How to Get Rid of Sunspots on Your Skin

by: Linda Robison / Facial Fitness Specialist @ ABZ

It's possible to lighten age spots with inexpensive treatments and preventive measures like sunscreen.

Tired of seeing sunspots, dark spots, or age spots on your skin every time you look in the mirror? 😟

If you’re here, you're probably frustrated with those stubborn sunspots (solar lentigines) and want an affordable way to get rid of them. Maybe you’ve tried pricey treatments or creams that didn’t work, or you’re just starting your search for the best sunspot removal options.

Either way, you’re in the right place!

My goal here is to show you the most effective and affordable ways to lighten sunspots, fade dark spots, and get back to clearer, more even skin.

A picture showing the difference in sun spots on the face with and without sunscreen protection.

The Good News: You don’t need to spend a fortune to address them. This Anti-Aging Beauty Zone guide will walk you through affordable, doable at-home solutions to lighten sunspots. From creams to at-home DIY peels, I've got your back.

I am living proof that it works. Don't miss my Before and After pictures below!

What are sunspots

Sunspots, also called age spots or solar lentigines, are those flat, brownish spots that pop up on areas exposed to the sun, like your face. They’re caused by too much UV exposure.

Quick Tip: Always check with a dermatologist if you notice any new or changing spots to rule out any serious conditions before trying treatments.

How do I get rid of sunspots: best ways to lighten

1. topical treatments

Vitamin C Serums:

This is your best friend for smoother skin. It helps lighten those dark spots and gives your skin a bright, youthful glow. For the best results, add some fresh Vitamin C serum or powder to your favorite cream or moisturizer apply it every day.  Make sure to mix-up a new batch every 30-60 days, because vitamin C loses potency after that time.

Niacinamide:

This super ingredient, also known as Vitamin B3, helps even out skin tone and fight signs of aging. Mix it with Vitamin C for extra benefits.

Over-the-Counter Creams:

Look for creams with ingredients like retinoids, alpha arbutin, or AHAs. They gently fade sunspots over time.

2. At-home chemical peels and scrubs

Home Peels:

You can use at-home peels to gently exfoliate your skin and help lighten sunspots. Try glycolic acid peels to brighten your complexion. I've had great results with this method.

Scrubs:

While scrubs alone won't get rid of sun spots, it will help remove the top layer of dead skin cells that you'll accumulate when you use chemical peels and active creams like retinols.

Peels and scrubs go hand in hand for smoother skin tone. These sugar face scrubs are perfect for sensitive skin and are cheap since you can make them at-home.

3. professional treatments

Professional treatments can work quickly, but sunspots often return just as fast. I’ve tried professional lasers for a large stubborn spot on my cheek, but without using the home treatments mentioned above, the spots come back, and the expense feels wasted. Just keep this in mind.

Laser Therapy:

Lasers can target those dark spots and break them up. It’s a bit pricier but great for quicker results.

Chemical Peels:

Done by dermatologists, these peels go a bit deeper to help reduce those spots and improve skin texture.

Cryotherapy:

This method freezes the sunspots with liquid nitrogen. It’s not as common anymore but still an option.

tips for best results: simple routine for fading sunspots

To get the most out of your sunspot treatments, a consistent routine is key. Here’s a friendly, easy-to-follow schedule to help you achieve brighter, more even skin.

daily routine

Morning

  • Cleanse: Start with a gentle cleanser to wash away impurities and prepare your skin for treatment.
  • Vitamin C: Apply a fresh batch of Vitamin C serum. This antioxidant helps lighten sunspots and brighten your skin. For maximum potency, I make my own fresh Vitamin C serum batch every 30 days or so. 
  • Moisturize: Follow up with a hydrating moisturizer to keep your skin balanced and prevent dryness.
  • Sunscreen: Finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. This step is crucial to protect your skin from further sun damage and keep existing spots from getting darker.  Look for sunscreen with a PA rating!

Evening

  • Cleanse: Remove makeup and daily grime.
  • Exfoliate (2-3 Times a Week): Use a gentle exfoliant like a mild scrub or an at-home peel to remove dead skin cells and enhance the effectiveness of your treatments. Avoid over-exfoliating to prevent irritation.
  • Niacinamide Serum: Apply a niacinamide serum. See how niacinamide helps with skin discoloration and improves texture.
  • Moisturize: Keep your skin hydrated and support the repair process overnight.

weekly routine

Exfoliation

At-Home Chemical Peels: Use a light peel once a week to help with sunspot fading. Follow the instructions on the product for best results.

