Out, Damn'd Spot!

If that’s what you think every morning when you look in the mirror…you’re not alone. I feel like I’ve been saying that nearly my whole life. When I was younger it was frustration over my blemishes. Now that I’m older, it’s the dark spots that seemingly show up out of nowhere. And just when you think you’ve got ridden of them through IPL or targeted fading creams, another one pops up. It’s like a never-ending game of whack-a -mole. So what’s a gal to do?

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First, keep using your topical vitamin C and sunscreen. The vitamin C will be your knock-out punch to the free radicals, which help to form the age spots. The sunscreen will help to prevent more melanin from clumping and rising to the surface.Second, avoid the sun between the hours of 10am and 2pm when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Wear a hat if you have to be out during this time.Third, use a hyperpigmentation treatment that doesn’t make you photo-sensitive. Many times people want instant gratification and resort to fading creams that work quickly but also make your skin more sensitive to the light. This increases the likelihood that you’ll actually get more spots or have the ones you've already faded come back even darker than before. A product like Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense works on stubborn brown patches, post-acne marks, and melasma without skin bleaching ingredients like hydroquinone.In the interim, a concealer like Smashbox’s Waterproof 24-Hour Studio Skin or Kevyn Aucoin’s Sensual Skin Enhancer can cover even the darkest spots without looking cake-y. When trying to conceal a dark spot, a few light coats is better than one heavy coat. Dab a bit of concealer on the spot and tap it into the spot until it is absorbed. Repeat until the spot is no longer visible. Lightly dust with a transparent setting powder to make sure that it holds all day.A little effort and a lot of vigilance with the sun and those spots won’t know what hit them.