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Skin concern

Dark spots

Primary source

Dark spots: flat, dark patches that appear with chronic sun exposure — solar lentigines. They are a macular hyperpigmented lesion caused by accumulated ultraviolet damage, most often on the face, hands and chest. The strongest evidence comes from a 2015 human trial: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of 102 women with melasma or solar lentigo, a cream with 2.51% arbutin applied twice daily for 8 weeks lightened discolouration in 75.86% of the melasma group and 56.00% of the solar-lentigo group. 3 ingredients have evidence for Dark spots: Arbutin, Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Phytic Acid.

The studies here measured colour or contrast changes over months, several on the hands. Dark spots are a sun-driven subtype of hyperpigmentation, which shares the broader evidence.

Where the definition comes from

Source wording

“The solar lentigo is a macular hyperpigmented skin lesion that results from chronic exposure to ultraviolet irradiations.” — Goorochurn et al., Exp Dermatol 2016 (PMID 26739821).

Biological processes in solar lentigo: insights brought by experimental models Experimental Dermatology (Goorochurn R)

Ingredients at a glance

2015 · 102 people · women (54 study / 48 control) with melasma or solar lentigo · PMID 26119285

Ingredient Measured outcome Based on Certainty Year
Arbutin Skin effect Human trial Moderate 2015
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Phytic Acid Skin effect Human trial Moderate 2011
— Skin effect Human trial Moderate 2024
— Skin effect Human trial Moderate 2019

Studies and results

  1. 1 Arbutin Skin effect
    A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of Serratulae quinquefoliae folium, a new source of beta-arbutin, in selected skin hyperpigmentations

    In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of 102 women with melasma or solar lentigo, a cream with 2.51% arbutin applied twice daily for 8 weeks lightened discolouration in 75.86% of the melasma group and 56.00% of the solar-lentigo group.

    Human trial · 2015 · 102 people · women (54 study / 48 control) with melasma or solar lentigo · Women aged 26-55 with melasma or solar lentigo, applying a 2.51% arbutin cream twice daily for 8 weeks. · The active was an aqueous extract standardised to 2.51% arbutin.

    PMID 26119285

    Read the full finding →
    Source:A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of Serratulae quinquefoliae folium, a new source of beta-arbutin, in selected skin hyperpigmentations
  2. 2 Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) Phytic Acid Skin effect
    A randomized controlled study to evaluate the depigmenting activity of L-ascorbic acid plus phytic acid-serum vs. placebo on solar lentigines

    In a double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial of 30 people with two or more solar lentigines, a serum with 10% L-ascorbic acid and 2% phytic acid lowered the pigmentation index of the treated lesions over three months while the vehicle-treated lesions stayed stable (P <= 0.003 from month 1 to month 4). Six adverse events, mostly halo depigmentation, were judged possibly related to the product.

    Human trial · 2011 · 30 people · healthy subjects with two or more solar lentigines · Pigmentation index, dermoscopic pigmentation and brightness (L*) of solar lentigines over three months, with two months of follow-up. · The serum combines two actives. Each person applied the product to one side of the body and the vehicle to the other. 30 people, and six halo-depigmentation events were possibly related to the product. The authors call for larger studies.

    PMID 22151934

    Read the full finding →
    Source:A randomized controlled study to evaluate the depigmenting activity of L-ascorbic acid plus phytic acid-serum vs. placebo on solar lentigines

Study limits

Study conditions and measured outcomes.

  • Arbutin Human trial · 2015

    The active was an aqueous extract standardised to 2.51% arbutin.

  • Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Phytic Acid Human trial · 2011

    The serum combines two actives. Each person applied the product to one side of the body and the vehicle to the other. 30 people, and six halo-depigmentation events were possibly related to the product. The authors call for larger studies.

  • ev-dark-spots-cysteamine-rct Human trial · 2024

    Small sample (30), lesions on the hands.

  • ev-dark-spots-dermocosmetic-rct Human trial · 2019

    Lesions were on the hands.

Products with a basis for this

11 products · 15% Vitamin C + EGF Serum · Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA · 2015 · 102 people · women (54 study / 48 control) with melasma or solar lentigo · PMID 26119285

Research-backed approaches

These studies measured finished products and whole routines.

  1. 1 Skin effect
    Successful treatment of solar lentigines by topical application of stabilized cysteamine: A vehicle-controlled, double-blind randomized study

    In 30 people with solar lentigines, a stabilised cysteamine cream reduced colourimetric values by 40% and VAS scores by 40% over 12 weeks, versus 2% for both with the vehicle cream.

    Human trial · 2024 · 30 people · people with solar lentigines · People with solar lentigines on the hands, applying the cream once daily for 12 weeks. · Small sample (30), lesions on the hands.

    PMID 38410492

    Read the full finding →
    Source:Successful treatment of solar lentigines by topical application of stabilized cysteamine: A vehicle-controlled, double-blind randomized study
  2. 2 Skin effect
    Efficacy of D-pigment dermocosmetic lightening product for solar lentigo lesions of the hand: A randomized controlled trial

    In 36 people with solar lentigo lesions on the hands, a dermocosmetic lightening product improved papillary brightness, contrast, luminance and redness significantly more than a moisturising control over 12 months.

    Human trial · 2019 · 36 people · subjects, 72 solar lentigo lesions on the hands · Adults with solar lentigo lesions on the hands, followed for 12 months. · Lesions were on the hands.

    PMID 31042723

    Read the full finding →
    Source:Efficacy of D-pigment dermocosmetic lightening product for solar lentigo lesions of the hand: A randomized controlled trial

Common questions

Which ingredients have been studied for Dark spots?
Ingredients with evidence for Dark spots: Arbutin, Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Phytic Acid.
How many people were studied?
4 findings · 2015 · 102 people · women (54 study / 48 control) with melasma or solar lentigo · PMID 26119285
What can I use for Dark spots?
Arbutin, Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Phytic Acid · 2015 · 102 people · women (54 study / 48 control) with melasma or solar lentigo · PMID 26119285
Can I use these every day for Dark spots?
Women aged 26-55 with melasma or solar lentigo, applying a 2.51% arbutin cream twice daily for 8 weeks（2015 · 102 participants · 102 women (54 study / 48 control) with melasma or solar lentigo · PMID 26119285） People with solar lentigines on the hands, applying the cream once daily for 12 weeks（2024 · 30 participants · 30 people with solar lentigines · PMID 38410492）

Other concerns

Acne marks and scars Acne and breakouts Barrier damage Blackheads Bumps and rough texture Closed comedones Combination skin Dark circles Skincare for deeper skin tones Dehydrated skin Dryness Dull skin Eczema and atopic dermatitis Hyperpigmentation Large pores Loss of firmness Melasma Skincare for men Oily skin Skincare while on acne medication Peeling and flaking Perioral dermatitis Skincare during pregnancy Psoriasis Facial redness Rosacea Sebaceous filaments Sensitive skin Sun damage Sun protection Teenage skin Uneven skin tone Wrinkles and fine lines