Too much fun in the sun? Healing from a breakout? Noticing new dark patches during hormonal changes? No matter the trigger, one core truth stays the same: hyperpigmentation is an inflammatory response. Just as redness and flushing are inflammatory responses in rosacea, excess pigment is the skin’s inflammation-driven response to triggers like heat, UV exposure, acne, and injury. When the skin becomes irritated, your melanocytes begin overproducing melanin as a protective mechanism—resulting in stubborn dark spots and uneven tone.
Understanding this inflammation-driven process is essential for treating hyperpigmentation effectively—and preventing it from returning. This guide breaks down the different types of hyperpigmentation, why they occur, the most effective ingredients for fading dark spots, and how to build a routine that restores clarity and radiance over time.
What is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a condition where the skin develops dark spots or patches due to excess melanin production. These discolored areas can appear brown, black, grey, red, or pink depending on your skin tone and the cause.
Common Causes of Hyperpigmentation
Sun exposure
Heat
Breakouts or injuries
Hormonal changes
Medications
Genetics
Chronic inflammation
Heat and inflammation are two of the strongest triggers for melanin production. When the skin detects irritation—even from something as simple as a breakout—it signals melanocytes to increase pigmentation as a form of protection.
Types of Hyperpigmentation
There are three primary types of hyperpigmentation, each with unique causes and treatment approaches. Below, you’ll find recommended products tailored to each type.
1. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs after inflammation or trauma—acne, eczema, cuts, burns, rashes, or irritation. PIH can appear as brown, purple, or red marks depending on skin tone. These spots are slow to fade, especially without targeted treatment.
What PIH Looks Like
Brown, purple, or red marks after irritation
Spots that darken with sun or heat
Pigment that fades slowly over time
How to Treat PIH
The most effective treatment approach focuses on:
Calming inflammation
Supporting barrier repair
Gently increasing cell turnover
Inhibiting melanin production
Best Products for PIH
1. Plated Skin Science Daily Serum
Reduces inflammation and speeds healing using advanced exosome technology to minimize dark marks from acne or irritation.
2. GlyMed Plus Daily Skin Clarifier
A mandelic and azelaic acid blend that calms inflammation, gently exfoliates, and brightens discoloration.
3. Face Reality Glowtone Advanced Brightening Serum
Combines tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and azelaic acid to lighten PIH quickly and prevent new dark spots.
2. Melasma
Melasma presents as patchy brown or grey-brown discoloration on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, and chin. It is one of the most challenging types of hyperpigmentation because it’s driven by hormones, heat, and chronic inflammation.
Common Melasma Triggers
Pregnancy or postpartum shifts
Birth control pills
Hormone replacement therapy
Sun exposure
Heat exposure
Genetics
Because melasma is so sensitive to heat and inflammation, gentle, consistent brightening is key. Harsh exfoliation or heat-based treatments often make melasma worse.
Best Products for Melasma
1. Hydrinity Restorative HA Serum
This is our #1 melasma essential. Its patented supercharged hyaluronic acid technology reduces inflammation at the cellular level, strengthens the barrier, and calms heat-triggered pigment activity. When the skin is calmer, melasma becomes significantly easier to treat.
2. Hydrinity Vivid Brightening Serum
A powerhouse brightener featuring tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and next-generation pigment inhibitors that lighten melasma safely and effectively. Ideal for AM use to keep melanin activity calm throughout the day.
3. GlyMed Plus Brilliant Tone (PM Treatment)
Packed with pigment-correcting peptides and glutathione to break up existing melanin clusters and reduce discoloration overnight. The perfect PM companion to Hydrinity’s AM brightening support.
3. Sun Damage (Sun Spots / Solar Lentigines)
Sun-induced hyperpigmentation forms slowly over time and commonly appears on the face, chest, arms, and hands. These spots develop as a result of long-term UV exposure and often deepen with heat.
What Sun Damage Looks Like
Small to medium dark brown spots
Uneven pigmentation on sun-exposed areas
Increased discoloration with age or UV exposure
Preventing further UV-induced pigment formation is crucial while treating existing discoloration.
How LED Can Support Sun-Damaged Skin
LED light therapy is a powerful adjunct treatment for sun-induced pigmentation and aging. Red and near-infrared wavelengths help:
Reduce inflammation (key for preventing new pigment)
Improve circulation and oxygenation
Stimulate collagen and elastin
Support cellular repair
Enhance treatment results when paired with brightening products
It’s important when treating hyperpigmentation to choose an LED device that does not heat the skin. Heat is a major trigger for excess melanin production, so selecting LED technology that stays cool ensures you can safely calm inflammation and support repair without risking heat-induced pigmentation.
LightStim ELIPSA
The LightStim ELIPSA is our top LED choice for hyperpigmentation because it delivers powerful red and infrared light without heating the skin. This makes it safe for melasma and heat-triggered pigment while helping reduce inflammation, support collagen, and enhance the results of your brightening skincare routine.
Used five times per week, it amplifies the results of your pigment-correcting skincare and strengthens the skin's resilience to future UV stress.
Best Products for Sun Damage
1. Plated Skin Science Intense Serum
A deeply restorative formula powered by lab-grown exosomes that help repair UV-damaged skin, reduce inflammation, improve texture, and fade pigmentation. Excellent for aging, sun-damaged, or pigment-prone skin.
2. iS Clinical Brightening Complex
A clinically proven blend of botanical brighteners, tyrosinase inhibitors, and gentle exfoliators that treat sun spots without irritation. Ideal for year-round use, even on sensitive skin.
3. iS Clinical Retinol+ Emulsion
This advanced retinol, encapsulated with extremozymes and bio-identical lipids, supports collagen remodeling while increasing cell turnover to lighten sun-induced pigmentation and improve overall skin tone.
