Reviewed by Dr M Ajmal Iqbal, MBBS,MD - MTI Medical (Pvt.) Ltd — Last updated: May 2026
This article is for informational purposes. Consult a dermatologist for severe or rapidly spreading pigmentation.
Dark spots form when melanocytes — the skin cells responsible for pigment production — overproduce melanin in response to a specific trigger. In Pakistan, the five most common triggers are sun damage (UV-induced), post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after acne (PIH), hormonal changes (melasma), cumulative UV exposure over time (age spots), and repeated friction. Identifying your trigger determines which treatment works — applying brightening products without addressing the cause is the most common reason Pakistani users cycle through products that fail to deliver lasting results. Laskee's Gluto range is formulated by MTI Medical (Pvt.) Ltd, a pharmaceutical manufacturer in Lahore that produces pharmaceutical-grade L-glutathione i.e. Gluto 600mg injectable — an ingredient with two mechanisms relevant to all five spot types: tyrosinase inhibition (reduces new melanin production) and antioxidant activity (neutralises the UV and pollution-triggered oxidative stress that initiates overproduction).
Key Takeaways
| Spot Type | Primary Trigger | Treatment Timeframe | Primary Actives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun spots | UV radiation | 6–10 weeks | Glutathione, vitamin C, SPF 50 |
| Post-acne PIH | Skin inflammation | 4–8 weeks (shallow) | Glutathione, niacinamide |
| Melasma | Hormonal changes | 3–6 months | Glutathione + SPF 50 (ongoing) |
| Age spots | Cumulative UV | 12–20 weeks | Glutathione, vitamin C |
| Friction darkening | Repeated pressure | 6–12 weeks | Glutathione moisturizing lotion |
Why Pakistani Skin Is Particularly Prone to Dark Spots
South Asian skin has higher baseline melanin levels than European skin. This provides stronger natural UV protection but creates a biological tendency to overproduce melanin more intensely in response to triggers. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is significantly more pronounced in skin types 4–6 (Fitzpatrick scale).
Pakistan's environment amplifies this:
- UV Index 9–12 in summer: The WHO classifies UV indices of 8+ as “Very High” to “Extreme” — requiring sun protection every day, year-round in Pakistan
- Air pollution: PM2.5 concentrations in Lahore and Karachi consistently exceed WHO guidelines; pollution particles generate reactive oxygen species that directly trigger melanin overproduction
- Climate humidity: Heat and humidity weaken the skin barrier, making it more susceptible to inflammation from minor irritation
The 5 Types of Dark Spots: Identification and Treatment
1. Sun Damage (Solar Lentigines)
How they form: UV radiation causes direct DNA damage in melanocytes, triggering increased melanin production. Cumulative exposure builds up over years — Pakistan's high UV load means many Pakistanis develop sun spots a decade earlier than populations in lower-UV climates.
How to identify: Appear gradually in sun-exposed areas (cheeks, nose bridge, forehead, backs of hands). Multiple spots clustered together. Flat, with slightly irregular edges. Darken further with continued sun exposure.
Treatment: Tyrosinase inhibitors (glutathione, vitamin C) combined with daily SPF 50. A 2019 systematic review (PubMed 30895708) confirmed both oral and topical glutathione consistently reduce melanin index in sun-exposed areas.
Timeline: Recent sun spots respond in 6–10 weeks. Older, deeper spots require 12–20 weeks.
2. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
How it forms: When skin is injured or inflamed — by acne, eczema, a cut, or any irritant — the healing response includes elevated melanin release. The inflammation heals. The excess melanin remains as a dark mark.
How to identify: Matches the exact location and shape of a healed wound or breakout. More intense in medium-to-deep skin tones. In Pakistani skin (typically Fitzpatrick types 4–5), PIH marks can be as visually prominent as the original acne.
Treatment: Glutathione and vitamin C address PIH at the cellular mechanism — the tyrosinase overactivity that the inflammation triggered. Avoid picking active acne. The Gluto-C Serum (glutathione + vitamin C) is formulated for this type.
