Essential set of aloe vera for skincare
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Dark spots, or hyperpigmentation, on dark skin are almost always caused by some sort of physical trauma. Whether you get a bruise, cut or scar, the resulting mark can be persistent and remain long after the trauma. To make matters worse, hyperpigmentation can really stand out against dark skin. Fortunately, there are several easy steps you can take to reduce the appearance of dark spots on dark skin, as well as measures you can take to avoid or at least reduce the appearance of new spots.

Apply sunscreen consistently when going outdoors. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. The sun can make dark spots look even darker, promote the appearance of new spots and put you at risk of developing skin cancer.

Enrich your diet with nutrients and vitamins. If you have an unhealthy diet that includes fast food, lots of junk food and loads of sugar, your skin will suffer from it. Eating right and staying hydrated with lots of water is extremely important for the health and appearance of your skin. According to Yulia Berry, best-selling health and wellness author, "Eating a well balanced diet rich in antioxidants and low in saturated fats and refined sugars is a good way of preventing the premature emergence of these unsightly spots." Foods rich in antioxidants include berries, spinach, and sunflower seeds.

Use cosmetic bleaching agents to help lighten up the dark spots on your skin. An example of a gentle skin bleaching agent is MSM. Methyl sulfonyl methane is produced in the fluids of all people and animals and, along with water and salt, makes up about 90% of all living creatures. Thomas Stearns Lee, NMD, states that "MSM reduces scar tissue, moles, brown spots, black spots, skin tumors, cuts, and burns," and also "improves immunity, counters lung problems (as in nasal spray), asthma, and emphysema." Place MSM directly on your skin spots or ingest it to reduce their appearance.

Add a topical vitamin A oil or vitamin E oil to your skin spots twice a day. These oils will slowly reduce the appearance of dark spots by healing scars and other physical trauma.

Rub a pure aloe vera gel on the dark spots twice a day for two months. The healing properties of the aloe vera plant will help to fade the spots. When used continuously, the results will be much more noticeable.

Get a chemical peel if you want immediate results or feel that your spots need a more intense treatment than that which natural applications and supplements can provide. Certain chemical peels can remove several layers of skin to help reduce the appearance of dark spots.

Talk to your dermatologist about laser treatments that burn away the dark spots. Darker skin may need a few more laser treatments than lighter skin, as dark spots on dark skin are more resilient.