It's frustrating isn't it? Those stubborn dark patches of skin, that no matter what you do, never seem to fade. To add to the frustration, these dark patches never seem to be somewhere that can be easily covered up. The hands, the neck and particularly the face, is where they seem to crop up the most, stubbornly staring back at you from the mirror, waving a big flag that reads - "look at me!!".

These dark patches of skin are something called "hyperpigmentation". Hyperpigmentation is due to your body producing too much of a chemical called "melanin". Melanin is the chemical that produces the color or pigment in your skin. There are a few reasons for this, so to determine the best course of action, here is a quick list of the most common reasons for hyperpigmentation.

• Sun damage - We all know that prolonged over exposure to the sun can cause skin damage. Probably the biggest cause of hyperpigmentation.

• Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation - A condition that refers to the healing period after an outbreak of acne. Characterized by dark spots on the skin at the sites where the acne has healed.

• Age spots / liver spots - As we get older these darker patches of skin naturally appear on our skin. Generally circular in shape and brown or grey in color.

• Melasma - Appears as brown patches of skin on the cheeks, forehead and nose. It is most common in pregnant women hence it's nickname "the mask of pregnancy". It will often fade away gradually after the pregnancy term is over, as the body returns it's normal balance.

So how to get rid of those unwanted dark patches on the skin?

There are are a number of ways to remove hyperpigmentation, there are the clinical procedures - chemical peels, laser therapies and microdermabrasion, and there are the less invasive treatments - natural home remedies and hyperpigmentation creams.

Personally, I think the more costly clinical procedures that involve removing layers of skin, should be a last resort. Although these procedures can work, they do come with their fair share of risks. I believe the best option is to try the less invasive approach first.

• Home remedies

There are a number of home remedies that are very effective at reducing the appearance of those darker patches of skin. Lemon contains a bleaching agent which will help in lightening areas of hyperpigmentation, apply frequently to the affected areas. Licorice extract has been proven to be excellent at reducing areas of hyperpigmentation, use sparingly as it is quite strong, and can irritate sensitive skin. Potato peel is another home remedy to try, potato contains a natural bleaching agent, and can have good results.

• Hyperpigmentation creams

There are some excellent hyperpigmentation creams available to effectively treat those darker patches of skin. Research into developing natural ingredient creams that reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation has been extensive over the last 10 years or so, and some have been proven to be highly effective.

Although most are temporary, the appearance of those darker patches of skin can be very disheartening, but with a little helping hand, you can get rid of them, or at the very least, reduce their appearance dramatically.