Black spots, dark patches and other marks on the face may be caused by many different factors, the most common one being prolonged exposure to the sun. Cells in the skin known as melanocytes produce melanin, a compound responsible for giving skin its color. Melanin acts as a protective agent, preventing the ultraviolet rays of the sun from penetrating too deeply. Over a period of time, with prolonged exposure to the sun, high levels of melanin concentration can occur, leading to dark spots and patches on the skin. Other causes can include hormonal changes, stress, liver disease, pregnancy as also the process of ageing.
Remember, these home remedies or other forms of alternative medicine may only help to lighten the color of the spots and not remove them. For more conventional therapies you should consult a dermatologist who may recommend a more conventional line of treatment. These treatment options may include medical ointments containing hydroquinone that will cause the spots to fade, or laser treatment that destroys the melanocytes and prevents the re-formation of the dark spots. Other techniques include cryotherapy and dermabrasion that destroy the pigmented skin. The new skin when it forms is devoid of the dark spots.
The last form of therapy, called the chemical peel. This method also uses the principle of skin destruction. In this method, the blemished skin burns off after applying an acid. Again, on healing, the skin is blemish-free.
As mentioned before, these treatments are only as effective as the amount of care you take to avoid exposure to the sun. Therefore, you need to cover up completely when you venture out in the sun and even on cloudy days, you should shield yourself from ultraviolet radiation.