Can licorice root extract help with dark spots?

The effectiveness of licorice for treating dark spots depends on the type of spots on the face. For conditions like melasma, freckles, or age spots, using licorice alone—whether orally or topically—usually won’t show much benefit. However, it can be helpful for sun damage, post-inflammatory pigmentation, acne scars, and chloasma. Licorice extract contains liquiritin, which can inhibit certain enzymes and has antioxidant properties, contributing to skin brightening and spot fading. Still, licorice is rarely used on its own for this purpose. It’s often combined with other whitening and pigment-reducing herbs, like angelica, salvia, chuanxiong, white atractylodes, and white poria, to promote blood circulation, nourish the skin, and reduce spots.