By now many have heard of or read of the dangers associated with using skin creams containing hydroquinone. Some may feel there is no hope for fading their dark marks without this ingredient. For those with hyperpigmentation this is a scary thought to have. However, there are plenty of products available that help fade dark spots for a clearer complexion. The best part — none of them contain hydroquinone.
The best cleansers for fading dark spots contain and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs). The two most common ones are salicylic acid (BHA) and glycolic acid (AHA). For over-the-counter products AHAs and BHAs are in lower dosages ranging from two percent (BHAs) and sometimes higher than 10 percent (AHAs). Both salicylic and glycolic acids work to chemically exfoliate skin. Over time this process results in fading of dark spots and skin discoloration.
Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid Three Percent Facial Wash, $32.00 at Sephora
Alpha Hydrox Foaming Face Wash, $6.87 at drugstore.com
Fade Creams, Serums and Treatments
For old dark spots and larger areas of discoloration a fade cream, serum or treatment is often needed in addition to a BHA or AHA face wash. For decades fade creams and lotions mainly contained hydroquinone as the active ingredient for fading dark spots and evening skin tone. Despite hydroquinone eventually making skin worse with prolonged use (with sometimes dangerous results) it could only be applied to the affected area. If you had many dark spots from acne scarring this is a time-consuming task.
The newer, hydroquinone-free skin clarifying products can be safely applied to the entire face. With these products results are often not seen until after two months of using the product. This means you may have to purchase two bottles or jars before you notice any significant fading. Don’t be impatient. It takes time to fade skin discoloration.
Products to Try:
Alpha Hydrox AHA Souffle 12% Glycolic AHA, $12.39 at drugstore.com
Avon Anew Clinical Luminosity Pro Brightening Serum, $54.00 at Avon and $17.95 at Amazon
Avon Anew Rejuvenate Glycolic Facial Treatment, $30.00 at Avon and $11.73 at Amazon
Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, $49.50 (one ounce) and $73.00 (1.7 ounces) at Sephora
Tips for Using Hydroquinone-Free Fade Products
Skin clarifying products increase skin’s photosensitivity. This means the skin has an increased risk of burning and being damaged by the sun. These tips address this aspect:
If possible, use discoloration fading products at night.
If you use them in the morning do so, at least 30-minutes prior to sun exposure.
Always wear sunscreen.
Limit sun exposure. Sun exposure actually works against these products because it causes the skin to produce more melanin even in the areas you are trying to fade.
