Dark spots and Hyperpigmentation

I first began to notice the formation of dark spots on my face about a year ago. At first I thought it was just an uneven tan and that they would eventually fade. I have an olive complexion and have always tanned fairly easily. Of course always taking all the necessary precautions by always using a high protection sunscreen ( 30 spf and above for the face), avoiding the sun during peek hours etc etc
So it came as a bit of a suprise when the dark spots persisted. The uneven skintone is very unflatering, especially when it is on the face and so visible.

Dark spots or Hyperpigmentation as they are called, basically looks like a patchy tan and are created by an excess production of melanin. Anywhere where the color of your skin has changed and appears darker is considered pigmentation = uneven skin tone/inflammation.
There are a number of diferent causes.
"Age Spots" - aka "sunspots" or "liver spots" are pigmentations caused by a predisposition (freckles) and/or sun exposure. (UV rays)
"Melasma" - These are usually larger patches of pigmentation. And rather than sunshine, hormones are responsible for these. ( for ex. pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone medicine etc)  And as I later found out, more common in people who tan easily or who have olive complexions...which is in my case.
Other causes are "Ance" and/or injury to the skin.

Once I had established the cause, I had to rethink my whole skincare routine. The best way to treat dark spots/hyperpigmentation is with Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Vitamin A / Retinols and Vitamin C.

If you have not yet included it, Vitamin C is essential in any skincare routine. It stimulates the production of collagen and therefore reduces sun damage, age spots and hyperpigmentation. It can also reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve firmness and  tone and increase the overall brightness of the skin. And it also protects against UV and pollutants, which is why it is recommended to be used in the mornings.
Because it stimulates collagen production, it forces cell turnover and this paired with regular exfoliation helps increase brightness, firmness and overall skin elasticity and a visable overall improvement.
Now there are many vitamin c products out there and choosing one can be a bit daunting I have found. When confronted between creams and serums, I have been told that serums are always the better option. They are usually also far more expensive.
La Roche Posay is a french brand and available in most pharmacies. On the price scale it is definitely on the low/medium end range. I have been using their products for awhile now and have steadily seen some improvement.
After my morning cleanse, I have been using La Roche Posay Redermic C UV cream with Vitamin C. It already comes with a UV SPF protection of 25 and helps moisturize and keep the skin plump. I pair this with La Roche Posay Pigmentclar Serum, targeted at visibly reducing dark spots and smoothing and brightening ones complexion. I have been doing this routine systematically for a few months now and can already see a significant change. So overall I am quite happy with the results, I only wished they would work faster.

At night I use La Roche Posay  Redermic R cream with Retinol. This is an anti-aging concentrate with pure retinol. It heps to greatly reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as provide exfoliation. Best used at night, but if it is used during the day, apply a sunscreen after.
It is important to emphasize that sun protection (or even sun avoidance) is a key part of any skincare routine, but it is espeacially important if you´re going to use skin lightening products. Don´t leave home without it, because it is important to reapply as needed. It has been shown that it is necessary to take the best possible care of your skin especially where brown spots are concerned.

I have also been trying out two new products which I have just recently included in my routine.
Isdin Flavo C. Flavo C is an anti-aging facial serum with a powerful antioxidant that fights photoaging thanks to the action of vitamin C with Gingko Biloba. Additionally it promotes the recovery of the easticity of the skin, giving a greater hydration and a visibly rejuvenated and luminous appearance. It neutralizes free radicals and regenerates vitamin E, both actions that lead to a decrease in substances that lead to skin aging. The local increase in vitamin C is involved in the process of producing collagen with proven results in improved skin elasticity and increased resistence of the capillary vessel wall.
Sesderma Azelac RU. Azelac RU is a depigmenting serum with liposomal properties that act directly on the origin of the skin patches, making the skin more homogeneous. Depigmenting effect, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, beneficial even in high phototypes, post inflammatory hyerpigmentations and melasma. It is supposed to clarify and reduce the intensity of the spots and prevent the appearance of new spots. Should be aplied only at night.
This all sounds very promising, but it is still in the testing phase. I´ll let you know how they turn out.

The spots on the skin are one of the most frequent causes of dermatological consultations. I am no expert in this field and I am merely sharing with you my experience with this problem and the products that have helped me in the process. Everyones skin is diferent and can also react diferently. If you have suffered from a similar problem please do share with me your experience and feel free to leave any suggestions as well...
(This is more of an informative post and I hope it serves to help anyone dealing with this problem.)