(Not recommended during peak summer sun exposure or for those who cannot avoid UV.)
How To Treat Hyperpigmentation Safely
Whether your hyperpigmentation stems from inflammation, hormones, or sun exposure, the treatment principles remain the same:
Avoid spot-treating — Pigmented spots are just the tip of the iceberg; deeper pigment lies beneath.
Reduce inflammation first — A calm barrier prevents new pigment from forming.
Use gentle, consistent exfoliation — Helps lift melanin-rich cells.
Incorporate daily tyrosinase inhibitors — Keeps melanin regulated.
Sensitive skin types may prefer botanical brighteners, while more resilient skin can benefit from advanced acids or professional treatments.
A Note About Hydroquinone
Though commonly used for hyperpigmentation, hydroquinone may cause irritation, rebound pigment, or worsening discoloration in deeper skin tones. Because it behaves more like a bleaching agent than a long-term corrective ingredient, we prefer gentler, modern solutions that safely address pigment at the root.
Best Ingredients for Hyperpigmentation
These research-backed ingredients effectively brighten discoloration, reduce inflammation, and help prevent new pigment from forming:
Stem Cell Cytokines
Arbutin / Alpha Arbutin
Vitamin C
Kojic Acid
Bellis Perennis (Daisy Flower Extract)
Licorice Root
Azelaic Acid
Mandelic Acid
Tranexamic Acid
Melazero™ V2
Glutathione
A Note About Hydroquinone
While some might swear by it, hydroquinone isn’t something we recommend. Along with a reputation for causing dryness and irritation, it’s not an effective way to treat PIH specifically. Hydroquinone is not able to reach the inflammation happening in the deeper layers of the skin, leaving those red spots untouched. And because it works like a “bleaching” agent, hydroquinone is something those with deeper skin tones will want to avoid, as it can cause further discoloration with continued use.
Preventing Hyperpigmentation
For long-lasting improvement, combine treatment with daily prevention:
Wear broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every day
Use antioxidants to enhance UV protection
Strengthen your skin barrier with anti-inflammatory ingredients
Use melanin inhibitors daily
Avoid excessive heat and keep devices moving if they produce warmth
Hyperpigmentation can be stubborn and slow to fade, but with consistent, inflammation-focused care, you can achieve a clearer, brighter, more radiant complexion. Progress takes time—but every step you take supports healthier skin and enhances your natural glow.
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Hyperpigmentation & Dark Spots – FAQ
What is hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is when patches of skin become darker than the surrounding area due to excess melanin production. It can show up as brown, grey, red, or pink spots and affects people of all skin tones.
What causes dark spots on the skin?
Dark spots can be triggered by:
Sun exposure and UV radiation
Hormonal changes (e.g., pregnancy, birth control)
Skin inflammation from acne or injury
Aging and accumulated sun damage
Genetics and certain medications
These triggers stimulate melanin overproduction in localized skin areas.
What are the most common types of hyperpigmentation?
The primary forms include:
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) — after inflammation like acne or eczema
Melasma — hormone-linked patches usually on the face
Sun spots (solar lentigines) — from chronic UV exposure
All result from excess melanin, but causes and best treatments differ. Harvard Health+1
Can hyperpigmentation go away on its own?
Some mild PIH may fade naturally over time, especially with sun protection, but many forms — especially melasma and deep sun spots — often require targeted treatment to improve visibly.
How long does it take to see results?
Results vary by type and treatment: over-the-counter actives (like brightening serums) typically take several weeks to months with consistent use, while professional procedures may show results sooner.
Are dark spots the same as acne scars?
No — acne scars change skin texture, while post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) affects color, leaving flat dark spots rather than indentations or raised scars.
Does sunscreen help with hyperpigmentation?
Yes, daily, broad-spectrum SPF 30+ is one of the most effective ways to prevent existing spots from worsening and reduce the formation of new dark spots. UVA and UVB rays both stimulate melanin production, so consistent sun protection is key.
Can diet or home remedies fix dark spots?
Home remedies like aloe vera or natural extracts may offer minimal benefit, but dermatologist-recommended ingredients (e.g., tranexamic acid, vitamin C, azelaic acid, kojic acid) are more reliable and better studied for fading dark spots. Supplement that are helpful internally are: Face Reality Clear Skin Balance and the supplement Astaxanthin.
When should I see a dermatologist?
Seek professional care if:
Dark spots don’t respond after months of consistent treatment
Spots change shape, colour, or size
You’re unsure of the diagnosis
A dermatologist or esthetician can tailor treatment based on the type and depth of your pigmentation.
Can laser or in-office treatments help?
Yes — procedures like chemical peels, certain lasers, and microneedling can accelerate fading of stubborn spots, but they should be chosen carefully. Some treatments can worsen pigmentation if inflammation or heat isn’t managed properly, especially in melasma or darker skin tones. (Expert guidance is recommended.)
Author
Jeana LeClerc
Jeana LeClerc is a licensed esthetician, Certified Acne Specialist, and the founder and CEO of Art of Skin Care . With over 20 years of hands-on experience in the skincare industry, Jeana specializes in regenerative skincare —a powerful, holistic alternative to conventional anti-aging treatments.
Rejecting the pressure of injectables and invasive procedures, Jeana champions science-backed, skin-nourishing solutions that support healthy, youthful skin from the inside out. Her mission is to help clients achieve lasting skin transformation through personalized routines, professional-grade products, and a deep understanding of how the skin functions and regenerates.
At Art of Skin Care, Jeana leads a team of expert estheticians dedicated to delivering results-driven skincare, from clearing acne to supporting healthy aging . Her blog and online consultations are trusted resources for those seeking radiant, resilient skin without compromise.
