Although it feels like a far-flung fantasy at the moment, the time

will

come when we can venture outside into the sunshine yet again. For us that means two things: lots of happy dancing and celebrations, and

wearing plenty of sunscreen

. Sure, there might be a few other things on our minds, but that last one is major. Why? Because SPF keeps your skin protected from sun damage, which often manifests as dark spots. UVA and UVB rays can also trigger dormant melasma to rear its unwanted head. Given all this extra time we

ve had to inspect our faces from the comfort of our bathrooms, we

ve been thinking about these spots and ways to address them.

If you’re at a loss for why your complexion is suddenly riddled with various forms of hyperpigmentation, know that you are not alone. Dark spots are one of the most common reasons to visit a dermatologist and can arise from things like the aforementioned sun damage and melasma, as well as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hormonal changes, certain medications, environmental exposure, trauma, and genetics. Luckily, there are more options than ever to treat all of the various forms of dark spots so that your complexion can return to an even and glowy state. To learn more, we spoke with board-certified dermatologist and founder of

Entiére Dermatology

, Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin about the types of hyperpigmentation she sees at her NYC practice, as well as the best method of treatment—like lasers and topicals—to banish those dark spots for good. Remember, as with any skin condition, it’s crucial to visit your physician so they can properly diagnose you.

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