Dark marks can appear on the skin for several reasons. If you've suffered from acne, the inflammation from these lesions can leave dark marks behind even once the lesions have healed. Age spots and sun damage are other reasons that dark marks might appear. In any case, you can fade any dark marks on your skin. It starts with a healthy skin care regimen and progresses from there.
Step 1
Cleanse the skin well with a gentle face wash. Be sure to use a brand that is mild for the skin and won't dry it out. Ingredients to avoid include parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate and dyes. If you have sensitive skin, avoid fragrances, as well. After working the cleanser into a lather, rinse with warm water.
Step 2
Moisturize your skin with an oil-free moisturizer immediately after cleansing. This will lock in the hydration and soothe skin irritation. Keeping the skin hydrated makes dark marks less noticeable, as well.
Step 3
Protect the skin with sunscreen. Apply an oil-free formula with at least SPF 15 to your skin 20 minutes before going outdoors, says AcneNet. This will protect your skin from sun damage, which can create new dark marks and darken existing ones.
Step 4
Apply lemon juice to your dark marks. After dipping a cotton pad or cotton ball into lemon juice, wipe it over your skin. Not only is it an exfoliant, but the citric acid bleaches the skin and helps remove the pigment in the dark marks. If irritation develops after application, dilute the lemon juice with water.
Step 5
Use a bleaching cream such as hydroquinone on your dark marks. Available by prescription, this cream bleaches away skin pigment. Regular application is required to fade the marks, but you need to be careful to only apply it to the areas you wish to lighten. The bleaching action is permanent.
Things You'll Need
- Paraben-free cleanser
- Oil-free moisturizer
- Oil-free sunscreen
- Lemon juice
- Cotton pad or ball
- Bleaching cream
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