• 1. What Causes Dark Spots on Chest?
• 2. How to Get Rid of Dark Spots on Chest
• 3. Speak To An Aesthetic Dermatologist
• 4. Ingredients For Hyperpigmentation On Chest
• 5. FAQs about Dark Spots on Chest

What Causes Dark Spots On Chest?

Sun damage is the main factor responsible for dark spots on the chest. We spend our lives remembering to care and protect for our face, but the neck and chest often get neglected. This can result in a splotchy-looking chest, especially as you get older and years of sun exposure make themselves known

Products and medications that make the skin photosensitive can also increase your chances of developing dark spots on the chest, even if your exposure to the sun is largely limited.

Acne is another common reason for dark spots on the chest. The marks left behind after a breakout are called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and they often show up once a pimple has healed.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can also occur as a result of other types of inflammation whether from injury to the skin or as a result of other skin conditions. For example, shaving your chest, wearing tight fabrics that irritate your skin, or sporting a necklace made from metal you’re allergic to could all contribute to skin damage that later becomes hyperpigmentation on the chest.

How to Get Rid of Dark Spots on Chest

Getting rid of dark spots on the chest requires diligence and the right skincare products. For even faster results, there are a few procedures you can try. Here are all of the habits and treatments worth considering to clear up your skin.

Wear Sunscreen
Once you’ve decided you want to learn how to get rid of dark spots on the chest, your first step should be to use sunscreen religiously. The sun is the most common cause of dark spots, and continuous exposure makes existing dark spots (regardless of their original reason) seem even worse.

Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least 30 SPF that you’ll be happy to use every time your chest is exposed. Otherwise, consider purchasing UPF-rated clothing, since your chest can also get sun exposure through clothes (especially light fabrics).

Use Skin Brightening Products
Next, start treating the dark spots on your chest with products designed to visibly fade dark marks and discoloration. These kinds of products fall into a few categories, including exfoliants, leave-on treatments, lotions, and creams.

For best results, you’ll want to combine exfoliation with lightweight formulas that’ll absorb into the skin easily and deeply. Look for products that include evidence-backed ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin A, and alpha-hydroxy acids.

To make it simple, we’ve created a Dark Spot Treatment Duo that includes the two essential steps for addressing chest hyperpigmentation - a gentle, skin-resurfacing cleanser and a powerful, deep-penetrating lotion with visibly skin-brightening ingredients.

Try These Salon Treatments
Who doesn’t love a spa day? You can treat your chest to a “facial” that will help fade the dark spots. Most basic facials aren’t powerful enough to effectively impact pigmentation but there are more robust salon treatments that might be worth trying:

• Chemical peels: Salon-grade chemical peels are a non-invasive way of rapidly renewing the skin. They use chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or lactic acid at high percentages, to remove the top layers of dead skin. While they won’t eliminate dark spots on their own, the powerful exfoliation can help speed up the process along with the skincare you use at home.
• Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion is a physical exfoliation treatment that combines gentle, finely-milled crystals with powerful suction. It helps to thoroughly resurface the skin, preparing it to better absorb beneficial skin-brightening ingredients.
• LED facials: Some research suggests that phototherapy treatments with LED lights may also help with pigmentation. The benefit of these treatments is that they’re appropriate for sensitive skin and can also help with signs of aging, although the results are often minimal and depend on the other treatments you pursue.

Salon treatments are almost never effective within one session. You’ll probably need a minimum of 6 to 8 monthly or even weekly treatments to see results, and your skincare routine at home is just as important. It’s also important to be aware that seeing results with salon treatments can be costly, especially in comparison to the cost of at-home skin brightening remedies.

Speak to an Aesthetic Dermatologist

Medspas and aesthetic dermatologists offer an even higher level of chest hyperpigmentation treatments. These treatments are a little more invasive, so results tend to show more quickly. That said, they can also leave the skin red, irritated, or raw for a few days after the treatmen.

Laser treatments: Laser treatments can be fairly mild or very intense depending on the one your doctor recommends. Some laser treatments work by targeting a specific dark spot, encouraging skin renewal, while others are ablative, which means they help remove the top layer of skin, to encourage all-over renewal. While laser treatments can be effective, they’re often not appropriate for those with deeper skin tones.

Microneedling: Microneedling relies on small needles to create micro-injuries in the skin that stimulate healthier cell function. For pigmentation, microneedling can work well if it’s immediately followed up with products designed to improve the look of hyperpigmentation.

Medication: Some dermatologists may also prescribe topical medications for hyperpigmentation. Compared to cosmetic treatments, medications tend to work quickly but with a risk of side effects like irritation, redness, or stinging.  

With medspa treatments, keep in mind that there is more room for complications like skin damage, scarring, or irritation that can actually worsen hyperpigmentation. Before visiting your nearest medspa, it’s important you do your research, investigate the prices, and choose an experienced provider with a lot of good reviews and success stories.

Ingredients for Hyperpigmentation on Chest

We touched on the importance of using skincare to reduce dark spots on the chest - but what kind of products to choose? These are the best skincare ingredients for visibly fading the look of hyperpigmentation - you can find them all within the Evertone range of products.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the leading ingredient in any product designed to reduce the look of dark spots. You’re probably already using it in your facial care but it works on your body too! Not all vitamin C products work the same, though.

In our products, we use ascorbic acid, which is the form of vitamin C that works best to protect the skin from future antioxidant damage that leads to dark spots. At the same time, it also corrects underlying damage to visibly brighten and even out the skin tone.

Vitamin A
There are different types of vitamin A, including retinol, retinyl palmitate, and other retinoids. This powerhouse vitamin visibly reduces dark spots by promoting better skin cell turnover, which helps to create young, healthy skin cells from below. In fact, retinoids are often recommended for post-acne dark spots while also helping to address breakouts.

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids
Ingredients like lactic and glycolic acid are chemical exfoliants. They promote dead skin cell shedding by melting down the connective material that keeps dead skin cells attached. This gentle exfoliation process gets rid of damaged and pigmented cells over time, revealing smoother, more even-toned skin. Unlike physical scrubs, AHAs are much more gentle and less likely to irritate, which is important with more sensitive body parts like the chest.

Spirulina Extract
Spirulina is a type of algae that’s a natural superfood. Its extract is powerfully antioxidant, like vitamin C, so it protects the skin profoundly from the external sun and pollution damage that can worsen dark spots, especially in combination with sunscreen. Research shows it can also visibly fade dark spots with regular use within just 42 days.