When choosing ingredients to address hyperpigmentation, there are different ways to approach it. You can choose ingredients that target the “pigment” production which in essence is looking for ingredients that inhibit the production of either melanosome or tyrosinase, if you struggle with hyperpigmentation this will help to decrease the overproduction of these pigments to lighten and even out those dark spots and even out your skin tone. Another way to address hyperpigmentation is to use ingredients that increase skin cell turnover to get rid of the old and bring in the new, essentially.
Ingredients that work to inhibit the production of the amount of pigment being produced:
- Retinol
- Niacinamide
- Vitamin C
- Azelaic acid
- Kojic acid
Ingredients that increase skin cell turnover:
- Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid and lactic acid
- A beta hydroxy acid (BHA), that will be salicylic acid
- Poly hydroxy acids (PHAs) such as gluconolactone
- Retinol
But most importantly, you need to wear sunscreen. Sun damage and exposure to the sun without using sunscreen worsens the hyperpigmentation and any dark spots.
