Hyperpigmentation After 45: Types, Causes and How to Fade It
Quick summary
Hyperpigmentation means patches of skin that are darker than the skin around them. After 45, the three main types are sun spots (solar lentigines), melasma and marks left after pimples or irritation.
Daily SPF 50+ is the most important step, because sun and visible light keep pigment coming back. Ingredients such as niacinamide, vitamin C, azelaic acid, tranexamic acid and retinoids may help fade it over three months or more. In-clinic options exist for stubborn spots.
At Genova Skincare we make serums for uneven tone in skin after 45, and this guide is honest about what they can and cannot do. Results vary from person to person.
What is hyperpigmentation, and why does it show more after 45?
At Genova Skincare, we are often asked about hyperpigmentation, and it is searched more than 12,000 times a month in Australia. It is not a disease. It simply means some areas of skin make, or hold on to, more pigment (melanin) than others.
After 45, two things make it more noticeable. Decades of Australian sun build up as spots, and skin renews more slowly, so pigment lingers. DermNet notes sun spots are found in most fair-skinned people over 60.
Menopause adds its own changes. DermNet notes melasma is more common before menopause but can be triggered by hormone replacement therapy. Thinner, drier skin can also be more easily irritated, which can leave darker marks behind.
Types of hyperpigmentation in women over 45
Working out which type you have matters, because they respond differently.
- Sun spots (solar lentigines). Flat, brown, well-defined spots on the face, hands, chest and arms. Also called age spots or liver spots.
- Melasma. Larger, blotchy patches, usually on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. It often starts between 20 and 40, is linked to hormones and sun, and tends to return every summer.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Dark marks left after a pimple, rash, scratch or treatment. DermNet notes it is more common and lasts longer in darker skin tones.
Our guide to age spots vs melasma vs post-acne marks shows how to tell them apart.
Check any new or changing spot first
Cancer Council Australia advises seeing your GP about any spot that is new, growing, changing colour or shape, raised, bleeding, itchy or different from your others. Use the ABCDE guide: Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter and Evolving. Never try to fade a spot that has not been checked.
What causes hyperpigmentation on the face after 45?
Sun. Ultraviolet light is the main trigger for sun spots and a major trigger for melasma. Every unprotected day adds to it.
Visible light. Light you can see also plays a part. A study by Mahmoud and colleagues in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found visible light caused darker, longer-lasting pigment than UVA in medium to dark skin. That is why tinted sunscreens with iron oxides are often suggested for melasma.
Hormones. Oestrogen and progesterone, including those in hormone therapy, can trigger melasma in some women.
Inflammation. Breakouts, rosacea, harsh scrubs and some in-clinic procedures can all leave marks, especially in sensitive menopausal skin.
Melasma, HRT and hyperpigmentation through menopause
Many women assume melasma fades once periods stop. Sometimes it does soften, but not always. DermNet notes hormonal treatments, including the pill and hormone replacement therapy, are linked to melasma in about a quarter of women who have it.
If you start menopausal hormone therapy and notice new blotchy patches on your cheeks or upper lip, mention it to your GP. Do not stop your therapy on your own. Your GP can help you weigh up the options, and melasma can often be managed with careful sun protection and skincare. Keeping a simple photo record helps you both see whether the patches are changing.
Melasma is also why sun protection has to be lifelong. DermNet notes pigmentation can come back with summer sun even after it has cleared. In Australia, that means SPF every day of the year, not only at the beach.
How to get rid of hyperpigmentation after 45: what the evidence says
No single product removes every type. A common approach combines daily sun protection with one or two ingredients that slow pigment.
| Option | Best for | How it works | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPF 50+ (tinted if melasma) | All types | Blocks the light that makes pigment | Nothing else works without it |
| Niacinamide | Uneven tone, marks | Reduces pigment transfer to skin cells | Gentle; suits sensitive skin |
| Vitamin C | Dullness, spots | Antioxidant; slows pigment making | Pure forms can sting |
| Azelaic acid | Melasma, marks, redness | Slows the pigment enzyme; calms skin | Pharmacy options without a script |
| Tranexamic acid (topical) | Melasma | Thought to interrupt pigment signals | Newer; smaller studies |
| Retinoids | Sun spots, texture | Speed skin renewal | Can irritate dry skin; avoid in pregnancy |
| Hydroquinone | Melasma, stubborn spots | Strongly blocks pigment making | Stronger creams need a prescription |
| Peels, laser, IPL | Stubborn sun spots | Remove or break up pigment | Can worsen melasma; cost and downtime |
The research behind these varies. Hakozaki and colleagues, in the British Journal of Dermatology, found niacinamide reduced pigment transfer in skin. Griffiths and colleagues, in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found tretinoin lightened sun-related dark spots compared with a plain cream. Topical tranexamic acid, studied by Kim and colleagues in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, is newer and less tested. Azelaic acid and vitamin C have each been compared with hydroquinone in melasma trials, by Baliña and Graupe and by Espinal-Perez and colleagues, both in the International Journal of Dermatology.
For more detail, see our guides to tranexamic acid, azelaic acid and hydroquinone in Australia.
In-clinic options for stubborn hyperpigmentation after 45
If home care has not shifted well-defined sun spots after several months, a dermatologist or skin clinic can discuss chemical peels, lasers or IPL. These can work faster on sun spots, but they cost more, may need several sessions and involve some downtime.
