CAUES OF DARK SPOTS & HYPERPIGMENTATION
Uneven skin pigmentation, or hyperpigmentation, is caused by an excess of melanin, the pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their colour. Too much time in the sun is the main culprit when it comes to hyperpigmentation and dark spots (also known as age spots). This is because sunlight triggers melanin production.

Age is another big factor. As we get older our number of melanin producing cells (melanocytes) decreases. The remaining melanocytes increase in size and clump together causing age spots.

Changes to hormone levels can also cause large patches of hyperpigmentation on the skin called melasma. Melasma frequently happens during pregnancy or when taking oral contraceptives.

PREVENTING DARK SPOTS & HYPERPIGMENTATION
Limiting sun exposure is the single biggest thing you can do to help prevent dark spots and keep existing hyperpigmentation from worsening. Even dark patches caused by hormonal changes can be aggravated by sun exposure.

Stay out of the sun during the hottest times of the time and keep skin covered as much as possible. It’s best to protect skin daily with an SPF of 30 or higher, even on cloudy days and during the winter months. Check out our range of sun protection products to find one that suits your needs.

HOW VITAMIN C REDUCES THE APPEARANCE OF HYPERPIGMENTATION
Let’s be honest. We can’t avoid the sun all the time, and the natural aging process means most of us have at least a couple of spots of hyperpigmentation no matter how diligent we are with the sunscreen. The good news is that nature provides us a great way to combat dark spots and hyperpigmentation – vitamin C. Here are some of the ways that vitamin C helps to lighten and brighten skin:

Vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant. It helps neutralize the free radicals that damage skin and cause dark spots and hyperpigmentation. It also increases levels of another important antioxidant – glutathione. Glutathione encourages the skin to make more of our skin’s lighter pigment instead of the darker pigment.

Vitamin C helps regenerate skin cells and repair damaged skin. Studies show that wounds heal faster and skin scars less when treated with vitamin C.

Vitamin C inhibits melanin production. Vitamin C inhibits the production of the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in the production of melanin. As a result result less melanin is produced, leading to fewer dark spots and less hyperpigmentation.

Vitamin C exfoliates. Vitamin C also helps reduce dark patches by removing dead, discoloured skin and exposing the lighter, brighter skin cells underneath.

TOP PICK VITAMIN C PRODUCTS
Check out the range of VIT-C products designed to lighten and brighten dark spots and pigmentation using vitamin C. Here are a few of our favs…

The Body Deli Vital-C Serum: Supplying the skin with abundant sources of state-of-the-art, liposome-encapsulated vitamin C, this serum rebuilds collagen density, helps to reverse sun damage and increases elasticity. This potent antioxidant cocktail of vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ10 and cell-regenerating allantoin helps repair environmental damage and keeps skin looking youthful.

Alkemie Triple C Serum – This serum is loaded with high concentrations of vitamin C, with its main recipe being the Kakadu plum, Barbados cherry, vitamin C AA2G.

Orgaid Vitamin C Mask Sheets: Orgaid’s vitamin C sheet masks are great to throw on after a day in the sun or if you are prone to pigmentation. The rich vitamin C helps reduce the appearance of brown spots and sun damage while orange peel and pomegranate increase collagen synthesis. A powerful dose of soothing agent and antioxidant protection provides immediate improvement to dull skin tone, improves elasticity, and calms skin due damaged by harmful UV rays.

Akin Rosehip Oil With Vitamin C: This boosted formulation of rosehip oil and vitamin C brightens and lightens pigmentations and reduces the signs of aging. Its lightweight formula absorbs easily into the skin to provide superior hydration while helping to even out skin tone.