efforts will take you much further!
2. Quit micro-needling and using sonic cleaning brushes
This may come as a surprise, but constant, aggressive friction from needles and bristles can keep melanin cells active. It’s best to put at-home sonic cleaning brushes and micro-needling on hold to avoid an unnecessary inflammatory response. (With that in mind, read my review of home care devices).
3. Avoid overheating your skin
Since heat can cause melanin cells to produce more pigment, it’s not a good idea to do anything that can raise the skin’s internal temperature at this time. Avoid outdoor exercise, hot yoga, steam rooms, and saunas. Keep a gel-based mask in the fridge to apply to your skin if you find it’s getting red and overheated. Leave on for 20 minutes should cool skin and provide relief. I like the Bio Calm Repair Masque. It provides cooling moisture deep into the skin.
4. Use skin care products with pigment-reducing ingredients
If you’re wondering how to get rid of sunspots at home, here’s what I suggest: Use three specific active ingredients in your skincare routine. First, I recommend using vitamin C. It is a lightening ingredient and melanin disruptor that can improve skin tone. Second, I recommend using retinol. It promotes cell turnover to bring new, evenly pigmented cells to the surface. Finally, I recommend using exfoliating acids like glycolic, lactic, malic, and salicylic. They help fade pigmentation to reveal a more even complexion.
The Best Morning Skincare Routine to Get Rid of Sunspots:
- Start with a mild, sulfate-free cleansing gel, like Renée Rouleau Mint Renewal Cleanser. Massage it over your skin and rinse well. Pat your skin dry with a towel.
- Then immediately apply an alcohol-free toner. Swipe it all over your face and leave it damp.
- Use a vitamin C serum immediately (this step is important because vitamin C is excellent at inhibiting melanin cells to promote discoloration fading. For best results, use a vitamin C serum with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a stable form of vitamin C known to fade brown spots without causing excessive irritation).
- Wait 60 seconds before applying a generous layer of sunscreen to block harmful UV rays and prevent new sunspots from forming.
The Best Nighttime Skincare Routine to Get Rid of Sunspots:
- Start with a lotion-based cleanser to dissolve makeup and residue that has built up on your skin throughout the day. I personally prefer the Renée Rouleau Vitamin-Infused Cleansing Emulsion for this purpose. It easily washes stubborn dirt, make-up and sunscreen from the skin.
- Then immediately apply an alcohol-free toner. Swipe it all over your face and leave it damp.
- Next, apply a serum. I recommend using a gentle acid peeling serum two nights in a row. Look for one that contains glycolic, lactic, or malic acid, which helps dissolve pigmented cells. After two nights (night three), swap out the exfoliating acidic serum for one with retinol. For the next two nights (nights four and five), use the same vitamin C serum you use as part of your morning routine. This rotation gives your skin a variety of different ingredients that work together to eliminate unwanted discoloration.
- Wait 60 seconds before applying a moisturizer tailored to your skin type.
5. If necessary, consult a dermatologist for a depigmenting agent
In some cases, a prescription depigmenting agent may be required to remove heavy pigmentation. I usually suggest trying my at-home skincare routine for a few weeks before doing this, as the combination of an exfoliating acidic serum, vitamin C serum, and retinol serum might work well. However, if you need something more, consult a dermatologist.
These drugs require a prescription and typically contain up to 4% hydroquinone. Your dermatologist can prescribe custom blends from a compound pharmacy. A great example of a compound pharmacy is one that uses 8% hydroquinone, 1% kojic acid, and 1% vitamin E. There are ready-made recipes, but because the compounds are custom, they can really cater to each person’s unique skin type and severity of pigmentation. (Note: Hydroquinone should not be used for long periods of time. Be sure to follow your doctor’s directions for use).
6. Get a professional chemical peel or IPL treatment
In some cases, at-home creams and serums are limited. Sometimes a professional procedure is required. My favorite is bio-brasion (the next generation of microdermabrasion) combined with a chemical peel. Chemical peels are powerful and can remove deep pigment, but of course the type of peel needed for each skin type can vary. (Find out the best chemical peel for your skin type.)
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is also very popular to combat sun and heat-related discoloration and it can loosen the pigment from the cells. If you do decide to enlist the help of a professional, be sure to get a good referral and seek out someone with plenty of experience performing this type of procedure.
Again, procedures like these are best done during the colder months, as they often make your skin more sun-sensitive.
7. Prevent sunspots from returning
Once your skin is more even, don’t slack off on your routine. Because if you’re prone to sunspots, they can come back. The best way to prevent discoloration from recurring is to limit time in the heat and sun, be diligent about wearing sunscreen, wearing a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors, and continuing to follow a skincare routine that includes vitamin C, exfoliating acids, and retinol ( and a prescription skin bleach if needed).
I also recommend wearing makeup every day. Yes, really! Wearing foundation or mineral powder makeup provides a barrier to protect against harmful UV rays. Most types of makeup contain sunscreen. Even if they don’t list an SPF number, they do contain UV-protective ingredients like titanium dioxide. For this reason, I never leave my skin bare, nor do I ever propose to my clients (especially those struggling with hyperpigmentation).
I also suggest getting a skin lightening facial every six weeks. An esthetician uses professional exfoliating acids and vitamin C to ensure skin is left smooth, radiant and even. You can also do a chemical peel at home. I suggest using the Dual Enzyme Softening Peel. It uses papaya and pineapple enzymes to fade discoloration and brighten skin. Additionally, you can give your skin a more potent form of exfoliation with this DIY chemical peel using a prescription retinoid.
In summary, the development of hyperpigmentation is common during the summer months. With the right products and techniques (along with patience), you can restore your skin to its original state in no time. You just have to invest time and effort.
Next, learn how to fade dark spots after they break out!
Famous beautician and skincare expert
An esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skincare expert has created a real solution – products formulated for nine different skin types to give your face exactly what it needs to look and feel good. Celebrities, editors, bloggers and skincare enthusiasts around the world trust her extensive real-world knowledge and ongoing research. Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”