If you’ve dealt with hyperpigmentation on your face — sun spots, acne marks, uneven skin tone — then you might have a go-to routine. But dark spots on the body? That can be a lot harder to solve. These brown spots on skin can pop up after a long summer in the sun, or if you had a bacne situation on your back and shoulders. And this body hyperpigmentation can show up anywhere, be it your legs, your chest, your arms, or all of the above.
The good news (sort of) is that the culprits responsible for facial hyperpigmentation are pretty much the same for the rest of your skin, including sun exposure and inflammation. That can provide a roadmap for how to remove dark spots on your body, as well as prevent them in the long run. With that in mind, if you’re still using a body cream and hoping for the best, here’s what you should be doing instead to tackle hyperpigmentation on the body.
Why am I getting dark spots all over my body?
By the time fall rolls around, you might notice new dark spots on your chest, shoulders, arms, and legs. There’s a few reasons they might appear. (And of course, if any resemble a new or changing mole, then you should go to a dermatologist to rule out potential skin cancer.)
The biggest offender is sun exposure. UV rays trigger more melanin production in the skin — hence a tan — but can also cause inflammation, which leads to your cells churning out an excess amount of pigment. On your face, these show up as sun spots or age spots. But on your body, they can look like brown spots on skin (almost like freckles) or just mottled, uneven skin tone. And if you have existing hyperpigmentation from, say, a breakout on your shoulders (more on that in a moment), the sun will only make it worse.
Then, there’s post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If you have acne, then you might already be familiar with PIH, since the acne in question — which is by nature inflammatory — leads to that same excess pigment production. (That’s why when your breakouts resolve, you might see a smattering of dark spots in their place.) And the same goes for the rest of your body. But here’s the thing: It’s not just bacne that can lead to body hyperpigmentation. Anything that causes inflammation, be it a scrape or a bug bite, can lead to PIH, which is why you might be seeing dark spots even on your arms and legs after a summer in the great outdoors.
What is the best treatment for dark spots on the body?
If you’re slathering on any old body lotion, then you might not see any improvement in your body hyperpigmentation. And that’s even more likely in the fall and winter, when the air gets drier and your skin might not shed dead skin cells quite as quickly as a result — so it stays dull, and dark spots go nowhere.
So, if you’re trying to figure out how to remove dark spots on your body, your best bet is to lean on the same active ingredients you might use in your facial skincare routine. Incorporating gentle chemical exfoliants, anti-inflammatory agents, and brightening powerhouses can go a long way to brighter, more even skin.
Just as important, though, is your sunscreen; without it, sun exposure will undo all your hard work. And a new top-to-toe body sunscreen might just be in the works…so stay tuned. You might just get all the protection you know and love for your face for below the neck, too.
Gently exfoliant from head to toe
Exfoliation is non-negotiable if you’re hoping to fade dark spots on the body. In sloughing off the top layer of dead skin cells, it removes any cells that are packed with that excess pigment. But while you could use a body scrub, some gritty formulas could actually be too abrasive — and actually worsen matters.
Instead, reach for chemical exfoliants, which gently resurface your skin without impacting your skin barrier. Our Black Bamboo Daily Smoothing Body Oil is infused with mandelic acid, a mild alpha-hydroxy acid that dissolves the glue holding skin cells together, as well as urea, another exfoliant that also doubles as a hydrating humectant. (The more you know!) To up skin's softness quotient, they’re housed in a nourishing base of sweet almond, argan, and tamanu oils, as well as sugarcane-derived squalene to replenish your skin barrier. And, of course, the titular bamboo (a blend of water, leaves, and shoots) provides antioxidants for further brightening and hydration.
Apply it to dry or damp skin, where it can sink into skin without any sticky residue. Consider the fresh, herbal-floral scent a nice bonus.
Swap in a brightening moisturizer
In areas where you tend to have a lot of dark spots — think sun-exposed regions like your neck, chest, and shoulders — follow up with a brightening moisturizer like our Centella 5% Niacinamide Radiance Gel Cream, which pulls triple-duty.
For one, it contains a strategic combination of 5% niacinamide and vitamin C, which are two dark-spot correctors that work in different ways to minimize excess pigment production and even out skin tone. (Vitamin C inhibits an enzyme called tyrosinase that's critical for pigment production, while niacinamide interferes with the transfer of melanin to the skin's surface.)
On top of that, though, a blend of Centella asiatica and madecassoside quells irritation; this can help dial down inflammation in the works, minimizing the intensity of dark spots. And, of course, a combination of squalane and panthenol deliver lightweight moisture.
Together, these ingredients can have a huge effect on skin. After four weeks of use, the formula improved pigmentation in both the inner and outer layers of skin by 30%. And since it's fragrance-free and clinically tested for sensitive skin, you can slather it on without worry.
Target with a spot treatment
If you're dealing with stubborn body hyperpigmentation, it's worth giving those spots extra attention with a dedicated serum. And that calls for a strategic formula like our Centella 4% TXA Serum. It pairs 4% tranexamic acid with niacinamide and vitamin C. (Tranexamic acid, for the unfamiliar, is another powerful and time-tested brightening ingredient; like vitamin C, it helps inhibit tyrosinase.) Vitamin C, it's also worth pointing out, is a powerful antioxidant in its own right, which can help repair the damage from inflammation, too. Also in the mix is a blend of n.Pearin — a patented, antioxidant-rich ingredient derived from upcycled baby pears that would otherwise go to waste.
And while this highly concentrated formula is as potent as it gets, we've paired these dark-spot correctors with a Centella complex to keep skin calm and comfortable. Together, they make quick work of your body hyperpigmentation — and deliver brighter, more even skin year-round.
