We’d all love to have flawless skin. Smooth, even, bright, glowing skin.

But in reality, very few people have a texture-free, blemish-free complexion. We might have some dryness or oiliness, or we might have red patches or dark patches across the surface of the skin.

If you have patches of darker skin on your face, you’re not the only one and you don’t need to worry! Dark spots on men’s skin are more common than you might think. However, there are lots of things that you can do to reduce the darkness of these areas and even out your skin tone.

Having areas of your skin that are slightly darker than other areas is known as hyperpigmentation. Your skin naturally has pigments, and these pigments are necessary to give your skin colour and tone.

We all have different levels of pigments and there are certain factors that can increase the amount of pigmentation that we have, leading to hyperpigmentation. We will go over the exact causes of hyperpigmentation later in the article but, first, let’s go into more detail about what hyperpigmentation is.

What is Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation refers to the darkening and discolouration of the skin. It is something that can affect both men and women, and it is caused by a number of different factors, including the sun and skin conditions, such as acne or psoriasis.

Cells in your skin known as melanocytes are responsible for producing something known as melanin. This natural skin pigment deposits in your skin, hair, and eyes.

When too much melanin is produced and deposited in the skin, it can lead to hyperpigmentation. This can appear as small patches of darkness on the skin or larger areas of darkness. It can even cover the entire body in some cases.

There are a few main forms of hyperpigmentation, including:

• Melasma - this is thought to be due to hormonal changes and commonly develops during pregnancy. Melasma usually appears as dark patches on the face and stomach.
• Sunspots - also known as liver spots, sunspots are caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight (UV radiation) over time. Usually, it appears on the face, hands, forearms, and lower legs.
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation - this is caused by inflammation in the skin due to injury or skin conditions, such as acne.

What Are the Main Causes of Hyperpigmentation?

The causes of dark spots on men can vary from person to person. However, there are some common causes of hyperpigmentation, such as:

• Overexposure to sunlight
• Skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and dermatitis
• Infections in the skin, such as ringworm, tinea versicolor, and candidiasis
• Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy
• Certain medications that increase the production of melanin
• Medical conditions, such as Addison’s disease

Top Tips to Reduce Hyperpigmentation

If you have noticed an increase in dark spots and patchy areas on your skin, you might be wondering how you can get rid of them. You’ll be glad to hear that there are lots of great remedies that are perfect to reduce the appearance of your dark spots on men.

Try the following methods and watch the hyperpigmentation slowly fade!

Most of us slather on sunscreen products when we’re on holiday in a hot country. But we don’t consider applying it on a general day-to-day basis when we’re going about our lives.

Sunscreen is one of the best ways to reduce and prevent hyperpigmentation on the skin. You should apply sunscreen every day around 15 minutes before you go outside into the sun.

If you’re staying out in the sun for several hours, you will need to reapply to sunscreen every 3-4 hours to maintain its protective effects. After using sunscreen on a daily basis for a few months, you should start to notice that your dark spots are fading.

When you’re searching for a sunscreen product, search for one that contains zinc oxide, which is an active ingredient that can help to block the sun’s UV rays from penetrating deep into your skin. Find a sunscreen that is at least factor 30 (SPF 30) and has broad-spectrum coverage.

If your hyperpigmentation is caused by an underlying skin condition, you may want to find a mineral sunscreen that contains iron oxide, which is an additional active ingredient that can protect the skin from visible light waves from the sun.

Alongside wearing daily sunscreen, wear a hat and cover your skin as much as possible when you’re sitting in direct sunlight. If you can, avoid going out when the sun is at its peak in the sky (usually between 11 am and 3 pm).

Apple cider vinegar may not be the first thing that people think to add to a skincare routine for men. It’s commonly used for improving gut health but that isn’t its only benefit.

Apple cider vinegar can also help to reduce hyperpigmentation when applied to the skin on a daily basis. It contains polyphenolic compounds, such as acetic acid, that can help to break down dark spots.

To use apple cider vinegar, combine it with an equal amount of water. Apply it to your dark spots and leave it on for 2-3 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water and repeat each day.

After just a few weeks, you should start to see the darkness slowly fading.

You might love sipping on a hot cup of green tea in the mornings to help your digestion and boost your overall health. Green tea extract can also be used on your skin to fight against hyperpigmentation.

Although there are no scientific studies that confirm the beneficial effects of green tea extract as part of a skincare routine for men, there are lots of anecdotal stories that are showing promising results. Many people are using green tea extract regularly on their dark spots to lighten them.

To apply green tea extracts to your skin, steep a green tea bag in a mug of boiling water. Allow it to brew for 3-5 minutes before removing the teabag from the mug.

Allow the tea bag to cool before gently dabbing it on your dark spots. Repeat this every day for optimal effects.

Known as one of the healthiest plant-based oils for humans to consume, coconut oil has many benefits. Not only can it provide your body with lots of healthy unsaturated fats but it also helps to improve skin health.

Coconut oil can help to remove dead cells from the surface of your skin. It can also provide some protection for your skin against the harmful UV rays that are emitted by the sun.

Coconut oil can be applied to the skin on and around any dark spots either before or after a general skincare routine for men. When you apply the coconut oil, gently rub it into the affected areas and wait 15-20 minutes to allow it to penetrate deeply into the skin’s inner layers.

After 15-20 minutes have passed, wash it away with warm water. Repeat this application daily and you should start to see results within a few weeks.

Vitamin C is a common ingredient in many skin care products. It provides hydration and nourishment to the skin, allowing it to repair and rejuvenate properly. It can also protect them against oxidative damage, helping to keep your skin as healthy as possible.

Studies have shown that applying a vitamin C-rich product to dark spots on men can help to reduce darkness and combat hyperpigmentation. These effects are prominent when the vitamin C is combined with other beneficial ingredients, such as niacinamide and Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs).

These skin care ingredients can help to lighten dark patches and even out your skin tone while providing a smoothing and brightening effect.

Sandalwood can help to reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting an enzyme known as tyrosinase. This enzyme is responsible for synthesising melanin in your skin. By inhibiting the action of tyrosinase, you will produce less melanin. As a result, there will be less pigment in your skin.

Mix the sandalwood and rose water together to form a smooth paste and apply it to the dark spots on your face. Leave it for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

As with all of the other methods that we have suggested in this article, you will need to use sandalwood and rose water consistently on a daily basis in order to see results.

Final Thoughts

There you have it! Six amazing methods to reduce dark spots on men. If you’ve been looking for some great ways to reduce hyperpigmentation on your skin, try these methods and see which one gives you the best results.

This list is not exhaustive, so if you don’t get the results that you want, don’t give up! There are lots more things that you can try out to get rid of those pesky dark spots but we are sure that at least one of the above methods that we have mentioned will work for you!