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Melasma, pigmentation or dark spots? How to tell the difference
They look similar but behave differently. Knowing which one you have changes what will help.
How to remove dark spots on your face: a realistic 12-week plan
Why dark spots appear, what actually helps them fade, and the simple routine that keeps new ones from forming.
Dark spots are one of the most common skin concerns in India, and also one of the most misunderstood. Many people try a cream for two weeks, see no change and give up. The truth is that spots can fade, but skin renews itself roughly once a month, so real change takes 8–12 weeks of steady care.
Why dark spots form
A dark spot is simply a patch of extra melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. Melanin-rich Indian skin is especially quick to produce more of it when it is stressed. The common triggers are:
- Sun exposure: UV rays and visible light both switch on pigment production.
- Healed pimples: the brown or dark mark left after acne, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
- Hormones: pregnancy, contraceptive pills and thyroid changes can bring on patchy pigmentation.
- Friction and heat: scrubbing, waxing, cooking near a flame, rubbing the skin.
Knowing your trigger matters, because no serum can keep up if the trigger keeps firing every day.
The two things every routine needs
1. A brightening serum that calms pigment production and helps even out tone. Look for proven, gentle ingredients such as niacinamide, kojic acid derivatives, licorice and saffron. CROCUS ELIXIR combines all four with amla and manjistha in a lightweight serum you can use morning and night.
2. Daily sunscreen, without exception. This is the step most people skip, and it is the reason spots come back. Choose broad-spectrum SPF 50 with visible-light protection, because visible light also darkens pigmentation in Indian skin. PRO TACTO is a tinted SPF 50 gel made for exactly this.
Your 12-week plan
- Weeks 1–2: build the habit. Cleanse, apply 2–3 pumps of serum, then sunscreen every morning. Serum again at night. Patch test first.
- Weeks 3–6: stay consistent. You may notice brighter, more even skin before the spots themselves change. Do not add harsh scrubs or lemon; irritation creates new pigment.
- Weeks 7–12: look for fading. Take a photo in the same light every two weeks. Most people see spots looking lighter and softer at the edges by now.
- After 12 weeks: maintain. Keep the sunscreen daily for life. Use the serum as long as you want to keep tone even.
Habits that speed things up
- Reapply sunscreen every 2–3 hours when you are outdoors.
- Do not pick pimples; every picked spot is a future dark mark.
- Wear a cap or carry an umbrella in peak sun (11 am–3 pm).
- Sleep well and drink enough water; tired, dehydrated skin looks duller.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if your spots are spreading quickly, change shape or colour, bleed or itch, or if you have large symmetrical patches on the cheeks (this may be melasma, which needs a tailored plan). Our doctors offer a free consultation.
For a full overview of causes and options, read our guide to dark spots and pigmentation.
Patch test every new product on your inner arm for 24 hours. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have an ongoing skin condition, book a free consultation with a Burnett doctor before starting.