They need more caution with melasma, because heat and irritation can make it darker. Always have the spot checked first. Then ask who will do the procedure, what their training is, and what they will do if pigment worsens. Our guide to peels, lasers and IPL for age spots covers the risks in more detail.
A brightening serum for uneven tone after 45
If you want a simple daily step for overall tone, a brightening serum is one option. Genova Skin Brightening Serum is designed for dull, uneven tone in mature skin, with Chromabright, Brighlette and Peelmoist. For single, well-defined spots, Genova Age Spot Serum is applied directly to each spot.
Both are designed to be used every day with SPF 50+. We do not quote supplier test figures, because they are not independent studies.
50ml, made in Australia. Chromabright, Brighlette and Peelmoist for dull, uneven tone in mature skin. 30 day money back trial.
Pros and cons of a brightening serum for hyperpigmentation after 45
Pros:
- Easy to add to a morning or evening routine
- Works on overall tone as well as individual marks
- No prescription or clinic visit needed
- Can be used alongside SPF and a moisturiser
Cons:
- Slow: expect three months or more
- Does not remove deep or long-standing spots
- Melasma often returns with sun, even after it fades
- Does nothing without daily sunscreen
Who a brightening serum suits, and who it does not
It may suit you if you have uneven tone, light sun spots or marks left after breakouts, and you are ready to use it daily with SPF for several months.
It may not suit you if you have a new or changing spot that has not been checked, very deep or raised spots, or severe melasma that needs a doctor's plan.
How to fade hyperpigmentation after 45: step by step
- Get new or changing spots checked. See your GP before treating anything that looks different.
- Wear SPF 50+ every morning. Choose a tinted formula if you have melasma, and reapply outdoors.
- Add a hat and shade. Sunscreen alone does not block everything.
- Cleanse gently. Skip harsh scrubs that can cause new marks.
- Apply one pigment-fading serum daily. Use it on clean, dry skin before moisturiser.
- Introduce stronger actives slowly. Retinoids or acids every second or third night at first.
- Treat breakouts and redness early. Less inflammation means fewer new marks.
- Judge at three months. Take photos in the same light every four weeks.
Realistic expectations
Allow at least three months of daily use. The American Academy of Dermatology notes a spot a few shades darker usually fades within 6–12 months, and deeper marks can take longer.
Melasma is long-term and often returns with summer sun. No serum removes hyperpigmentation completely. Results vary from person to person.
Hyperpigmentation questions women over 45 ask
Does hyperpigmentation go away?
Marks after pimples often fade on their own over months. Sun spots and melasma usually need daily SPF and fading ingredients, and melasma can return.
What is the main cause of hyperpigmentation?
Sun exposure is the biggest cause. Hormones and skin inflammation also play a part.
What is the fastest way to fade hyperpigmentation?
In-clinic treatments can work faster on sun spots, but they carry risks and can worsen melasma. At home, daily SPF plus a fading serum is the steady approach.
Is vitamin C good for hyperpigmentation?
Vitamin C may help dullness and dark spots, especially used in the morning under sunscreen. It works slowly.
What makes hyperpigmentation worse?
Sun and visible light, picking or scrubbing skin, and irritating products can all make it worse.
What is the best cream for hyperpigmentation?
It depends on the type. Look for niacinamide, azelaic acid, vitamin C or tranexamic acid, and use it with daily SPF 50+.
Hyperpigmentation after 45 is common and usually harmless, but it rarely fades on its own. Check any new spot, protect your skin every day, and give one good routine at least three months before you judge it. For sun spots in particular, see our age spots guide.
Serums for dark spots and uneven tone after 45
Made in Australia, with a 30 day money back trial.
Made in Australia. Results vary from person to person.
Individual results vary. This article is general information, not medical advice. Genova Skin Brightening Serum and Age Spot Serum are cosmetics designed to help skin tone look more even; they are not a treatment for melasma or any skin condition. Have any new or changing spot checked by your GP. Information was checked on 25 September 2026.
Sources:
- DermNet. Solar lentigo; Melasma; Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation; Menopause and the skin; Hydroquinone. dermnetnz.org.
- Cancer Council Australia. Check for signs of skin cancer. cancer.org.au.
- Mahmoud BH, Ruvolo E, Hexsel CL, et al. Impact of long-wavelength UVA and visible light on melanocompetent skin. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2010;130(8):2092-2097.
- Hakozaki T, Minwalla L, Zhuang J, et al. The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer. British Journal of Dermatology. 2002;147(1):20-31.
- Griffiths CEM, Goldfarb MT, Finkel LJ, et al. Topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) treatment of hyperpigmented lesions associated with photoaging in Chinese and Japanese patients: a vehicle-controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 1994;30(1):76-84.
- Kim SJ, Park J-Y, Shibata T, Fujiwara R, Kang HY. Efficacy and possible mechanisms of topical tranexamic acid in melasma. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2016;41(5):480-485.
- Baliña LM, Graupe K. The treatment of melasma. 20% azelaic acid versus 4% hydroquinone cream. International Journal of Dermatology. 1991;30(12):893-895.
- Espinal-Perez LE, Moncada B, Castanedo-Cazares JP. A double-blind randomized trial of 5% ascorbic acid vs. 4% hydroquinone in melasma. International Journal of Dermatology. 2004;43(8):604-607.
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones. aad.org.
