The question is do you really want to better your skin tone and firmness? Would you like to receive youth skin with healthy brilliance? In case the answer is “yes”, you should look for Alpha Hydroxy Acids. They lead to actual skin improving, not just to temporal bettering of your skin appearance. The biggest advantage is Alpha Hydroxy Acids penetrate your skin and help to get rid of dead skin cells instead of just staying on the surface of your skin. They reveal new, fresh skin layers.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (or AHA) can be applied together with other treatments, for example, hydroquinone, azelaic acid and kojic acid in order to better sun-injured skin. It is known that many over-the-counter cleansers, creams lotions and gels have AHA as the compound element. They are a great choice in case your hyperpigmentation is mild. In case you need something more powerful you need to get a prescription.

It is important to know that Alpha Hydroxy Acids are natural acids which can be obtained from the sugars in particular plants. Besides preventing clogged pores these acids can also boost the process of cell renewal through exfoliation. They also lead to collagen production boost, skins texture bettering and skin hydrating. After all your skin appears more radiant. You can choose different types of Alpha Hydroxy Acids considering your skin sensitivity level.

Alpha-hydroxy acids used in skin care are usually malic, citric, lactic and glycolic acids. They help to get rid of dead cells on upper layer of the skin (the epidermis) and reveal fresher and smoother skin.

Skin lightening

It is known that cosmetics doses of AHAs can’t lighten the natural skin color, but in case applying them regularly, affect the melanin amount because the upper level of skin is continually exfoliated.

So it should be mentioned, that chemical peels have AHAs high concentration thus provide better lightening effects than just cosmetic AHA products. The peel conducted by experienced doctor contains 50-70 percent of AHA and in case using for three to eight minutes can decrease external melasma, caused by sun injure. It is recommended, to apply treatment every 2-4 weeks for better results. Some people may suffer from redness and swelling right after the procedure, but usually this effect disappears within a day. So AHA peels are really great for those who don’t want to suffer from side-effects of more powerful chemical peels.

Glycolic Acid:

This is a AHA (alpha hydroxy acid). It encourages exfoliation and provides your skin with natural brilliance. By activating cell turnover, glycolic acid helps not only to remove discolorations, but also provide fine lines and wrinkles minimization. AHA’s like Glycolic Acid can be subsidiary to other ingredients in skin whiteners by letting them to penetrate deeper into the skin.

Lactic Acid:

Although Lactic acid has similar features to Glycolic acid, it is advisable to people with sensitive skin. AHA’s like Lactic Acid can be subsidiary to other ingredients in skin whiteners by letting them to penetrate deeper into the skin.

Alpha hydroxy acids applied at typical OTC products (5-15%) aren’t successful in hyperpigmentation treatment. But AHAs activate exfoliation, which increases epidermal cells turnover and leads to melanin washing out of the skin. Thus, AHA might be used as the factor of effectiveness’ increasing of other treatments, for example, hydroquinone or other tyrosinase inhibitors. High concentration AHA peels used by a physician are pretty successful in decreasing skin discolorations.

Also Asians are likely to suffer from dark spots which develop with aging process, so their skin needs exfoliation to minimize pore size and even out skin tone. Another problem is Asian skin type tends to scarring and hyperpigmentation after harsh treatments like laser.

Asian skin peculiarities:

1. Asian skin inclined to sensitivity
People with Asian skin type are likely to have irritations, because external skin layer or stratum corneum is thinner, comparing to skin types of other ethnic groups. Thus, skin is sensitive to chemicals and environmental factors that can break up the skin’s pH balance.

Knowing this, it is important to pay attention to products and treatments applied the to the skin, because the skin may react unpredictably to rough treatments like acidic chemical solutions or peelings.

2. Asian skin is prone to scarring
Due to the fact Asian skin has thinner stratum corneum; it is genetically predisposed to scar more easily than other skin types.
So be aware, that applying severe skin resurfacing techniques such as laser resurfacing you are likely to suffer from scarring.

3. Asian skin and hyperpigmentation problem
Skin has more melanin (photo-protective pigment) and has more (than other ethnic groups) pigmentary disorders like melasma, freckles, hyperpigmentation, lentigines.

Thus, sunscreen is a must to be used. Also it’s better to apply products with gentle skin lightening features from your early twenties.

4. Asian skin is likely to lose moisture
According to researches, Asian skin has the highest Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) index. TEWL shows the water loses through the skin under non-sweating conditions.

Thus, skin drying treatments aren’t for Asians. They need more skin hydration, so the best choice is a moisturizer containing water-binding ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

5. Asian skin gets oily more easily
It is known, that Asian skin is oilier compared to other skin types due to the fact it has more sebaceous glands.