Dermaplaning or Microdermabrasion: If you use these tools, do so once a week to maintain smooth, even skin.

Masks

Brightening Masks: Apply a brightening mask 1-2 times a week to complement your treatment routine and boost skin radiance. There are so many different types of masks. It's a good idea to switch between lightening and hydrating masks, especially if you're over 40. 

monthly routine

Check-In:

Evaluate your progress and adjust your routine if needed. If you’re not seeing results or if you have any concerns, consider consulting a dermatologist for additional guidance.

Product Review:

Reassess your skincare products. Note: For home chemical peels to be effective, regular exfoliation is crucial. Exfoliating helps remove damaged cells, making the chemical peel more effective by clearing away the cells it targets.

By following this simple schedule, you can maintain a consistent approach to fading sunspots and achieving a more even skin tone. Remember, patience and consistency are your best friends in this process.

Fading sun spots: my home treatment results

In the first two pictures below, you can see my early results after only a few months of using the at-home treatment suggested above. 

Compare the dark sun spot on my neck skin (on the left)  to the after picture on the right. It's almost gone and the middle ring around my neck is smoother. However, you can still see a lot of sun damage and tiny spots on my skin.

Spots on neck. how to reduce sun spots on skin with vitamin C lightening treatments

Several months later, my skin looks MUCH better, smoother and while you can still see the sun spot, it's much lighter and less noticeable.

Sun spots on neck skin lighter after a few months of vitamin C treatments.

Final: Is it possible to lighten sun spots at home?

At-home remedies and over-the-counter products can help lighten sun spots on skin in delicate areas like the face and neck, especially with consistent use of sunscreen to prevent them from reappearing.

This guide provides a range of options, from topical treatments to DIY peels, all aimed at achieving an even skin tone. My before-and-after photos show that effective results for sun spots on skin are possible at home.

Remember, if you're frequently exposed to the sun, dark spots can return, but with the right strategies, you can manage and reduce them. For those of us with fair skin or prone to sun spots, daily care is key.

Make sure to apply UVA/UVB sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day.

next: vitamin c after Dermaplaning



FAQ: Sun spots on skin

Q: Do you get vitamin C from the sun?

A: No, you do not directly get vitamin C from the sun because it's not synthesized by sunlight.

However, exposure to sunlight can indirectly affect your vitamin C levels. Sunlight triggers the production of vitamin D in the skin, and vitamin D plays a role in enhancing the absorption of dietary vitamin C.

So while the sun does not provide vitamin C directly, it can influence your body's ability to utilize vitamin C from food sources. 

Q: Are freckles and sun spots the same?

A: Freckles and sunspots are not exactly the same, although they are both related to sun exposure.

Freckles, also known as ephelides, are small brown spots that often appear on the face, arms, and other sun-exposed areas of the body.

They are typically genetic and tend to darken with sun exposure. Freckles are harmless and are caused by an increased production of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color.

Sunspots, on the other hand, are also known as solar lentigines or age spots.

They are flat, tan, brown, or black spots that appear on areas of the skin frequently exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, shoulders, and arms.

Sunspots are usually larger than freckles and tend to develop later in life, hence the name "age spots." They are caused by an accumulation of melanin in specific areas due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

While both freckles and sunspots are influenced by sun exposure and involve an increase in melanin production, sunspots are generally associated with aging and long-term sun damage, while freckles are more commonly associated with genetic factors and may fade or lighten during the winter months when sun exposure is reduced.

Q: What can sun spots look like?

A: Sun spots are typically tan, brown, or black in color. They can range in shade from light to dark, depending on the individual and the amount of sun exposure.

They're often round or oval. And have well-defined with smooth edges or slightly irregular in shape.

They can vary in size, ranging from small spots to larger patches on the skin. They are typically smaller than a centimeter in diameter.

You can see pictures of what sun spots on the legs look like. 

Q: Can you recommend a home face peel for sun spots?

A: Sure. I highly suggest the Zenmed Skin Eraser kit. It does a great job of exfoliating the dead, darkened skin cells and evens out your skin tone. You only need to use it about 3 times a year, if you're using vitamin C daily.

And most important: Make sure you're using a cream or serum containing fresh vitamin C every day. I mix my vitamin C powder into my morning moisturizer daily. 



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