I know what it's like to struggle with dark spots when you have black or mixed-race skin.
Like many Black women, your struggle with hyperpigmentation probably looks something like this:
However, know that there are solutions designed specifically for people like you. They will allow you to:
Here are 5 steps to help you finally get rid of dark spots on your face or body, even if you've already tried everything.
If you want to get rid of your spots permanently, you must first identify the cause.
Hyperpigmentation is a phenomenon that results in a darker color of the skin in certain areas, due to an overproduction of melanin.
Black and mixed-race skin has a high concentration of melanin. This is what allows it to age better and less quickly than white skin .
However, this high concentration of melanin also makes them very sensitive to external aggressions.
Indeed, in the event of aggression, black and mixed-race skin defends itself by overproducing melanin (hyperpigmentation), which causes black or brown spots.
Different factors can cause the appearance of pigment spots:
Have you identified the factors in the list that caused your dark spots?
Discover our anti-blemish starter kit to remove blemishes from the face and body.
We're not all equal when it comes to hyperpigmentation. Black/mixed-race skin has specific characteristics that you need to understand in order to choose skincare products that will give you results.
Whether we have black, mixed-race or white skin, we all have two types of melanin:
The difference lies in the proportion of each pigment.
People with black or mixed skin mostly have brown/black pigment, while people with white skin mostly have light pigment.
The brown/black pigment, unlike the light pigment, tends to "run away" too much.
In fact, the slightest aggression (irritation, acne pimple, aggressive products, injury, insect bite, etc.) causes an overproduction of the brown/black pigment, which causes those famous black spots that we hate so much!
So you can understand why people with black or mixed-race skin are more affected by hyperpigmentation problems.
Black skin has other specificities that I invite you to discover.
At this point, you know that hyperpigmentation on Black/mixed skin is different from hyperpigmentation on Caucasian skin.
So you understand that the solutions cannot be identical.
4 main reasons why your anti-blemish treatment is not working.
For an anti-dark spot treatment to work on black/mixed-race skin, it must primarily target the brown/black pigment, since this is the predominant pigment in these people.
Although there are many products on the market to reduce hyperpigmentation, you should know that major cosmetic brands make products for fair skin. People with black/mixed skin are often overlooked.
Since most anti-blemish products on the market are designed for white skin, they primarily target light pigment. However, it's the brown/black pigment that should be targeted for people with black/mixed skin.
This is why the effectiveness of these treatments on black/mixed-race skin is generally limited.
In some cases, we see what's called rebound hyperpigmentation . You think you've finally beaten your spots, but a few weeks later, they reappear...
You understand why after spending so much money, trying so many products, you still can't get rid of your pigment spots.
The products you buy simply don't take into account the specificities of your skin.
Ingredients that work on white skin may not work on your skin.
Even worse, some of these ingredients can be irritating to your skin. And when you say irritation to black/mixed-race skin, you mean hyperpigmentation...
When it comes to treating spots, sticking to your routine is essential for great results.
You can buy the best products in the world, but if you only use them when you think about it, the stains won't come out.
Anti-blemish treatment takes time. It takes between 3 and 6 months to see good results. It all depends on how old the stains are.
Patience and perseverance are the key to regaining clear skin.
If a product promises results in a few days, question its composition. It likely contains ingredients that irritate your skin, which can worsen your spots.
Having helped many women with their anti-blemish treatment, I know that motivation often wanes after a few weeks. It feels like it's not working.
To avoid getting discouraged during the anti-stain treatment, I always recommend taking pictures before starting the treatment .
These photos will serve as a reference for the future.
Then take photos every 2 weeks or so and compare them to the photos you took at the beginning. This may seem trivial to you, but it makes all the difference.
When you compare the photos during treatment to the photos from the beginning, you realize that there is an improvement and that makes you want to continue. Whereas if you don't have photos from the beginning, you will too easily conclude that nothing is happening.
It cannot be said enough that black/mixed-race skin also needs sun protection.
Although our melanin provides some protection against UV rays, it is not sufficient.
When you expose yourself to UV rays without sunscreen, your spots become darker. It's as if you're reversing the effects of your anti-dark spot treatment.
You'll be happy to know that some simple steps can help you prevent the appearance of dark spots on your face or body.
I know how tempting it is to pick at your spots. But by doing so, you increase inflammation and your skin reacts by producing more black/brown pigment.
Result: you end up with big black spots.
This is key to a skincare routine, whether you have spots or not. Summer and winter.
When you go out in the sun without sunscreen, the exposed areas become darker.
For optimal protection, choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 before any exposure.
When you use harsh products, your skin reacts by producing more black/brown pigment. And hello, dark spots!
Stay away from bleaching products. They damage, weaken, and unbalance the skin. They also cause dark spots and are potentially dangerous for your health.
It is recommended to space out shaving and to moisturize the skin daily with suitable products.
Avoid sudden and vigorous movements while shaving.
Now that you've identified the cause of your dark spots, understood the specifics of black/mixed-race skin, and identified the reasons why you haven't seen results so far, it's time to learn how to choose the right products to reduce dark spots.
There are a plethora of products on the market to reduce hyperpigmentation, and I know how difficult it can be to navigate them all.
Some of these products do more harm than good to black/mixed skin.
Using the wrong ingredients or using the right ingredients in the wrong concentration can cause damage to your skin: irritation, skin bleaching, etc.
So how do you choose the right products?
The first step is to treat the cause of your spots.
Example: If your spots are caused by pimples, you should treat the spots first to prevent new spots from appearing.
So here are 4 rules for choosing products against hyperpigmentation on black skin.
As I mentioned earlier, you should definitely stay away from irritating ingredients, as they will only make your hyperpigmentation worse.
Choose gentle products, whether it's a cleanser, exfoliant, face cream, or anti-blemish serum.
Just because a product is popular doesn't mean it'll work for you. When it comes to anti-dark spot treatments, you should look for ingredients that specifically target brown/black pigment.
The sad reality is that most skincare products on the market target light pigment because these companies make products for a white-skinned clientele.
According to this article evaluating treatments for hyperpigmentation in Black skin , arbutin and kojic acid are not effective for treating hyperpigmentation in Black/mixed skin because they reduce melanin production overall and do not specifically target brown/black pigment.
The same goes for azelai acid , which does not specifically target brown/black pigment, so its effectiveness on black skin is limited.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and helps brighten skin. Results are limited when it comes to treating dark spots on black skin.
Here are some ingredients known to effectively reduce dark spots on black/mixed-race skin:
Wheat bran extract : it specifically targets brown/black pigment and has remarkable effectiveness on hyperpigmentation.
Rice bran extract : Just like wheat bran extract, it effectively reduces dark spots on dark skin.
You can use the best products for hyperpigmentation, but if your routine doesn't include sun protection, it will be difficult to achieve the desired results.
Choose a sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher and which doesn't leave white marks on black skin (we understand each other, right?).
I sincerely hope that this guide has helped you and that you have more confidence in your ability to overcome your pigmentation spots.
If you're ready to win the battle against dark spots, Beauté Herins can help. This will save you a lot of trial and error.
I invite you to read how Mireille managed to get rid of her spots thanks to Beauté Herins.
Discover our Anti-Dark Spot Starter Kit . Formulated specifically for black/mixed-race skin, it effectively reduces dark spots, regardless of their cause. Plus, results are visible after 28 days.