That’s why, asian skin needs exfoliation once or twice a week because it may get clogged. Moreover, try to avoid harsh products; they may strip away natural skin lipids and cause oily skin.

Asian skin lightening features:

Nowadays there is a wide range of skin lightening products in form of pills, soaps, lotions, and creams. The mechanism of permanent lightening involves action of the agents like hydroquinone which decrease the amount of melanin. Besides, whitening creams usually include UV block to protect from dangerous sun influence on the skin.

Usually skin-lightening treatments that lead to decreasing or block melanin production inhibit tyrosinase. It is common to apply combination of gels or topical lotions that contain melanin-reducing ingredients together with a sunscreen and a prescription retinoid. Taking to consideration skin reaction, exfoliants can be applied in the form of topical cosmetics or lasers or chemical peels.

Sunscreen:

This is a product applied to prevent skin from sun damage and/or darkening caused by ultraviolet rays. There are also sunscreens that can be used to lighten skin. Sunblock is a must to be used regularly.

Topical treatments:

Hydroquinone

According to dermatologists, Hydroquinone is considered to be a safer, more successful and cheaper choice comparing to deep peel procedures or lasers.

It is available in 2% (cosmetics) to 4% (or more) concentrations (allowed with physician or by prescription), can be applied alone or together with tretinoin 0.05% to 0.1%.

Hydroquinone is a powerful melanin production inhibitor. It prevents skin from creating skin color causing substance. Hydroquinone only breaks the synthesis and production of melanin, it doesn’t bleach the skin.

Pay attention: Hydroquinone has been forbidden in number of countries (like France) because of the risk of having cancer.

It can be bought in United States as an over-the-counter drug, in case the concentration is less than 2 percent.

Hydroquinone should be used in small concentration or better avoid in case of Asian skin lightening.

Arbutin

There are number of alternative lighteners that are derivatives of hydroquinone. For example: bearberry extract, Mitracarpus scaber extract, mulberry, white mulberry and paper mulberry. They have arbutin (technically known as hydroquinone-beta-D-glucoside) as their component; the last one may reduce melanin production. According to dermatologists, pure forms of arbutin (alpha-arbutin, beta-arbutin, and deoxy-arbutin) are more powerful in skin lightening process.

It is also known as rather safe lightening agent.

Retinoids

According to researches, tretinoin and other retinoids can be successful in treating skin discolorations. Retinoids usually influence through skin exfoliation decreasing and by stimulating skin rejuvenation. There is a risk of skin dryness.

Retinoids can be applied to get rid of hyperpigmentation problems. But pay attention to use cautiously to not to lead to Asian skin dehydration or irritation.

Alpha hydroxy acids

The most researched forms of Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are lactic acid and glycolic acid. That is because their molecular size provides successful penetration into the upper layers of skin. It is commonly thought that the AHAs concentration of 4% to 15% won’t provide successful melanin production reduce. And moreover it won’t bleach skin discolorations in that manner.

A widespread belief is that AHAs activate cell turnover and help to get rid of unhealthy or abnormal layers of external skin cells (exfoliation) where the hyperpigmented cells accumulation is possible.
But according to other researches, it was proofed that lactic and glycolic acids can reduce melanin production apart from playing a role of exfoliant on skin.

Similarly to laser treatments, alpha hydroxy acid peels (applying 50% concentrations or higher) can help to get rid of skin discolorations. Pay attention that only experienced physician is allowed to conduct these procedures.

There are lighter peels which can be applied in order to get rid of enormous pigmentation or tan. They should be applied together with good moisturizer. Be aware, they may lead to Asian skin irritation.

Kojic acid

Kojic acid is known to be a side-product during the fermentation process of malting rice for apply in sake (the Japanese rice wine) production. According to researches kojic acid can be helpful in reducing melanin production. But it is known to be an unstable element in cosmetic formulations. Kojic acid can change color (become brown) and lose its power because of unlight influence. Kojic dipalmitate is usually used by cosmetic companies as an alternative due to the fact it is more constant in formulations. But there are no data proving kojic dipalmitate being as successful as kojic acid, even though it is a good antioxidant.

It is rather safe ingredient, so it can be applied to Asian skin.

Azelaic acid

Azelaic acid is an element of grains, like rye, wheat and, barley. It is usually used in cream formulation at 20 per cent concentration. Commonly, Azelaic acid is applied to deal with acne but according to some researches, it is also successful against skin discolorations. And other research has shown Azelaic acid can reduce melanin production.

