Though hyperpigmentation can be annoying to deal with, the good news is that it is totally treatable and preventable, and actually quite normal. In most cases, it also isn’t a severe skin condition, and many times is more of a cosmetic issue. Lots of people with darker skin tones will deal with hyperpigmentation at some point in their lives.

The bad news is that it can often be challenging to treat and there are no quick fixes to it, says Peterson Pierre, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Pierre Skin Care Institute. “There are also no procedures that magically erase hyperpigmentation so be wary of unethical claims.”