Black Spots on Skin, Dots, Patches, Dark, Tiny, Itchy, Pictures, Causes, Get Rid, Treatment & Home Remedies (2024)

Various conditions may lead to black spots on skin. The spots usually appear as tiny dots or as patches on any part of your skin. They may be itchy or not, painful or painless, raised or flat, depending on what causes them. This post outlines the causes of black spots or marks on skin with pictures. It also highlights how to get rid of the spots using treatments and home remedies.

Signs and Symptoms

Dark spots, dots or patches are as a result of hyperpigmentation of the skin due to the overproduction of skin pigment called melanin by melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin pigment that gives the skin its color.

Signs and symptoms of dark spots on the skin include the following:

• Dark raised spots like bumps on the skin
• Dark flat patches on the skin
• Tiny or small black dots on skin surface
• Large dark marks on skin of the face, neck and other parts of the body
• Dark itchy marks on the body skin
• Dark non-itchy scarring on the skin
• Painless dark bumps on skin that can bleed easily

The signs and symptoms of black marks on the body skin can vary depending on the type of skin condition. For instance, acnes on the skin can result in blackheads that are raised spots while sunspots can appear as flat patches on the skin.

Causes of Black Spots on Skin

Skin hyperpigmentation can occur due to various factors. These factors can trigger melanocytes to produce excess melanin in the affected parts of the skin. It is significant for you to be conversant with causes that can result in dark spots on body skin so that you can be able to prevent and escape dark marks on the skin.

The causes of black spots on body skin include the following:

1. Skin injuries

Physical injuries on the skin can result in the development of black spots on skin. The most common factors that may lead to skin injuries include accidental cuts on the skin, injuries from sharp objects, chemical, and thermal burning. Skin injuries can occur anywhere on your body skin.

A physical damage of the skin tissue can affect melanocytes around the wound to produce excess melanin pigment. Overproduction of skin pigment can result to hyperpigmentation around the scarring area on your skin after healing.

2. Sun damage

Sun damage can result in dark spots on body skin. The parts of the skin that are frequently exposed to direct sunlight are likely to develop dark dots or patches. The face, neck, back of hands, upper arms, and shoulders are majorly affected by sunspots.

Long exposure of the skin to UV light from the sun can trigger melanocytes on the skin to increase the production of melanin on the skin. This can result to hyperpigmentation that can show up with black dots or patches on the affected area of the skin.

The sun has UV rays that can hurt your skin. Exposing your skin to direct sunlight can result in either acute or chronic damage to the skin tissue. The acute effect of ultraviolet rays on skin tissue can result in skin tanning or darkening of the skin.

Erythema is an example of skin condition that develops from sunburn. This condition is characterized by red or dark inflammation on the skin due to acute effect of UV light. The acute damage of UV rays on skin tissue can be restored to normal condition by using suitable treatment method of skin care.

On the other hand, the chronic damage of the skin tissue by UV rays can lead to a serious skin condition that is more permanent and difficult to be controlled. Chronic effect of sunlight includes; premature aging of the skin tissue or black age spots, cancer of the skin and permanent eye problems.

Other dark spots caused by UV rays on the skin include:

• Solar lentigines
• Actinic keratosis
• Freckles
• Melasma

You can prevent and escape sunburns by staying away from direct sunlight. Also, you can protect your skin against direct sunlight by using sunscreen on your skin. Take safety measure by covering your skin with cloth material to block harmful UV rays from the sun.

3. Aging

The process of aging can encourage the skin to develop age spots or liver spots. These are flat black, dark, gray or brown marks on the skin that appear due to the aging of the skin. Liver spots or age spots are a common skin condition that can appear to people with the age of 40 years and above.

Typically, age spots can appear on the face, shoulders, back of the hands and upper part of the back. Age spots can also affect the skin of young people if they are exposed to harmful UV rays from the sun or in tanning beds.

Age spots or liver spots can occur due to overproduction of skin pigment or melanin. UV rays on the skin can trigger melanocyte to produce excess melanin that has a consequence of black spots on the skin. According to Mayo Clinic, the risk factors to age spots include light skin and red hair traits.

4. Skin Acne

Black spots on skin can be as a consequence of skin acne. Blackheads are a type of skin acne that typically appears on the facial part. Dark patches on cheeks can also appear due to acne of the face. also, other parts of the body skin such as the neck, shoulders, and inner thighs and on the bark can also be affected by skin acne.

Any type of skin acne such as papules, cysts, nodules, and pustules can also damage the skin to develop black dots after healing and scarring. Pimples marks on the skin are not permanent and the can fade away by time.

5. Hormone change

The change of body hormone has a direct influence on the skin tissue to trigger overproduction of melanin by melanocytes that can result in dark spots or patches on the skin. The change of body hormone is common during adolescent stage, pregnancy and menstruation periods.

6. Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra (DPN)

Tiny black spots on skin may also be as a result of Dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN). This is a condition that causes many harmless small, benign black spots on the face. It tends to occur a among dark-skinned individuals. Its causes are unknown but it tends to run in families.

