As a black woman, I am prone to dark spots. This is how to help them recover

When I look in the mirror, I'm often bothered by the dark spots on my complexion. As a black woman, melanin and excess pigment in my skin make me more susceptible to developing dark spots due to irritation or inflammation. 

I admit, the damage done to me was caused by a rather unfortunate habit: popping pimples. My acne started when I was in high school. I have horrible memories of being called "pizza face" and being laughed at constantly. 

I remember my family desperately trying everything they could to clear my skin, trying various over-the-counter acne products and scheduling appointments for chemical peels, which required me to wear a hijab. 

Throughout my adolescence and adulthood, my acne-prone skin fluctuated, with breakouts seeming to come and go at will. It wasn't until I decided to really sit down, research what ingredients and products were actually helping my skin, 

and develop a comprehensive daily routine that I first realized that my acne - and the persistent dark spots it left behind - were starting to disappear. 

This introspection gave me some insight into skin and what ingredients to look for when treating acne and lightening dark spots, while avoiding products that may have negative effects, especially on black women, such as the pigment brightener paraben phenol or sunscreen, these products can leave a white cast. The following worked for me: 

Salicylic Acid Cleanser: First things first: clean your skin and prevent acne from forming. I started using a cleanser that contained salicylic acid, a type of salicylic acid that helps cleanse the lining of my pores and balance excess oil production. 

Many acne cleansers can strip the skin, but I was looking for a non-drying formula that would leave my skin feeling calm and hydrated. Keeping the Peace is my current top choice. Sometimes I also use it as a face mask, leaving it on for a few minutes and then rinsing it off. 

Exfoliating Facial Scrub: You might think that my early, less than positive experiences with facial peels would put me off using them in the future, but I quickly learned that they are very effective at fading dark spots. 

Speaking of ingredients list, I was looking for a multitasking facial scrub that uses both exfoliating BHAs and AHAs to treat acne as well as dark spots and scars. This peel, by the way, is key: It removes the top layer of skin, revealing brighter, undamaged skin underneath. 

I especially love this rejuvenating mask because it contains a blend of exfoliating acids and pineapple enzymes that require no burning (no bandana required). 

Mineral SPF: A common misconception is that people of color don’t need to wear sunscreen. However, applying SPF sunscreen daily can prevent the progression of peeling and prevent new dark spots from forming. 

Of course, it's also important for general protection against harmful UV rays and skin cancer. While it can be difficult to apply mineral protectants on darker skin tones, Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35, formulated by a black woman, successfully avoided leaving white marks on my skin.