Dark marks on the legs can be a real nuisance. They can also be a sign of a serious medical condition.

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) develops in darker skin after physical trauma, such as a cut or scrape. It can also result from repeated friction and rubbing such as with shaving or certain hair removal methods.

Exfoliate

Dark spots on the legs can really dampen your confidence in bare skin. The good news is that there are many over-the-counter and professional treatments that can significantly reduce the appearance of these dark patches. You may also find that natural ingredients and home remedies work best for your complexion.

Dark spot removal starts with exfoliation. This process removes dead skin cells and allows new, lighter ones to grow in their place. Adding a body exfoliator to your daily routine can help fade black spots on the legs and give you the smooth, even-toned skin you desire.

Try incorporating our Clear and Even Tone Body Cleansing Bar or our Exfoliating Pouch into your skincare regimen to exfoliate your skin at least once per week. It will gently remove any dead skin that is holding back your glow.

Other than that, it is important to keep your legs moisturized to prevent dryness that can contribute to darker patches of skin. Use a lightweight, non-greasy body lotion or oil to ensure that your skin is well hydrated. Our Even Tone Smoothing Body Treatment is a great choice that contains powerful ingredients to improve your skin tone and texture while diminishing the look of dark spots.

Another cause of dark spots on the legs is inflammation. This inflammatory reaction can be caused by sun exposure, skin injury or razor burn. It can also be triggered by certain medical conditions, like Addison’s disease. If you have any concerns that your dark spots may be indicative of a medical condition, it is always a good idea to consult with a doctor.

For a natural way to reduce the appearance of dark spots on the legs, try using turmeric. This common spice is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that can help brighten the skin. Combine it with yogurt or honey to make a paste, and then apply it to the affected areas. Rinse and repeat at least once a day to see the results.

Moisturize

While you’re slathering on body lotion for your legs, don’t forget to also use one that is specifically formulated to help treat dark spots and blemishes. You want to choose a product with ingredients like glycolic acid, niacinamide, retinol, vitamin C and aloe. Our Even Tone Smoothing Body Treatment is a great option for dark spots because it contains all of those ingredients, plus it’s hydrating too.

Using it daily can help improve the look of dark spots and blemishes on your legs, but you’ll need to keep up with your routine to get rid of any hyperpigmentation you have. The key is to moisturize your skin regularly because it helps to prevent dryness, which leads to itching and then to the development of dark spots or blemishes.

Dark spots are a common issue with the skin on our legs, and they can occur for a number of reasons. The most obvious reason is sun damage, especially if you live somewhere with year-round sunshine or wear shorts and dresses a lot. Our skin gets its color through a pigment called melanin, and sun exposure can cause the production of too much or uneven amounts of melanin, which can lead to dark spots or blemishes on our legs.

Other causes of dark spots on our legs include inflammation, such as from a mosquito bite or scab, which can darken areas of the skin. Scratching itchiness can also affect the skin’s natural healing process and lead to dark marks. Finally, certain medical conditions such as psoriasis or skin infections can also cause black marks on the knees and other parts of the body.

If you’re dealing with mild to moderate hyperpigmentation, over-the-counter lightening creams may help. Products like hydroquinone creams, available in gel, cream or ointment formulations, can reduce dark patches by inhibiting the production of melanin. If your condition is severe, you might need to see a dermatologist for prescription strength treatments such as hydroquinone or tretinoin.

Wear Sunscreen

Dark spots on your legs are not only unsightly, they can also be a real pain when it comes to wearing certain clothing styles. Fortunately, there are several over-the-counter and professional treatments available that can reduce the appearance of dark spots on legs. The first step is exfoliating to get rid of any dead skin that’s hanging out on your skin and preventing it from looking its best. Our Clear and Even Tone Body Cleansing Bar and Exfoliating Pouch are both great options for this.

The next thing to do is moisturize your skin daily. Using a moisturizer with SPF in it can help to fade the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Keeping the skin moist can also help to prevent new spots from forming. It’s important to use a moisturizer that has broad spectrum SPF in it as well to protect against UV damage.

Another way to help fade dark spots on your legs is to use a lightening cream or serum. Choosing a serum or cream with hydroquinone is an effective option because it works by inhibiting the production of melanin. There are also a few other effective lightening ingredients out there that are worth considering. Tranexamic Acid, for example, is a great choice because it doesn’t have any of the potential side effects that come along with hydroquinone.

Lastly, it’s important to wear sunscreen on your legs every day to help prevent them from getting darker. The reason that this is so important is because sunlight can cause a lot of problems for the skin. Overexposure to the sun can cause aging, it can lead to the formation of age spots, and it can also cause hyperpigmentation.

When the melanocytes in your skin produce more melanin, it can cause dark spots on your legs and other parts of the body. This can be caused by a variety of things, including inflammation from eczema, acne, aggressive skin-care products, side effects of medications, genetics, and mainly unprotected exposure to the sun. Using a good sunscreen can help to prevent the appearance of these dark spots on your legs and will also help to fade them over time.

See a Dermatologist

If dark spots or patches have made you keep your favorite mini skirts in the back of your closet, it may be time to visit a dermatologist. Hyperpigmentation is a common problem for people of all skin tones, but it tends to occur more often in women with darker complexions. This is because melanocytes in people with more pigment produce melanin in excess, which results in dark blemishes.

Fortunately, there are many treatment options for hyperpigmentation on legs. Depending on the cause, these treatments can range from over-the-counter topical formulation to laser therapies and prescription medication.

A dermatologist will be able to identify the cause of your dark marks and recommend the best course of treatment. Hormonal changes (particularly during puberty and pregnancy) can trigger hyperpigmentation in some people. Inflammation and injury to the skin, such as sunburn or a cut can also induce a temporary dark mark called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Other causes of dark spots on the legs include freckles, age spots, seborrhoeic keratosis, and moles.

Dark marks on the legs can also be a symptom of a more serious medical condition, such as melanoma, so it’s always worth getting your symptoms checked out by a doctor. If you notice any changes in your dark spot’s shape or color, or it itches, bleeds or oozes, make an appointment with a dermatologist right away.

While over-the-counter products and home remedies can help treat mild cases of hyperpigmentation, more serious conditions such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation will likely require more intensive treatment and may not respond to at-home care. A dermatologist can offer laser treatments, chemical peels and a wide variety of other professional techniques to get your skin looking clear again.

If you have any questions about how to get rid of dark spots on your legs or need some expert advice, make an appointment with our board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Green, in her boutique NYC office. She has over 25 years of experience treating melasma and other discolorations of the face and body. Contact us today to schedule your consultation. We look forward to helping you reveal the beautiful and healthy skin that lies beneath your dark spots!