Hyperpigmentation and Body Care: Here’s How to Remove Dark Spots on Body
If you’ve dealt with hyperpigmentation on your face — sun spots, acne marks, uneven skin tone — then you might have a go-to routine. But dark spots on the body? That can be a lot harder to solve. These brown spots on skin can pop up after a long summer in the sun, or if you had a bacne situation on your back and shoulders. And this body hyperpigmentation can show up anywhere, be it your legs, your chest, your arms, or all of the above.
The good news (sort of) is that the culprits responsible for facial hyperpigmentation are pretty much the same for the rest of your skin, including sun exposure and inflammation. That can provide a roadmap for how to remove dark spots on your body, as well as prevent them in the long run. With that in mind, if you’re still using a body cream and hoping for the best, here’s what you should be doing instead to tackle hyperpigmentation on the body.
Why am I getting dark spots all over my body?
By the time fall rolls around, you might notice new dark spots on your chest, shoulders, arms, and legs. There’s a few reasons they might appear. (And of course, if any resemble a new or changing mole, then you should go to a dermatologist to rule out potential skin cancer.)
The biggest offender is sun exposure. UV rays trigger more melanin production in the skin — hence a tan — but can also cause inflammation, which leads to your cells churning out an excess amount of pigment. On your face, these show up as sun spots or age spots. But on your body, they can look like brown spots on skin (almost like freckles) or just mottled, uneven skin tone. And if you have existing hyperpigmentation from, say, a breakout on your shoulders (more on that in a moment), the sun will only make it worse.
Then, there’s post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If you have acne, then you might already be familiar with PIH, since the acne in question — which is by nature inflammatory — leads to that same excess pigment production. (That’s why when your breakouts resolve, you might see a smattering of dark spots in their place.) And the same goes for the rest of your body. But here’s the thing: It’s not just bacne that can lead to body hyperpigmentation. Anything that causes inflammation, be it a scrape or a bug bite, can lead to PIH, which is why you might be seeing dark spots even on your arms and legs after a summer in the great outdoors.
What is the best treatment for dark spots on the body?
If you’re slathering on any old body lotion, then you might not see any improvement in your body hyperpigmentation. And that’s even more likely in the fall and winter, when the air gets drier and your skin might not shed dead skin cells quite as quickly as a result — so it stays dull, and dark spots go nowhere.
So, if you’re trying to figure out how to remove dark spots on your body, your best bet is to lean on the same active ingredients you might use in your facial skincare routine. Incorporating gentle chemical exfoliants, anti-inflammatory agents, and brightening powerhouses can go a long way to brighter, more even skin.
Just as important, though, is your sunscreen; without it, sun exposure will undo all your hard work. And a new top-to-toe body sunscreen might just be in the works…so stay tuned. You might just get all the protection you know and love for your face for below the neck, too.
Gently exfoliant from head to toe
Exfoliation is non-negotiable if you’re hoping to fade dark spots on the body. In sloughing off the top layer of dead skin cells, it removes any cells that are packed with that excess pigment. But while you could use a body scrub, some gritty formulas could actually be too abrasive — and actually worsen matters.
Instead, reach for chemical exfoliants, which gently resurface your skin without impacting your skin barrier. Our Black Bamboo Daily Smoothing Body Oil is infused with mandelic acid, a mild alpha-hydroxy acid that dissolves the glue holding skin cells together, as well as urea, another exfoliant that also doubles as a hydrating humectant. (The more you know!) To up skin's softness quotient, they’re housed in a nourishing base of sweet almond, argan, and tamanu oils, as well as sugarcane-derived squalene to replenish your skin barrier. And, of course, the titular bamboo (a blend of water, leaves, and shoots) provides antioxidants for further brightening and hydration.
Apply it to dry or damp skin, where it can sink into skin without any sticky residue. Consider the fresh, herbal-floral scent a nice bonus.
Swap in a brightening moisturizer
In areas where you tend to have a lot of dark spots — think sun-exposed regions like your neck, chest, and shoulders — follow up with a brightening moisturizer like our Centella 5% Niacinamide Radiance Gel Cream, which pulls triple-duty.
For one, it contains a strategic combination of 5% niacinamide and vitamin C, which are two dark-spot correctors that work in different ways to minimize excess pigment production and even out skin tone. (Vitamin C inhibits an enzyme called tyrosinase that's critical for pigment production, while niacinamide interferes with the transfer of melanin to the skin's surface.)
On top of that, though, a blend of Centella asiatica and madecassoside quells irritation; this can help dial down inflammation in the works, minimizing the intensity of dark spots. And, of course, a combination of squalane and panthenol deliver lightweight moisture.
Together, these ingredients can have a huge effect on skin. After four weeks of use, the formula improved pigmentation in both the inner and outer layers of skin by 30%. And since it's fragrance-free and clinically tested for sensitive skin, you can slather it on without worry.
Target with a spot treatment
If you're dealing with stubborn body hyperpigmentation, it's worth giving those spots extra attention with a dedicated serum. And that calls for a strategic formula like our Centella 4% TXA Serum. It pairs 4% tranexamic acid with niacinamide and vitamin C. (Tranexamic acid, for the unfamiliar, is another powerful and time-tested brightening ingredient; like vitamin C, it helps inhibit tyrosinase.) Vitamin C, it's also worth pointing out, is a powerful antioxidant in its own right, which can help repair the damage from inflammation, too. Also in the mix is a blend of n.Pearin — a patented, antioxidant-rich ingredient derived from upcycled baby pears that would otherwise go to waste.
And while this highly concentrated formula is as potent as it gets, we've paired these dark-spot correctors with a Centella complex to keep skin calm and comfortable. Together, they make quick work of your body hyperpigmentation — and deliver brighter, more even skin year-round.