7. Medication

The use of certain medication to treat some underlying body condition might have a side effect of dark spots on the skin. Some medicinal drugs can cause dark skin rashes like pimples that finally heal and leave black scarring on the skin.

Examples of these medicinal drugs that can cause skin hyperpigmentation include tetracycline, Amiodarone, phenothiazine, phenytoin, sulfonamides, and estrogens drugs. If you notice any strange black mark on your skin after the use of certain drugs, seek the help of your doctor on how to remove black spots on skin.

8. Liver damage

Black dots or patches on the skin can be as a result of liver disease or infections. Black dots on the skin can show up as a sign of liver damage.

The liver is a major organ in the body and its main function is to remove the toxic substance from the blood. When the liver fails to function properly, it can result in the accumulation of a toxic substance in the body that can cause skin hyperpigmentation.

9. Skin cancer

Skin cancer is a chronic skin condition that can result in dark hard bumps on the skin that can bleed easily. According to Wikipedia, skin cancer can develop from the chronic effect of UV light from the sun. The malignant cells on the skin can show up as red, pink, brown, white and dark

spots on the skin that won’t go away easily.

Early detection of skin cancer can be treated and increase the chances to survive. However, it is unfortunate that most of the cancerous skin condition is detected after they have already spread and cause serious damage to the skin.

10. Black spots on skin Std

Black dots on the skin of genital and anal parts can result from sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) can result in dark bumps on the skin of the vulva and penis. Syphilis, genital herpes and HIV can also result to black bumps and dark scarring on the genital areas.

11. Insect Bites

Parasitic insects like bed bugs, mites and mosquitoes can result to painful dark spots on the skin that can eve leave black scarring on the skin after healing.

Bug bites are common insect bites that may lead to dark scarring of arms, legs, back, shoulder or any other parts of the skin.

12. Skin diseases

Skin infection or diseases can result in black spots on the skin. Bacteria, virus, and fungi are common skin infection that can cause black scarring on the skin. Usually, these infections that attack the skin tissue can cause inflammation, itchy skin, and rashes like bumps on the skin.

In addition, skin disease can affect the melanocytes cells to produce excess skin pigment on the affected site. Some of the skin disease that can cause black spots on skin includes:

• Boils or furuncles are caused by a bacterial attack of hair follicles that result to large bumps that leave black scarring after healing.
• Hives are painful bumps that appear suddenly on the skin surface due to the effect of allergic reaction.
• Chickenpox is painful blister that is caused by virus infection which attacks the whole body skin and leaves black spots after healing.
• Skin rash is a small or a tiny pimple like bumps that can appear on the skin due to allergic reaction, excess heat on the skin or due to wrong use of cosmetic products.
• Eczema is a skin condition that can result in red or dark patches and blister that burst, ooze out and crust over to heal which leaves black dots on affected parts.
• Rosacea is chronic dark bumps on the skin that can appear on the face and on other body skin.
• Scabies is itchy plagues that can occur on the skin of the fingers that cause itchy black dots on the skin.

Tiny Black Dots on Skin

Does your skin have small or tiny black spots? Tiny dark marks can appear in various part of your skin. Usually, they can show up on the face, arms, back, shoulders, on genital organs, inner thighs, legs or on any other parts of the body skin.

Tiny black spots on skin can occur due to the accumulation of melanin on one point or part of the skin tissue. Hyperpigmentation of the skin usually appears due to excess production of melanin pigment in the affected area.

Small dark dots can appear on the skin of anybody. However, the adolescent stage is commonly associated with tiny dots on the face that develop from acne. Blemish, zit or dark marks on the face during adolescent cannot develop into serious skin condition but it can make the facial skin look less attractive hence a beauty problem.

A baby face can also develop tiny spots on face. Baby acne caused by milia spots can result to tiny black scarring on the face of infant or toddlers. Heat rash is a common cause of tiny dark, red, brown or black scarring on the skin of children.

Adults cannot escape tiny black dots on the skin. As you grow to adulthood, you are likely to develop more dark dots or patches on your skin. This is a clear reason to explain why people with advanced age have a more prominent dart dots on their body skin.

There are various reasons that can cause tiny black spots on skin. We have already discussed some of the causal agents of dark tiny marks on the skin in this post. But for more explanation here are the details that continue to focus on the causes of tiny dark spots on the skin that includes:

• UV light: sunlight is the major cause of tiny dark dots on the face and on the other part of the skin. Sunspots can appear after long skin exposure to direct sunlight.
• Age spots or liver spots: these are tiny dots on the skin that can appear due to the aging UV rays can as well cause premature age spots on the skin of young individuals.
• Insect bites: this can result to small or tiny dark dot of skin.
• Vitamin deficiency: the deficiency of body vitamin can weaken body immune hence can allow the skin tissue to develop dark marks.

