Natural or plant-based remedies are often used in an effort to remove dark spots from the skin of the face. Sometimes known as sun spots, liver spots, or age spots, dark spots are caused by hyperpigmentation, an overproduction or inappropriate deposition of melanin (the pigment responsible for giving your skin its natural color). They often appear on the face, hands, arms, and other areas frequently exposed to the sun.

Dark spots can form as a result of years of exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. They can also result from the natural aging process, during pregnancy, from the use of birth control pills or estrogen therapy (a condition known as melasma), after an inflammatory skin condition such acne (known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), or from other factors.

Dark spots are more common in people with darker skin due to the higher melanin content of their skin. In people with fair skin, overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays are the leading cause of dark spots.

Although they sometimes resemble moles and other growths associated with skin cancer, dark spots are often harmless and don't need to be treated. If you do want to get them removed, skin-lightening products are a popular option, and strategies such as chemical peels and laser therapy are occasionally recommended.

Natural Remedies for Dark Spots

A number of natural substances are being explored as treatments for removing dark spots on the face. However, there's currently a lack of scientific support for their effectiveness and little is known about side effects. Here's a look at some of the more popular ingredients:

Pomegranate

Proponents suggest that ellagic acid (an antioxidant compound found in pomegranates, cherries, and strawberries) may help with dark spots on the face by interfering with tyrosinase, an enzyme needed to produce the melanin pigment in skin. A small study published in 2014 explored the use of a topical pomegranate skin extract on skin for a period of 12 weeks and the results suggested that the extract had an impact on skin redness and skin melanin levels.

Tea Polypenols

Green tea is rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol compound touted for many effects, including ones that protect skin. Preliminary research suggests that EGCG may help to reduce melanin production, as well as have positive effects on skin hydration, moisture retention, and wrinkle formation. Other research suggests that black tea, which is fermented, produces polyphenols (such as thearubigins and theaflavins) that may inhibit melanin formation and deposition by a greater extent.

Soy

Soy is a substance derived from the soybean plant that is said to offer skin brightening benefits. Preliminary research also suggests that soy may protect against UVB-induced skin damage

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