If you have noticed patches of darker skin appearing across your cheeks, forehead or upper lip, you are almost certainly wondering what causes dark spots on the face and, more importantly, whether anything can be done about them. It is one of the most common concerns we see at The Bronte Clinic, and the straightforward answer is that dark spots on the face are not a single condition with a single cause. They are a visible sign that the skin is producing more melanin than usual in certain areas and understanding why that is happening is the key to treating them properly.

This matters because the treatment that clears one type of pigmentation can, in some cases, make another type worse. Getting the diagnosis right comes first. Below, we explain what causes dark spots on the face, how to tell the different types apart, and which of the treatments we offer are genuinely suited to each.

What Causes Dark Spots on the Face?

Dark spots on the face are caused by an overproduction of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. When melanocytes, the cells that make melanin, are triggered to work harder in localised areas, the result is a patch of skin that appears darker than the surrounding tissue. This is what dermatologists call hyperpigmentation.

The trigger for that excess melanin varies. The most common cause by far is sun exposure, but hormonal changes, inflammation, skin injury, ageing and certain medical conditions can all drive pigment production. Because the underlying cause differs, so does the appearance, the behaviour and the correct treatment. That is why a proper assessment always comes before any recommendation.

Sun Damage: The Most Common Cause of Dark Spots

The single biggest cause of dark spots on the face is cumulative sun exposure. Ultraviolet light stimulates melanocytes to produce more melanin as a protective response, and over years this shows up as sunspots, age spots and a general unevenness of tone. These marks tend to be well-defined, brown rather than grey, and concentrated on the areas most exposed to daylight: the cheeks, forehead, nose and the tops of the ears.

This kind of pigmentation, sometimes called solar lentigines or photoageing, is the type that responds most predictably to treatment. Because the pigment sits relatively superficially and the cause is external rather than hormonal, light-based treatments for sun damage are often highly effective. Our Broadband Light (BBL) treatment uses filtered pulses of light to target the excess pigment, which is then processed and cleared by the skin over the following days. Many patients see brighter, more even skin within a week or two of their first session.

Crucially, prevention matters as much as correction. Daily broad-spectrum SPF is the single most effective tool for preventing dark spots on the face in the first place, and for stopping treated pigmentation from returning. No in-clinic treatment can outpace ongoing unprotected sun exposure, so we consider sun protection the foundation of any pigmentation plan rather than an afterthought.

Hormonal Hyperpigmentation: When the Cause Is Internal

Not all dark spots on the face come from the sun. Hormonal hyperpigmentation, most commonly seen as melasma, is driven from within. It often appears during or after pregnancy, with the use of hormonal contraception, or during perimenopause, and it typically presents as larger, more diffused patches with less defined edges, frequently across the cheeks, forehead and upper lip in a roughly symmetrical pattern.

Melasma behaves very differently from sun-related pigmentation, and this is where careful assessment becomes essential. Because it is driven by hormones and is often sensitive to heat and light, aggressive light-based or heat-based treatments can sometimes stimulate the pigment further rather than clearing it. This is exactly why we do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. A treatment that works beautifully on a sunspot may be the wrong choice for melasma.

For hormonal pigmentation, the right starting point is usually a proper diagnosis. Before any treatment is decided upon, a thorough dermatology consultation allows us to confirm what we are treating before recommending anything.

Management often combines prescription topical skincare with gentle, well-chosen in-clinic support and, above all, rigorous sun protection.

Post-Inflammatory Pigmentation and Other Causes

A third common cause of dark spots on the face is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH. This is the mark left behind after the skin has been inflamed or injured, most often following acne, but also after cuts, insect bites or overly harsh skincare. The skin responds to inflammation by depositing extra pigment, leaving a flat brown or grey mark once the original blemish has healed.

PIH will often fade gradually on its own, but this can take many months, and treatment can speed the process. Because PIH is linked to skin healing and turnover, treatments that encourage renewal can help. Medical microneedling works by creating controlled micro-channels in the skin to trigger the body’s own repair response, generating fresh collagen and encouraging a more even tone over time. As with every type of pigmentation, the approach depends on the individual, their skin type and the depth of the pigment.

Ageing and skin injury more generally can also contribute, and occasionally darker patches signal an underlying medical issue. This is another reason a medical assessment matters: at a CQC-registered, doctor-led clinic, any spot that looks unusual or is changing can be examined properly rather than simply treated cosmetically.

How Do I Know Which Type of Pigmentation I Have?

You often cannot tell for certain by looking in the mirror, and this is where self-diagnosis tends to go wrong. Sun damage, melasma and post-inflammatory pigmentation can look superficially similar but need entirely different handling.

Well-defined brown spots on sun-exposed areas point towards sun damage; larger, symmetrical patches that flared with pregnancy or hormonal changes suggest melasma; flat marks left behind after a spot or injury suggest PIH. Rather than guess, the safest route is an in-person assessment. A consultation allows us to examine the pigment, take a proper history and identify the cause before matching it to the right treatment.

The Bronte Approach to Dark Spots on the Face

What ties all of this together is that treating dark spots on the face well begins with understanding what is causing them.

There is no single treatment that suits every patient, and anyone promising to clear all pigmentation with one universal solution is overpromising. Sun-related spots often respond well to light-based treatment; hormonal pigmentation needs a more cautious, dermatologist-led approach; and post-inflammatory marks may benefit from treatments that support the skin’s natural renewal.

For every patient, daily sun protection is the non-negotiable foundation.

Beyond that, the right plan is a personalised one, built around an accurate diagnosis and delivered by a doctor or nurse who can explain clearly what will and will not help.

At The Bronte Clinic, our team includes a Consultant Dermatologist alongside Medical Director Dr Fiona McCarthy (MBChB, MRCP, PhD) and Dr Carole Reid (MBBS, MA Hons). Having a Consultant Dermatologist within our team means we can accurately diagnose the nature and cause of your pigmentation before recommending a treatment, ensuring that what you receive is not only effective, but safe.

If dark spots on the face are bothering you, the most useful first step is simply to have them properly assessed. You can book a consultation at either our London or Surrey clinic, and we will take it from there.