How to Get Rid of Black Spots on Skin

You have no reason to live with dark dots or patches on your skin that affects your beauty. Our main interest is on how to remove dark spots on face overnight or instantly if possible. You can use home remedies to remove mild common dark dots on the face and from other parts of the body skin.

Alternatively, dark spots that won’t go away from your skin easily, medical treatment is the best option you can go for by visiting your doctor to help you on how to remove dark spots on face fast and on other parts of the body skin.

Treatment

There are several medical treatment methods that you can use to remove dark spots on the skin. You can go for dermatologist treatment for dark spots on face. Your doctor might use the following methods to treat your dark marks on the skin:

1. Laser treatment

Laser treatment method can be used to remove both permanent and temporal dark marks on the skin. This treatment method is effective to remove dark spots on the skin from the face within 1 day. Laser treatments are done by a specialized dermatologist who has the experience.

Laser treatment can also remove cancerous dark spots on the skin. it uses a strong beam of light that can kill a malignant cell that causes dark marks or patches on the skin.

2. Chemical peels

Chemical peels are the application of special dark spot removal creams that are formulated with acidic contents that help to lighten black spots on the skin.

3. Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that uses special sharp tools and equipment to remove the outermost layer of the skin that contains dark spots. This treatment can restore your skin to bright glowing skin.

Microdermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure that uses a rough tiny crystal-like substance to exfoliate the dark skin layer. The method is effective to clear away dark dots or patches from your skin.

4. Surgical incision

That uses sharp sterilize tools to remove the dark cyst, bumps that are deep under the skin tissue. Also, it can be used to remove cancerous tumors from the skin.

5. Prescription of medicinal creams

Skin lightening creams or dark spot removal creams can be prescribed to you by the doctor who can help you to clear way black spots on skin.

Home Remedies

You can use home remedies to get rid of dark spots on the skin. Try the following procedures:

1. Lemon juice

Lemon juice contains citric acid that can help to exfoliate the top layer of the skin that has a dark spot, acne scars, and skin blemish. Lemon juice also contains natural vitamins that can nourish and keep the skin smooth and bright.

How to use:

• Extract fresh lemon juice from the lemon juice,
• Apply the lemon juice directly on the affected part of the skin with dark marks
• Allow it to stay on your skin for 30 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water
• Repeat the treatment three times per day until black spots on skin fade away

2. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is an effective home remedy that can be used to remove dark bumps, acne scars, dark cysts, and dark zits. Aloe Vera contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property that can help cure acnes on the skin without scarring.

How to use:

• Clean your skin with warm water and dry it off using a towel
• Use your hands to apply the Aloe Vera gel or cream on affected part of your skin with dark mark
• Alternatively, get fresh juice of Aloe Vera by splitting the Aloe Vera leaves and apply the juice on your skin
• Repeat the treatment twice per day for few weeks unit dark spots on the skin clear away

3. Potato juice

A raw potato contains active enzymes that can help to bleach dark marks or patches on the skin. The nutrients in the potatoes juice can nourish and restore the skin to normal color.

How to use:

• Get a raw tuber of potato, peel and grate it
• Mix two teaspoon of raw honey with grated potato
• Apply the mixture on the affected part of your skin with dark marks
• Allow it to stay on your skin for 30 minutes before rinsing it with water
• Do the same procedure twice per day for few weeks

4. Honey and coconut oil

A mixture of honey and coconut oil is an excellent home remedy that can remove black spots on the skin within 1 week. Raw honey has natural ingredients that can lighten dark skin by reducing excess melanin on the skin. Honey also can help to heal blackheads and other skin acne.

Coconut oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties that can help to heal dark pimples and other types of bumps on the skin surface. It also has the ability to lighten dark patches on the skin. coconut oil also can soothe itchy spots on the skin.

How to use:

• Mix two teaspoon of coconut oil with equal amount of raw honey
• Apply the mixture on the affected part of the skin with black spots
• Allow the mixture to stay on your skin during the night
• Repeat the treatment twice per day for few days until black spots on skin go away

5. Sugar Scrub

Sugar scrub is an excellent home remedy that can help to get rid of dark marks, acne scars, and blemish on the skin within two days. The sugar scrub can help to exfoliate the outermost layer of the skin that has black marks.

How to use:

• Mix two teaspoon of raw honey into a half a glass of sugar
• Use your hands to apply the sugar scrap on the affected parts of the skin and massage it gently
• Rinse off your skin with warm water
• Repeat the treatment two times per day for few weeks until dark spots on skin fade away

When to See a Doctor

You can see a doctor over black spots on the skin if you noticed the following condition:

• when dark marks on the skin are too painful and cause a lot of discomforts
• when black dots on the skin has persisted for more than three weeks or has refused to go away
• when your baby develop strange dark dots on the skin that keeps you in worry
• if black dots or patches on the skin are becoming a threat to your beauty and health
• if dark marks on the skin are hard bumps that can bleed easily

It is advisable to visit your doctor to get help in case you notice any strange dark marks that you suspect to develop into a serious skin condition that can make your skin look less attractive.