Timeline: Shallow, recent PIH responds in 4–8 weeks. Deep or old PIH requires 10–16 weeks.
3. Hormonal Pigmentation (Melasma)
How it forms: Estrogen and progesterone stimulate melanocytes directly. Pregnancy, contraceptive pills, and hormonal imbalances are the most common triggers. UV exposure dramatically worsens melasma.
How to identify: Symmetrical patches on cheeks, forehead, upper lip, and chin (the “butterfly” pattern). Darkens significantly in sun. This is the most common form of facial pigmentation in adult Pakistani women.
Treatment: The hardest type to treat because the hormonal driver is active. Glutathione and vitamin C reduce visible pigmentation but cannot address the hormonal driver alone. Strict SPF 50 is non-negotiable. Results require 3–6 months minimum.
4. Age Spots (Lentigines)
How they form: Cumulative UV exposure over decades causes melanocytes in sun-exposed areas to become semi-permanently activated. Typically appear after 40, but Pakistan's UV exposure accelerates this — increasingly common in Pakistanis in their late 30s.
How to identify: Flat, well-defined spots (brown, tan, or slightly grayish). Found on face, hands, arms, and decolletage. Do not fade on their own without treatment.
Treatment: Glutathione and vitamin C — but older spots require more sustained treatment: 12–20 weeks for meaningful fading.
5. Friction and Irritation Darkening
How it forms: Repeated friction causes low-level chronic inflammation (same mechanism as PIH) that triggers melanin overproduction. Most common in skin folds and pressure points.
How to identify: Darkening in areas experiencing repeated pressure or friction: elbows, knees, underarms, inner thighs, waistband lines.
Treatment: Address the friction trigger + apply brightening and moisturising actives. Laskee's Glutathione Body Lotion targets dark patches on body areas specifically. Results in 6–12 weeks with friction reduction.
The Best Dark Spot Treatment Protocol for Pakistani Skin
Three elements are required:
- A targeted brightening serum with reduced L-glutathione + vitamin C: Addresses tyrosinase overactivity on two distinct pathways simultaneously. The Gluto-C Serum (Rs. 2,800) is formulated by MTI Medical with pharmaceutical-grade glutathione.
- Daily broad-spectrum SPF 50: UV re-triggers melanin production in all five spot types. Skipping SPF even once can extend treatment duration by weeks.
- A supporting brightening cream: Maintains tyrosinase inhibition through the day, supports skin barrier integrity.
What to Avoid
- Picking active acne — directly causes PIH; each picked spot can leave a mark taking months to fade
- Physical scrubbing — worsens PIH by creating new friction-triggered inflammation
- Skipping SPF — single most common reason treatments fail
- Steroid or mercury-based whitening creams — produce fast results that reverse upon stopping while thinning the barrier
- Fragrance in skincare — synthetic fragrance is a common sensitiser; sensitisation reactions trigger PIH in darker skin tones
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best treatment for dark spots in Pakistan?
The most evidence-supported treatment combines reduced L-glutathione + vitamin C (targeting tyrosinase through two independent pathways) with daily SPF 50. Identify your spot type first — PIH responds in 4–8 weeks; melasma needs 3–6 months. Laskee's Gluto-C Serum uses pharmaceutical-grade glutathione formulated by MTI Medical.
Why do dark spots keep coming back?
Because the trigger has not been eliminated. Sun spots return without daily SPF. PIH returns with each new acne breakout. Melasma returns if the hormonal driver is not managed. Effective treatment fades existing spots AND removes the ongoing trigger.
Is there a difference between dark spots and freckles?
Yes. Freckles are genetically determined — they do not respond to brightening treatment the same way that acquired hyperpigmentation does. Dark spots are acquired in response to a trigger and are treatable.
What is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)?
PIH is the dark mark left after skin inflammation — from acne, eczema, cuts, or any irritant. Melanocytes release excess melanin as part of the healing response. PIH is particularly pronounced in South Asian skin types (Fitzpatrick 4–6) and responds well to glutathione + vitamin C treatment in 4–16 weeks depending on depth.
