How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation: 7 Ways to Even Out Skin Tone
While some common skin concerns only require light work to fix—say, switching to a richer moisturizer and keeping a hydrating face mist in your purse for skin that’s constantly craving moisture—others tend to linger and teeter on the stubborn category. We’re talking about hyperpigmentation or dark spots. Whether it’s the type caused by acne scars, melasma, or too much sun, those dark patches can make your complexion look uneven and dampen your skin’s natural glow. Fortunately, all is not lost. With the right products and a consistent routine, it’s definitely possible to improve the appearance of discoloration and restore your skin’s healthy tone and texture. How? Keep reading for expert-backed tips on how to get rid of hyperpigmentation with derm-approved steps and products that actually work.
What is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation occurs when pigment-producing cells called melanocytes become overactive and produce more melanin, creating dark spots or uneven patches, particularly in areas exposed to the sun. This can be triggered by a number of factors, including UV exposure, inflammation from acne, eczema, and irritation that leads to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and hormonal changes that can cause melasma or discoloration often on the cheeks, forehead, or upper lip. Existing hyperpigmentation can also worsen when exposed to environmental factors like pollution, heat, strong winds, and according to some recent studies, even blue light from screens.
While almost everyone deals with hyperpigmentation at one point or another, it’s more common in medium to deeper skin tones because of the presence of more active melanocytes. Most of the time, hyperpigmentation is generally considered not harmful, but it can be quite persistent. So as much as you’d want it to go away in a snap, fading dark spots require consistent treatment, daily SPF application, and a ton of patience.
How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation
1. Target Dark Spots with Microneedling
Microneedling is an in-office procedure that involves using ultra-fine needles to create controlled punctures in the skin, tricking the body’s natural healing response so it produces new collagen and elastin. It’s an effective treatment to help improve signs of aging, uneven skin tone, and blemishes like dark spots and acne scars. While it used to be solely an in-office procedure, it can now be safely and conveniently done at home with the use of microneedling devices and patches that mimic the effects of professional microneedling.
Featured Product: Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot Brightening (12 Dots)
This set of 12 dissolving microneedling dots creates over 400 micro-channels, allowing it to effectively infuse the skin with high-performing brightening ingredients to visibly fade dark spots and acne marks. Each patch delivers targeted treatment straight into the source of discoloration for fast, visible results.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Ferulic Acid
Skin Type: All skin types, especially oily and acne-prone
Skin Benefit(s): Brightens discoloration, evens tone, minimizes post-acne marks
Beauty Insider Tip: After cleansing, apply and gently press (for five to ten seconds) into the skin, textured side down, before bed and leave on overnight or for at least six hours for best results. Use consistently twice a week for faster spot fading.
2. Calm Active Breakouts to Prevent New Dark Spots
As with most skin concerns, the best solution is always prevention and early treatment. Inflammation from acne often triggers excess melanin production, leaving a trail of dark spots that linger long after the pimple heals. By reducing redness, irritation, and inflammation at the onset, you can nip dark spots in the bud. Targeted formulas with gentle exfoliating acids and calming and barrier-protecting ingredients can help clear pores, soothe inflammation, and reduces hyperpigmentation before they can form.
Featured Product: Patchology S.O.S. Totally-Invisible Clarifying Liquid Patch
$22.00
Reach for this hardworking invisible liquid patch when your skin is in need of rescue. It acts like a second skin, sealing in soothing and purifying ingredients to calm active blemishes and prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It dries clear, making it perfect for use under makeup or sunscreen.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Niacinamide
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Prevents new dark spots and reduces redness, treats breakouts, gently exfoliates, improves texture, decongests skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Dot a thin layer directly over active pimples and let it dry before applying your regular skincare or SPF.
3. Brighten Discoloration with Azelaic Acid
Few ingredients tackle hyperpigmentation as efficiently or as gently as azelaic acid. It works on multiple fronts: exfoliating dead cells, reducing melanin production, and calming inflammation that can lead to post-acne marks. It’s also one of the rare actives suitable for sensitive skin, making it a favorite for those who can’t tolerate strong exfoliants or retinoids.
Featured Product: Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
$39.00
This multitasking booster smooths uneven tone, softens texture, and brightens stubborn spots without the sting. Packed with brightening botanicals and a potent blend of azelaic and salicylic acids, it works seamlessly with your existing moisturizer or serum to refine skin clarity.
Key Ingredients: Azelaic Acid 10%, Salicylic Acid 0.5%, Licorice Root Extract
Skin Type: All skin types, including sensitive
Skin Benefit(s): Clarifies uneven tone, brightens dark spots and fades acne marks, unclogs pores, smooths texture, reduces redness
Beauty Insider Tip: Use once or twice daily, either alone or mixed with your moisturizer, to slowly build tolerance while keeping skin calm and bright.
4. Wash Away Dullness with a Brightening Cleanser
Cleansing may seem basic, but it’s a crucial first step in treating hyperpigmentation. The right formula not only removes impurities but also boosts radiance and preps the skin for brightening actives that follow. Ingredients like vitamin C, fruit enzymes, and natural acids gently exfoliate and wash the day away while helping discoloration fade more evenly.
Featured Product: Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser
$38.00
This antioxidant-rich cleanser pulls triple duty as a face wash, makeup remover, and exfoliating mask. It sweeps away impurities while nourishing the skin for a smooth, luminous finish. The light strawberry scent adds an instant mood lift, and the coconut-sunflower blend melts away sunscreen and makeup without stripping.
