Spend too much time in the sun? Try this affordable, dermatologist-recommended solution for dark spots
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When it comes to skin, aging often brings fine lines, wrinkles and pesky dark spots.
Not to be confused with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hormone-induced melasma, these dark spots — also referred to as sunspots or liver spots — are small patches of darkened skin caused by too much sun exposure (and not enough sunscreen).
According to Michelle Henry, M.D., the correct term is solar lentigo. “They are often called sunspots because they are induced and exacerbated by UV light,” she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Chronic sun exposure throughout our lives increases the likelihood of sunspots.”
The flat brown spots vary in shape and size, and affect the areas of the body exposed to the sun, including your face.
You may also see dark spots on your shoulders or back of your hands, but when it comes to treating your face, Henry says it’s all about “religious sunscreen use” and looking for skin care products with the right ingredients.
“I recommend using SPF 30 daily and SPF 50 whenever you are outside for more than one hour,” she advises. Henry also suggests looking for ingredients such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, arbutin, vitamin C, and vitamin B3 as those, “inhibit the production of melanin,” which will prevent dark spots from worsening and can even fade them.
And, there’s one over-the-counter option she recommends for fading dark spots: Ambi Fade Cream. Not only is this cream dermatologist-approved, but it’s also incredibly affordable and gentle enough to use daily.
Ambi Fade Cream is made with vitamin E to smooth skin, alpha hydroxy acid to exfoliate and enhance results, and most importantly, a small amount of hydroquinone to fade discoloration.
“I've been using this for a month, and it has been clarifying my skin in general but most importantly has helped with dark marks removal. The best thing is the price, very very inexpensive but efficient! I saw changes after two weeks of using it every day,” wrote a 5-star reviewer.
“Wow is all I can say. My doctor wrote me a script that my insurance didn't cover and it would have cost $120.00. Purchased this product and it does the same job,” explained another. “It faded my sunspots over a week. There is so much of it that I will probably never have to buy another tube of it again!”
With continued use (twice a day), Ambi Fade Cream can begin to work its magic in as little as two weeks, with even better results with long-term use. The moisturizing cream also contains sunscreen, but applying a layer of protection will only help boost those results.
Another happy customer added, “I love this item it gives my face so much moisture while lighting my skin. There's no harsh smell like most creams. My face couldn't look better.”
Shop it: Ambi Fade Cream, $5, amazon.com
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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