Does vitamin C get rid of dark spots? Well…not quite. Beauty writer Neha Tandon explains that vitamin C acts more like a shield to help prevent dark spots from deepening, rather than a magical dark-spot eraser — an important distinction for people with melanin-rich skin.
Vitamin C serums are not magical dark spot erasers despite what all the marketing might say. In reality, think of vitamin C less as a treatment for dark spots and more as a shield to keep new ones from appearing. And by slowing down the pigment over production, vitamin C helps protect skin from UV rays and pollution, but it also helps skin retain its firmness. And be patient. Vitamin C works slowly. Subtle brightening of your complexion may appear after about 8 to 12 weeks. For people with melaninrich skin, if you really want to fade dark spots, experts recommend one of these treatments instead. Head to Wire cutter to see the vitamin C serums we recommend.
