Hyperpigmentation is an incredibly frustrating and complex skin concern as it can take a long time to fade and requires you to commit to a very diligent skincare regimen. 

If you're looking for the best ingredients to reduce hyperpigmentation, look no further. We've got the lowdown on tyrosinase inhibitors, tinted mineral sunscreen, and antioxidants for brighter, even-toned skin. 

Why Hyperpigmentation and Melasma occurs?

Hyperpigmentation, also known as sun spots, dark spots, age spots and brown spots, occurs when there is an excess of melanin pigments on your skin. The most common cause is sun damage with other reasons being due to hormones, trauma to your skin, medications and even your skin type. 

Melasma also refers to dark spots and a form of hyperpigmentation that has resulted from hormonal changes. Melasma can be more difficult to treat wit better results from a more intense skincare regimen.  

How do I treat dark spots and hyperpigmentation?

1. Look for ingredients in your skincare products that:

(a) Inhibit tyrosinase - These are your pigment blocking ingredients which suppress and slow down the process of melanin production by blocking the tyrosinase enzyme - the rate at which melanocytes (evil dark spot producing creatures) make melanin (dark pigment) on your skin.

As hyperpigmentation can be the result of your skin's defence mechanism against damage, targeting this 'tyrosinase' enzyme can help suppress and slow down the process of melanin production to keep skin even toned and clear.  Eg. Hydroquinone, Resorcinol, kojic acid, Licorice Root extract etc. 

(b) Inhibit the melanosome transfer by reducing the transfer of melanin from melanocytes to keratinocytes on your skin. Eg. Niacinamide and soybean.

(c) Shed the outer layer of skin and speed skin cell turnover to reduce overall melanin content on skin. Eg. Retinoids, retinols, bakuchiol, salicylic acid and glycolic acid, 

(d) Have potent antioxidant activity to neutralise free radicals on your skin like sun damage which is the most common reason for dark spots. Eg. Vitamin C, Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide).

Below are 5 powerful, research-supported ingredients known to tackle dark spots at either the tyrosinase stage or melanosome transfer stage to help keep your skin clear and brighter looking.

1. Hydroquinone and Resorcinol

Hydroquinone is one of the most popular, golden leading treatments for lightening skin and targeting hyperpigmentation. It is a highly effective tyrosinase inhibitor ingredient however its long term use is widely debated because it can be highly irritating and cause skin dryness.

It is recommended for use at intervals of 3-4 months or shorter. It is not suited for dry and sensitive skin concerns. Be wary though if you have a darker skin tone that is richer in melanin because hydroquinone has been known to actually make dark spots more visible (see below notes on Azelaic Acid instead)

A skin lightening ingredient that compares with hydroquinone is 4-n-Butylresorcinol. This ingredient is a resorcinol derivative that was first reported in 1995 and since researched to be a highly effective tyrosinase inhibitor ingredient. Studies show 4-n-Butylresorcinol exceeds the potency of hydroquinone, arbutin and kojic acid in safe concentrations of 0.1% to 0.3%. 

2. Kojic Acid

Often formulated in combination with hydroquinone and glycolic acid, Kojic Acid is another tyrosinase inhibitor that lightens skin tone. It works as an antioxidant with some anti-inflammatory properties on skin however can cause local irritation and contact dermatitis because it is a sensitising ingredient.  

3. Azelaic Acid for both Acne and Hyperpigmentation

4. Vitamin C - the ultimate antioxidant for hyperpigmentation 

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that has tyrosinase inhibiting properties. It not only helps lighten and fade existing pigmentation, it helps prevents hyperpigmentation by neutralising free radical damage from UV exposure to keep skin brighter and even toned. 

Vitamin C is also known to help stimulate collagen production making it an impressive ingredient providing overall skin benefits that go beyond fading dark spots! 

L-Ascorbic acid form is the most common form of Vitamin C often found in skincare products, however can be highly unstable and oxidise quickly so we recommend THD Ascorbate form or Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate form (as I wrote here in this post!) for more efficacy and stability in your skincare regimen. 

5. Licorice Root - a powerful plant-based tyrosinase inhibitor

Licorice Root is an effective plant-based tyrosinase inhibitor - it is an effective skin brightening ingredient that targets dark spots thanks to its glycyrrhizin and glabridin properties that delivers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

By fighting free radical exposure and inhibiting melanin production at the source, Licorice Root helps to fight existing dark spots and protect skin after UV damage to prevent dark spots forming. 

It is an incredibly soothing ingredient for atopic dermatitis, rosacea and psoriasis as well as skin that has excess melanin production caused by inflammation.

6. Niacinamide to brighten and improve skin barrier (Pregnancy safe)

Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3 and nicotinamide is an effective skin lightening ingredient that works instead of inhibiting tyrosinase, but by inhibiting melanosome transfer. Niacinamide is an impressive ingredient that not only brightens skin tone, but is very safe and soothing for everyday use. It helps fade hyperpigmentation, regulate oil production and strengthens your skin barrier at the same time with studies showing it is beneficial for all skin concerns. The benefits of this ingredient are backed by many studies which show that 5% niacinamide can help block the enzyme responsible for producing melanin to reduce appearance of dark spots and even out skin tone. You can find 5% niacinamide packed in our Clearing Rescue Serum!

