A Dermatologist on the Best Way to Treat and Prevent Hyperpigmentation in the Summer

There's not much about spending time in the summer sun that's more of a pain in the behind than dealing with hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is what occurs when there's an overproduction of melanin in the skin that's often linked to acne and blemishes, although according to dermatologist Shari Sperling, DO, it can manifest in a few different ways.

"After trauma to the skin when it's healing or as skin rashes like eczema or contact dermatitis heals, there's hyperpigmentation of the skin before it goes back to its regular color," she told POPSUGAR. "Melasma is another type of pigmentation related to hormones, commonly found on upper lip or cheeks or forehead on women during and after pregnancy, with oral contraception use, or even with menopause."

That being said, sun exposure is also a common cause of hyperpigmentation, which is why we're more prone to experiencing it in the summertime. Sunlight can trigger the production of melanin in the skin, since melanin acts as a shield from UV rays. If you already deal with dark marks or discoloration, being in the sun will only darken them. "If you are exposed to sun, the darker skin will just get darker in the sun and take longer to get back to normal skin color," Dr. Sperling said.

Because of this, the most important step to take in preventing hyperpigmentation is regularly applying sunscreen. "You should use an SPF that's 30 or higher," Dr. Sperling said. "I like the physical sunscreens with zinc or titanium. Rx or over-the-counter products containing hydroquinone can also be used to treat hyperpigmentation."

Read ahead to check out some of our favorite products for treating and preventing hyperpigmentation.