Sun spots are discolored areas of the skin that appear as flat brown, gray or black spots and could be a result from sun exposure or time spent in tanning beds. Discolorations typically fall into one of three categories: sun spots, hyperpigmentation or dark spots. Sun spots are a result of sun exposure, while hyperpigmentation and dark spots can be brought on post-acne or after trauma and inflammation in an hyper-concentrated area of the skin, age or something that triggers an increase of pigment production in a defined area.

UV rays from sun exposure can cause pigments in the skin to change, leading to visible sun spots, which is why we recommend using SPF protection to help protect skin from potentially harmful sun damage. Sun spots can also be caused by excess exposure to the sun over time, and they can also be called “age spots,” as they may appear later in life.

Sun spots appear darker in color than the rest of your skin tone and look like dark spots on the skin due to the sun triggering the skin to produce more pigment in an attempt to protect the skinⁱ. This overproduction of pigment causes spots to show up on the skin in varying shades of brown or black.

Freckles are also known as ephelides and are caused by an increased amount of dark pigments in the skin. Freckles often appear on the areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun, but they differ from sun spots in several ways including they are not caused by overexposure to the sun, but rather, are often genetic. Freckles also often fade during the winter months and they are often red to light brown in color. Sun spots, on the other hand, are caused by exposure to UV rays, usually do not fade due to season changes and are can be light yellow to dark brown or black in color.

Sun spots are not painful, and given that they’re usually benign and non-threatening, they’re also not harmful to the skin or body. If you’d like to reduce the appearance of sun spots, you could try our dark spot corrector to help diminish the appearance of existing sun spots and help minimize the triggers of hyperpigmentation. You can also pair these formulas with one of our highly effective sunscreens including our facial sunscreen with SPF 50+ or our men’s moisturizer with SPF to help prevent further sun damage.

It is possible for sun spots to fade, lessen or go away completely over time if you’re using powerful, efficacious ingredients and/or seeking treatment from a skincare professional. Products with ingredients such as Glycolic Acid, Aloe Vera, Activated C and Vitamin C could all help reduce the appearance of dark spots caused by the sun and other discolorations over time. Our dark spot corrector uses the power of Activated C, a potent form of Vitamin C, to help even skin tone and enhance overall skin clarity. If you’re looking for more intensive forms of treatment, you should consult a dermatologist.

Adding products that help even skin tone and target dark spots to your skincare routine can help decrease signs of existing sun spots or discolorations, help minimize the triggers of hyperpigmentation and enhance overall skin clarity. For a brightening skincare routine, we recommend our Clearly Corrective collection as a gentle, yet efficacious way to increase brightness and enhance clarity for clear, healthy-looking skin. Exfoliating the skin is a great way to encourage cell turnover for renewed skin that’s visibly more healthy-looking. However, be careful not to over-exfoliate at the risk of possible irritation. We recommend trying our gentle exfoliating milk-peel toner to improve cell turnover to help reveal clearer, brighter skin. Also, it’s important to use SPF protection daily to help protect skin and help prevent sun spots from forming.

A brightening skincare routine to target areas of discoloration coupled with skin-soothing formulas including ingredients such as Calendula and Lavender Essential Oil can help maintain an even skin tone. Try our efficacious formulas such as our Calendula water cream and our nighttime facial oil to soothe skin and help maintain even, radiant skin. If you’re experiencing dark areas under the eyes due to digital fatigue or trauma from rubbing under the eyes, you can try our Avocado eye cream to help minimize the appearance of digital fatigue and even skin tone under they eye area. You can also add our anti-aging cream with 7-in-1 benefits as a moisturizer step in your routine to help even and refine skin. As always, we recommend completing your skincare routine with a sunscreen for daily defense against overexposure to the sun.

Prevention starts with a sunscreen as a first step of defending against sun damage or damaging UV rays from tanning beds. Find the best sunscreen for your skin to help protect from potentially harmful sun damage that can lead to sun spots and other signs of skin-aging for a healthy-looking complexion.