How to lighten dark spots on skin

Here's a chance to get your “always wanted to know but didn’t know who to ask” beauty questions tackled.

I’m in my 20s. I have dark spots on my face which take a very long time to lighten and fade. I am assuming these spots are hyperpigmentation. I think my bad skincare habits in the past caused this, such as picking at the skin and overexposure to the sun. Now I don’t know what to do.