Hyperpigmentation and dark spots on your skin can be tough to get rid of. They never seem to fade away even with time. Luckily, there are skincare ingredients that can help with pigmentation issues no matter how stubborn they are.
Glycolic acid is a great option for reducing the appearance of pigmentation issues and age spots to give you even-toned skin.
What Causes Hyperpigmentation?
There isn’t one single cause of hyperpigmentation on the skin. However, they all result in the same thing: visible darker spots that are hard to fade away. Common causes of dark patches on the skin and uneven skin tone include:
- Age
- Sun Damage
- Post-Acne Marks
- Pollution Exposure
- Pregnancy
- Ingrown Hairs
- Skin Irritation
That’s where glycolic acid comes in. This ingredient has a unique way to lighten dark spots on your skin to reveal glowing, even-toned skin.
Can Glycolic Acid Fade Dark Spots?
Glycolic acid is an ideal skincare ingredient to fade dark spots and melasma and other types of hyperpigmentation as multiple studies show.
Why?
This exfoliating ingredient has an effect within the skin known as ‘melanin inhibition’. But what is this process, and what is melanin in the first place?
What is Melanin?
Melanin is the pigment in your skin that decides its color. If you have more melanin in your skin, you have a darker skin tone. Skin can also create more melanin as a natural response to sun exposure, resulting in a tan.
Sometimes, too much melanin gets created in one spot - resulting in dark spots on your skin.
How Does Glycolic Acid Affect Melanin?
Glycolic acid can actually interrupt the way your skin makes melanin. Especially in spots where it’s making too much. Over time, as you keep using glycolic acid regularly, it helps hyperpigmentation and melasma to fade.
This means that over time, your skin tone looks much more even. Using glycolic acid gives you the added benefit of a healthy glow.
Takeaway
Glycolic acid is one of the best skincare ingredients you can use to get rid of dark spots. Whether they are caused by breakouts, hormones, or age, glycolic acid is a powerful skincare ingredient to use for an even, radiant skin tone.
Add a glycolic acid peel to your skincare routine 2-4 nights a week.
