Dark spots from sun damage, blemishes or other skin issues can feel like a concerning speed bump on the road to smooth, clear skin. The good news is that a few small changes in your skin care routine have the potential to make a noticeable difference in the appearance of dark spots on your face. The key is picking the right products to use daily to help improve the look of dark spots, while simultaneously making a few easy lifestyle changes to prevent further damage from happening in the future. Let’s dig into five simple ways that will help jumpstart your journey to brighter, more even skin:

• Use an exfoliating cleanser

• Avoid picking at your skin

• Help heal sores with a medicated balm

• Treat dark spots daily

• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen

1. Use an exfoliating cleanser to wash your face

“Exfoliation is essential to good skin cell turnover and its ability to regenerate 'new' skin,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. This leads to a more radiant complexion and a fresher look as well. It also seems that the actives in skin products can penetrate more effectively when paired with exfoliation.”

Try: LovelySkin LUXE Clarifying Gel Cleanser

This LovelySkin favorite cleanser was designed by Dr. Schlessinger to help gently exfoliate and cleanse the skin. It contains three effective exfoliators—salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and afaLUXE™, a proprietary blend of amino-based filaggrin antioxidants—to help eliminate blemishes and stimulate healthy cell turnover.

2. Stop picking at your skin

We’ve all been there. You see a pimple, and you pick at it. Or, your skin is peeling from a sunburn, and you peel it off. “I always tell my patients that it is a no-win situation when you pick your skin,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “Although it seems like the right thing to do, it almost always ends in disaster.”

Try: LovelySkin LUXE Acne Care Gel

Instead of picking at your skin, try this skin renewal treatment that gently exfoliates your skin as it actively works to heal blemishes. Formulated by Dr. Schlessinger, it contains afaLUXE™ to help exfoliate and remove dull skin cells to promote healthy cell turnover. It is formulated at a low pH, which means it has a higher acid content that essentially acts as an at-home chemical peel to rejuvenate your skin. While it is a powerful and effective treatment, it’s also gentle enough to be used nightly. Additionally, it contains Dead Sea minerals and antioxidant-rich vitamin C to improve cell turnover and reduce the signs of sun damage.

3. Help heal sores on your skin with hydrocortisone

As acne heals, you may begin to see a brown or red mark appear on your skin where your blemish once was. Picking at your skin causes inflammation that can lead to scarring. “Hydrocortisone has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the redness and swelling that accompanies post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “It can also help minimize irritation from drying acne treatments.”

Try: FixMySkin Healing Body Balm Unscented with 1% Hydrocortisone

Created by Dr. Schlessinger and his son, Dr. Daniel Schlessinger, this medicated balm is designed with 1% hydrocortisone to help treat inflammation and assist your skin’s healing process. The use of hydrocortisone in this formula is designed to deeply penetrate the skin to reduce inflammation while shea and cocoa butters come together to moisturize and soothe the skin. FixMySkin Balm is versatile for a wide range of issues, including eczema, psoriasis, allergic reactions, insect bites and poison ivy. Plus, it comes in a convenient stick applicator, making it easy to carry with you for a quick on-the-go application.

4. Treat your dark spots

Dark spots can linger for weeks before they start to fade. Skin lighteners contain active ingredients that are designed to reduce discoloration in the skin. So, finding a gentle skin lightener that can treat your existing dark spots as well as prevent future dark spots from forming is important to help you achieve a clear complexion.

Try: Jan Marini Luminate Face Lotion

This facial treatment is a hydroquinone-free solution that’s specially formulated to help with lightening skin, fading dark spots and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. With a powerful combination of ingredients including alpha-arbutin, retinol and concentrated green tea extract, this formula helps inhibit melanin production and increase healthy cell turnover. This product is ideal for all skin types, and with regular use, you can achieve a brighter and healthier-looking complexion. Dr. Schlessinger and his award-winning Schlessinger MD Skin Research Center conducted the clinical trials on this exceptional treatment product and patient results were truly impressive, including a noticeable lightening of dark spots with regular use.

5. Use sunscreen

We can’t emphasize the importance of sunscreen enough. Yes, it helps prevent skin cancer, but it also protects your skin from harmful UVA rays, which is why you see those brown spots appear on your face after being out in the sun. “If you want to save yourself some time without having to worry about treating future dark spots caused by sun damage, please wear your sunscreen now,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

Try: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Sunscreen

EltaMD's oil-free sunscreen is the perfect combination for any skin type, especially acne-prone skin. It works to calm blemishes, inflammation and discoloration using 5% high-purity niacinamide while shielding you from sun damage with a blend of 9% transparent zinc oxide and 7.5% octinoxate. This lightweight formula also contains hyaluronic acid to help moisturize while lactic acid and antioxidant-rich vitamin E promote healthy-looking skin. This sunscreen also wears wonderfully under makeup, and with the power to prevent future signs of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots it’s no wonder it’s a LovelySkin bestseller.

Looking for more options to help you achieve a brighter, more even complexion? Explore dermatologist-recommended tips, tricks, and products that you need on the LovelySkin Blog, including the 7 best ingredients to help improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation.