The main cause for dark spots on your toes is too much exposure to the sun. They can also be hereditary. Dark spots on your toes are caused by your body decreasing the amount of hormones it makes that regulate the amount of melanin in your skin. When you spend too much time in the sun, ultraviolet rays damage the collagen and elastin in your skin. This makes it easier for melanin to build up, which causes dark spots. While older people are more likely to get dark spots on their toes, anyone can suffer from the condition. But there are some methods you can try to remove dark spots.
Step 1
Stay out of the sun. Sun is the No. 1 cause of the dark spots on your toes. When you are outside in the sun, wear shoes and socks to cover your feet. If you have to expose your feet to the sun, apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15.
Step 2
Buy a topical treatment at the drugstore. A skin cream with hydroquinone, vitamin C and antioxidants such as retinol can help reduce the dark spots on your toes. If over-the-counter skin cream doesn't work, a dermatologist can prescribe a medication that contains vitamin A, such as Retin-A, which helps fade spots by stimulating the growth of new, healthy cells.
Step 3
Exfoliate your skin. Exfoliating your skin is a natural way to get rid of the top layer of dead skin. Your dead skin cells contain the most pigmentation, or dark color. Buy a loofah at your local drugstore and scrub your skin firmly while in the shower or bathtub. If you want deeper skin exfoliation, go to a dermatologist for microdermabrasion treatments. Micodermabrasion involves a vacuum-like machine that scrubs aluminum oxide crystals into the skin. The crystals do the same thing as a loofah but are more effective at removing the first layer of the skin and lightening spots.
Step 4
Use lemon juice, a natural bleach that can help fade the dark spots on your toes. Squeeze the juice from a lemon or buy a container of lemon juice from the store and dip a towel in the juice. Pat the area of skin on your toes with the dark spot and then let the towel sit over your toes for at least 10 minutes. Dr. Jerome Litt, of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, recommends rubbing a cotton ball filled with lemon juice on your dark spots to reduce their color.
Step 5
Apply buttermilk on your skin. Buttermilk contains lactic acid, which fades the color of dark spots. Buttermilk revitalizes your skin and regenerates the rate your cells produce. The faster your cells produce, the faster you can fade the spots. Soak a towel in buttermilk and rub it on your dark spots. Leave the towel on for about 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
Things You'll Need
- Sunscreen
- Skin cream
- Lemon juice
- Towel
Member Comments