Is Hyperpigmentation and Melasma permanent? 

While there can be initial fading, some hyperpigmentation and melasma can return and some are permanent. Treatment of hyperpigmentation and melasma requires long term commitment. Fortunately we have great access to many management options with skin specialists and dermatologists as well as topical products we can use at home including certain peels (I'm a big fan of the Cosmelan® peel) and laser. 

The non-negotiable - SPF SUNSCREEN. EVERY DAY. ALL DAY LONG. 

Whichever form of dark spots you have, the below ingredients have their place in any skincare routine to defend and fight against dark spots - especially SPF sunscreen. 

Protect and prevent new spots from forming - Apply antioxidant-rich skincare and wear SPF sunscreen all day everyday. 

To protect and prevent new spots from forming, apply an antioxidant (like Vitamin C, Bakuchiol, Olive squalane and blueberry seed oil) on your skin daily to neutralise spot-causing free radicals. Double up with a good mineral SPF 30+ sunscreen and ensure it's on your skin all day long by reapplying when needed. Without sunscreen, all the products you’re applying on your skin are going to waste. 

If you want a product recommendation for brightening skin tone and visible signs of ageing like dark spots and fine lines, we always recommend Clearing Rescue Serum on damp skin paired with Super Glow Oil  under sunscreen in the daytime for the ultimate defence against dark spots and fine lines due to the powerful skin brightening and antioxidant ingredients!

A little note on the importance of sunscreen

According to Dermatologist Dr. Davin Lim, using a good sunscreen alone can reduce hyperpigmentation by up to 50%. Thinking back to my glorious youthful days of long hours in the sun without my hat and reapplying sunscreen, I'm absolutely cringing right now! Most of the hyperpigmentation we have now can be accumulated from all the years in our youth! 

Hyperpigmentation can be caused by the Sun's UVA rays which activates melanocytes in your skin to produce pigment. Melasma however, is caused by not just UV light, but also infrared radiation and visible light. This means even when you are indoors and beside the window, a sunscreen is needed to fight against dark spots forming! 

What is the best sunscreen we can use for hyperpigmentation and melasma?

If you are struggling with hyperpigmentation and Melasma concerns, choose physical mineral sunscreens over chemical ones. While chemical sunscreens are of course effective to fight UV rays, the active ingredients in mineral sunscreens - zinc oxide and titanium dioxide help to not only fight UV light, but also infrared radiation and visible light damage that causes melasma. 

Always apply sunscreen with a minimum of 3ml - do the 2 finger test by applying your sunscreen on both the index and middle fingers. 

Top sunscreens for fighting hyperpigmentation and Melasma:

1. Invisible Zinc Sheer Defence SPF 50+ $25 - Fragrance Free, Parabens Free

2. Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF 50+ - Fragrance Free

3. Mesoprotech® Melan 130 Pigment Control SPF 50+ (Physical and Mineral sunscreen) - NOT fragrance free

4. La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen  SPF 50+ - Fragrance Free and Parabens Free (Not easily available in Australia as made for USA) - One to watch out for here in Australia! 

Source:

Zolghadri S, Bahrami A, Hassan Khan MT, Munoz-Munoz J, Garcia-Molina F, Garcia-Canovas F, Saboury AA. A comprehensive review on tyrosinase inhibitors. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2019 Dec;34(1):279-309. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2018.1545767. PMID: 30734608; PMCID: PMC6327992. 

Kolbe L, Mann T, Gerwat W, Batzer J, Ahlheit S, Scherner C, Wenck H, Stäb F. 4-n-butylresorcinol, a highly effective tyrosinase inhibitor for the topical treatment of hyperpigmentation. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Jan;27 Suppl 1:19-23. doi: 10.1111/jdv.12051. PMID: 23205541.

Huh SY, Shin JW, Na JI, Huh CH, Youn SW, Park KC. The Efficacy and Safety of 4-n-butylresorcinol 0.1% Cream for the Treatment of Melasma: A Randomized Controlled Split-face Trial. Ann Dermatol. 2010 Feb;22(1):21-5. doi: 10.5021/ad.2010.22.1.21. Epub 2010 Feb 28. PMID: 20548876; PMCID: PMC2883392.

 Kaliterna D (2017) Melasma Review of current treatment modalities and efficacy assessment of a new resorcinol-based topical formulation. Glob Dermatol 4: DOI: 10.15761/GOD.1000212

Hakozaki T, Minwalla L, Zhuang J, Chhoa M, Matsubara A, Miyamoto K, Greatens A, Hillebrand GG, Bissett DL, Boissy RE. The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer. Br J Dermatol. 2002 Jul;147(1):20-31. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2002.04834.x. PMID: 12100180.