Key Ingredients: Strawberry Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Tomato Extracts, Coconut and Sunflower Oils
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Gently cleanses and exfoliates without stripping, brightens dull complexion, smooths and firms skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Leave it on for five minutes before rinsing to use it as an exfoliating mask and boost your glow.
5. Tackle Eye Area Discoloration with Retinol
The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face, making it one of the first areas to show fine lines and uneven tone. Retinol remains the gold standard for addressing both—encouraging cell turnover to smooth texture, fade hyperpigmentation, and support collagen production. When delivered through a targeted eye cream, it can visibly brighten dark circles while strengthening the skin’s barrier over time.
Featured Product: Kate Somerville Retinol Firming Eye Cream
$99.00
A powerhouse eye treatment, this firming eye cream visibly firms, brightens, and smooths the delicate eye area with a powerful blend of retinol and plant-based bio-retinol. It works to improve elasticity, clarity, and reduce crow’s feet while deeply hydrating and smoothing out texture.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, Bio Retinol (Babchi Seed), Hyaluronic Acid, Lime Pearl, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Oil Complex
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Reduces fine lines and wrinkles, boosts firmness and elasticity, brightens, and deeply hydrates
Beauty Insider Tip: Use morning and night by gently patting around the eye, including the brow area. It’s also safe for daytime use as long as you follow it with sunscreen to protect your results.
6. Harness the Power of Light Therapy
Beyond brightening the skin’s surface, light therapy helps regulate pigment production at the cellular level. LED therapy can calm inflammation, boost collagen, and target melanin clusters to promote a more even tone. Once reserved for clinics and spas, these treatments can now be safely done at home with professional-grade devices that deliver visible results through consistent use.
Featured Product: Déesse Pro LED Phototherapy Mask
$1700.00
This professional-grade LED mask uses multiple wavelengths to rejuvenate the skin from within. It’s an all-in-one solution for clearer, brighter, and more even-looking skin: red light supports collagen and elasticity, blue light targets acne-causing bacteria, near-infrared light enhances overall radiance and tone, and green light helps fade hyperpigmentation by interrupting excess melanin production.
Key Features: 770 medical-grade LEDs, 6 treatment modes, light spectrum includes blue, green, red and near-infrared
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Improves tone and texture, reduces dark spots, enhances radiance, refines lines and wrinkles, kills acne-causing bacteria, boosts circulation and natural healing, calms inflammation
Beauty Insider Tip: Use the mask for 20 minutes after cleansing, ideally in the morning if you apply retinol or acids at night. Apply a hyaluronic acid serum beforehand and use consistently for the best brightening results.
7. Invest in a Laster for Long-Term Results
For anyone serious about fading stubborn pigmentation, laser technology takes things to the next level. At-home devices now make it easy to target discoloration safely and jumpstart skin renewal with no downtime required. Unlike topical brighteners, lasers work deeper in the skin to fade pigment at its source for longer-lasting clarity.
Featured Product: LYMA Laser PRO Starter Kit
$1700.00
The LYMA Laser PRO brings clinical-grade skin technology home, delivering triple the power of the original LYMA Laser for faster, more visible results. Using cold laser technology, it penetrates deep beneath the surface to fade pigmentation, smooth wrinkles, and restore elasticity—all without heat, pain, or downtime. It's cordless, portable, and designed to transform skin from just three minutes a day.
Key Features: Retinol, Bio Retinol (Babchi Seed), Hyaluronic Acid, Lime Pearl, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Oil Complex
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefit(s): Fades deep discoloration, improves firmness, restores clarity
Beauty Insider Tip: For best results, apply the Oxygen Mist and Glide before use to enhance absorption, then glide the laser over each area for three minutes daily for a brighter, more even complexion.
FAQs
How long will it take for hyperpigmentation to fade?
The time it takes to fade hyperpigmentation largely depends on the type and depth of discoloration. Mild spots can fade in four to six weeks with consistent use of brightening products and sunscreen, while deeper pigmentation may take several months or require professional treatments like lasers or chemical peels.
Can vitamin C remove pigmentation?
Absolutely! In fact, vitamin C is one of the most effective brightening ingredients. It reduces pigmentation by blocking melanin formation and brightening existing dark spots. It works best when paired with daily sunscreen and other actives like niacinamide or azelaic acid.
What causes hyperpigmentation?
The most common causes are UV exposure, acne, hormonal fluctuations, and inflammation. Without sun protection, even minor irritation or breakout can lead to dark marks.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to getting rid of hyperpigmentation, progress is all about patience and consistency. Pair brightening actives like azelaic acid, vitamin C, and retinol with daily SPF and gentle exfoliation to keep pigment from resurfacing. For next-level results, add pro-grade tools like microneedling tools, LED masks, or at-home lasers to your lineup. Likewise, it’s also important to remember that treating hyperpigmentation is a slow burn, not an overnight fix.
Janeca Racho is a Journalism graduate with over 15 years of writing experience. After getting her start in public relations and advertising, she made the switch to freelance writing and began working for various lifestyle, fashion, and travel brands. Her love for all things skincare has led her to beauty reporting and research for the last ten years. Writing for several hair and beauty blogs, she reports on anti-aging staples, trending brands and products, must-have ingredients, and health and wellness.
