If you glance at the sun, even for a second, you’ll see spots when you look away. That’s because the light saturates cells in the retina with pigment. In a few seconds, the spots go away, and your vision returns to normal. If only it were that easy to get rid of those dark spots of pigment that keep cropping up on your skin.

Most people share a propensity for the development of dark spots as they age. Most also share the desire to get rid of them. Specks, smudges, and stains are unwelcome. But what people don’t all share is the reason those unwanted skin blemishes appear in the first place.

Your dark spots and patches could be diagnosed as melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or age spots. Understanding what’s causing yours can help you figure out what might diminish them or get rid of them altogether. So, if you’re seeing spots, don’t look away from this information. Here are three tips for understanding dark spots and their differences.

1. Find Out If It’s Just Skin Deep

There are three main layers to your skin — the body’s largest organ. The epidermis is the outer layer, the dermis the middle, and the hypodermis, the deepest. It makes sense that the epidermis is the easiest layer to treat since it’s the easiest to reach. And, of course, it’s where those dark spots appear.

The epidermis is also where melanocytes reside. Those are the cells that produce melanin, which is where your skin’s pigment comes from. Regardless of what’s causing them to form, dark spots are caused by an overproduction of melanin. That’s why such skin conditions are referred to as “hyperpigmentation.” Finding ways to reduce melanin production is key to fading or eliminating them.

Hydroquinone works in the epidermal layer to squelch melanin production by selectively damaging melanocytes. In doing so, it bleaches the skin, minimizing dark spots over time. Hydroquinone cream is typically prescribed for melasma, but also for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It is safe and effective but also powerful, often prescribed for only three months at a time.

Chemical exfoliators and peels and microdermabrasion procedures can also diminish dark spots. They work by essentially removing the top layer of the skin where they form. That removal helps get rid of old skin cells to make way for new, unblemished ones.

If you need to go deeper to get to your dark spots, laser therapy can reach the dermis. To get started, though, you may want to work from the top to find out if you’ll need to take a deeper dive.

2. Understand the Underlying Factors

The causes of melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and age spots are different, even if the results are largely the same. Understanding what those underlying factors are is important. Treating the cause is sometimes the cure.

The two most prevalent causes of melasma are radiation and hormones. Radiation includes all light, not just ultraviolet rays. In fact, the blue light emanating from your screens may cause it. Limiting exposure and using sunscreen daily can reduce melanin production and lead to the fading away of those dark patches over time.

The hormonal component of some melasma makes it tough to treat. Your birth control may be causing it or alternatively, your pregnancy. Between 15% and 50% of pregnant women develop melasma. The good news is that it’s usually temporary, and dark patches fade after more normal hormonal activity resumes after birth.

Trauma is the culprit in developing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Factors such as acne, bacterial impetigo, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, razor bumps, bug bites, burns, and infections can cause it. Treating these conditions, such as finding an effective acne regimen, can nip post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in the bud.

Age spots are essentially the sign of sun damage over the years. You may need to use topical creams, serums, and restorative procedures to diminish them now. But slathering on sunscreen daily may keep them from multiplying. You do the math.

3. Get into a Skin-Healthy Routine

No matter what the cause of your hyperpigmentation is, getting into a healthy daily skin routine will help. But it’s more than just using the right cleansers, moisturizers, and serums. It’s also about avoiding triggers.

Your skin is largely affected by your diet. Foods rich in vitamin A, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and selenium are critical. So is drinking enough water to keep you and your skin hydrated. Remember, too, that a healthy diet may help you stave off acne, eczema, and other skin conditions that cause hyperpigmentation.

When you do develop blemishes, rashes, cold sores, get bitten by bugs, or cut yourself with the razor, keep your hands off. Treat them with the appropriate remedies, but don’t touch them with your fingers. You risk infecting them, which could lead to hyperpigmentation.

Use skincare products containing vitamin C, which is an antioxidant, and vitamin A-derived retinols. Avoid harsh cleansers that can dry skin. All of this will help you slough off old cells and generate new ones. A healthy regimen is not only good for the surface of the skin, but deep into it as well.

Whatever you do, don’t forget the sunscreen. You’ll need to use one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Anything lower won’t protect you from damaging UV rays. No matter the cause of your dark spots, the sun is invariably a common denominator.

Stop Seeing Spots

When you start seeing spots on your skin, begin your attack at the surface. Remember, any method of removing hyperpigmentation takes time to work, so be patient. With spots created by years of sun exposure, in particular, commit to a sufficient length of treatment time. No matter what caused them to appear, you might start seeing your freckles, spots, and patches retreating from view.