In this article:
White spots on skin
Brown spots on skin
How to get rid of sunspots on skin
We tend to worry more about the visible changes sun damage causes to our face, but in truth, we should be just as concerned about the changes sun exposure causes on the rest of the body. If you’re seeing white spots on skin, white patches, light spots, dark spots or other age spots from sun exposure, here’s what you need to know to improve their appearance.
White spots on skin
White spots on skin tend to show up on the sun-exposed areas of the arms and legs. They differ from brown spots not only in color, but also in why they form. Brown spots are due to excess pigmentation, but white spots occur when skin’s pigment is destroyed from years of sun exposure (1).
Board-Certified Dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman notes that there are different categories of white patches on skin known as, “idiopathic (no one knows where it comes from), guttate (confetti-like) and hypomelanosis (less pigment).” It remains a mystery as to why some areas of skin get white spots while others darken.
Although white spots might seem like a cause for concern, they’re harmless. Unfortunately, they cannot be eliminated. As Dr. Hartman goes on further to say that “there are only a few ways to get the lost pigment back. Microneedling combined with or without prescription topical bimatoprost has emerged as a safe and effective way to improve the condition, but it’s not cheap.”
However, you can prevent more white spots from appearing by consistently applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Remember: With sunscreen, a little doesn’t go a long way. It’s important to be liberal with how much sunscreen you apply to your face and body. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a full shot glass of sunscreen for your whole body (2).
You can also take other sun-protective measures, like wearing ultraviolet-rated clothing, staying inside during sun’s peak hours (usually 10AM-2PM), and, of course, NEVER getting a tan, whether indoors or outside. You can try to make the white spots visually blend with the surrounding skin by using a self-tanning product, but you must apply it only to the white spots. Use a cotton swab or makeup brush to apply a tiny amount of self-tanner directly on the white spot; then wait a few hours and see how the color looks. Reapply as needed to maintain the color balance.
Brown spots on skin
Brown spots are easier to deal with, as there are both over the counter and in-office options from a dermatologist that can improve their appearance—possibly fading them to a significant degree. We discuss those in the section below. Brown spots are often a result of sun damage and are usually accompanied by other signs of environmental damage, like dull, ashy-looking skin (3,4).
You can dramatically improve the tone and texture of sun-damaged skin with an alpha hydroxy acid lotion or, if raised bumps and enlarged pores are also a concern, a beta hydroxy acid body lotion. Those are the fastest and most gentle ways to get your glow and smooth texture back. Dr. Hartman notes that, “if all topical options fail, there are several lasers and energy-based devices that can help.”
How to get rid of sunspots on skin
Products to brighten skin and improve the look of sunspots include those with vitamin C, niacinamide, cysteamine, tranexamic acid, kojic acid, alpha arbutin, licorice root and azelaic acid. It’s important to know that sunspots on skin can be stubborn. You might find—and research agrees—that the best approach to address sunspots is over-the-counter skin care plus in-office treatments from a dermatologist. This “combination therapy” often includes prescription creams along with a series of laser or other light-emitting treatments that target the source of the brown spots that are deeper in the skin. Chemical peels and microneedling treatments are also effective options.
Always, always, always protect exposed skin from UV light with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, year-round.
Applying sunscreen is essential to the success of any product for fading dark spots; plus, it keeps more age spots from showing up.
Learn more about skin brightening ingredients.
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References for this information:
- British Journal of Dermatology, June 2020, Pages 1481–1482
- American Academy of Dermatology Association, Accessed January 2024, Webpage
- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, February 2023, pages 271-288
- The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, August 2014, pages 13–17