Have you ever noticed those dark spots on your skin that you could swear weren’t there the day before? What are they? Where did they come from? And most importantly, how do you get rid of them?

Well, we are here to help you get some answers!

Dark Spots on Feet and Legs

So, what are those dark spots on my skin? Well, those dark spots that you see more and more on your hands, face, arms, legs, and feet are referred to as Hyperpigmentation. Also, not so fondly referred to as Age Spots.

What is Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation on the skin happens when your body releases increased amounts of melanin. What is melanin and why does it create dark spots? Well, Melanin isn’t actually a bad thing.

In fact, melanin is the natural pigment that gives us the color in our skin, hair, and eyes. However, when melanin production is triggered to overproduce, then hyperpigmentation will begin to appear on the skin in the form of dark spots.

What causes Melanin to over-produce?

You might be wondering now why your skin is producing this additional melanin. There are a number of factors that can trigger an increase in melanin production. The main triggers for melanin overproduction include:

• Sun exposure

• Hormonal fluctuations

• Age

Unfortunately, this means that unless you plan to never go outside again, get rid of all of your hormones, and stop aging, you should plan on including a few age spots in your future.

Actually, two out of three isn’t so bad, right? No aging or hormones?

Sign me up!

How to get rid of Hyperpigmentation

So how can you get rid of those dark spots on your skin? First, you could try allowing them to fade naturally. However, while some of those dark spots may go away over time, the process is very slow and not always guaranteed.

If you aren't willing to wait it out, there are surgical procedures you can undergo to quickly remove hyperpigmentation. Dermatologists or plastic surgeons can perform chemical peels or microdermabrasion on discolored skin areas.

These procedures will actually remove layers of skin with the aim of removing the dark spots as well. While this method can be successful, it is aggressive and sometimes painful. Doctors can also use a laser to even your skin tone, but this option can be expensive.

Additionally, there are less aggressive, but fast removal options such as Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (known as IPL). While similar to a laser, this procedure is a gentler option and can be done at a professional spa. However, IPL treatment has occasionally been known to make the skin even more discolored—yikes!

Treatments for Hyperpigmentation on Feet

If you are looking for a more cost-effective, less aggressive approach to getting rid of your hyperpigmentation, you should consider retinoids and lightening creams. You can find both of these over the counter or have them prescribed by a doctor. These lightening creams will essentially bleach away your dark spots by reducing the pigment in your skin as a means of helping to fade away the unwanted dark spots.

In addition, Roots and Bloom offers a Multi-Acid Foot Treatment for an effective, but gentle peel that might be helpful in minimizing the appearance of hyperpigmentation on your feet. Roots and Bloom’s Resurfacing Toner pads are even gentler and can effectively boost skin cell turnover. They work by removing the dry, dull skin and replacing it with newer, more healthy and even-toned skin.

Now that you know where those dark spots come from and why they are there, you should also know that Age Spots are nothing to fear. It’s just a little Hyperpigmentation and they can be treated. We’ve only scratched the surface today in this article, but know that there is an array of very effective options to help us get back to the skin of our youth—healthy and glowing but minus the acne, please!

If you would like to learn more about how to treat the hyperpigmentation on your feet, be sure to check out our natural, skin-grade Roots & Bloom footcare products. Each product is designed specifically to target, treat, smooth, and soften your feet.