It is rather safe ingredient, so it can be applied to Asian skin.

Glutathione

Except being the master antioxidant, Glutathione also has skin lightening features, which makes it rather popular in Asian countries such as the Philippines, where applying glutathione in different forms (soaps, capsules, lotions, tablets, and intravenous / intramuscular injections) is a normal thing. Glutathione reduce melanin synthesis thus it is a good competitor to other products.

It is rather safe ingredient.

Laser treatments
Ablative and nonablative lasers may have a tangible effect. But the results are not always satisfying. There are problem cases reported (like hypo- or hyperpigmentation).

You should be aware that these type laser treatments are more likely to cause problems for patients with darker skin tones. They may lead to Asian skin scarring.

It is advisable to avoid laser resurfacing or get an experienced physician to conduct the procedure.

The point of money isn’t a determinative factor when talking about your skins health. All you need is some easy steps to be followed. You should eat healthy food, take care of your skin and know who to make those remedies.

For many people being beautiful is a synonym of having light beautiful spotless skin. Many people suffer from pigmentation problems and they try hard to find out the reason of their problem, spending thousands of dollars on products that don’t really bring satisfaction to them.

So the problem is most people aren’t aware of the power of natural skin whitening home remedies. Instead, they usually apply different creams, lotions and laser treatments to improve their skin. The point is, they can get the same or even better results, using other natural ingredients based products, which are actually side-effects free and cheaper.

It is necessary to make home skin lightening masks and scrubs regularly; they should become a part of your daily life, in case you want to achieve better results.

Here are the lists of some widespread home ingredients, which are used to lighten your skin: Aloe Vera, buttermilk, apple cider vinegar, dandelion sap, castor oil, and lemon juice. Many of them contain natural alpha hydroxy acids which promote skin exfoliation and pigmented and damaged skin cells removal and possess some skin whitening properties.

Pay attention!
- Homemade Skin Lightening Mask should be used at least twice a week
- Sun block is a must to be applied
- Exfoliation should be conducted at least once a week

Take a look at some of the recipes down here, which can be made at home to lighten your skin:

1) Almond paste. According to experts, almonds have bleaching effects. The mechanism: Soak almonds in a water for a night. The next day, take external skin of the almond off and finally, crush the almond till it become the paste.

Now, all you need is just to put it on your skin and wait till it dries up. The paste can be applied only on the particular areas, which need to be whitened. As soon as the paste gets dry just wash it off with water. It is recommended to conduct the procedure till you get the desirable effect.

2) Potato paste. This paste is also known for its whitening effects. The mechanism: peel ofа the potato and make it a paste. Make sure that the juice is exposed due to the fact juice itself has whitening properties.
Now the paste is ready to be applied to your face. Wait till it dries up and rinse it off with water. The procedure can be repeated as much as needed. It is recommended to conduct procedure twice a day for better results.

3) Cucumber gel. Mechanism of action: chop a cucumber, use blender or chopper to make it a gel, apply the juice to the needed areas of your skin. The gel can be left for the night and washed off next morning for better results.

4) Lemon juice. Lemon is also known for its whitening effect. Put it on the needed areas and wash off with water. For better results, keep it at least 5 minutes.

5) Orange. Both orange and lemon activity is so good because they have Vitamin C. In the case with oranges, use the orange peel, instead of juice.
You need to mix grated orange with milk to create a paste. Then apply it to the problem areas. And wash it off with water after. It is recommended to leave it on your skin at least 10 minutes for better results.

6) Honey & Almond Face Mask
You need to mix 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of milk powder and 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Put it on your face and leave for 10-15 minutes. Wash it off after. The mask will help you to get rid of tan and provides skin with brilliance.

7) Oatmeal & Tomato Face Mask
Create a mixture of oatmeal, curd and tomato juice. Apply it to your skin, leave the mask for 20 minutes and rinse off it with cold water after. The mask is great for lightening and tan removing.

8 ) Milk & Lime Face Mask
Mix a tbsp of gram flour with 2 tsp of raw milk and 2-3 drops of lime juice. Apply the mass to your skin and keep it 15 minutes, afterwards wash it off. It is recommended, to conduct the procedure once a week for 4 weeks.

9) Almond mask
Four almonds need to be soaked overnight. Grind it into paste, adding some milk. Leave it on your face and neck for a night; rinse it off with cold water in the morning. Do this twice a week, over a period of 15 days.

10) Mint Leaves Face Mask
Make a paste using fresh ground mint leaves, apply it to your face and keep for 20 minutes, wash it off with cold water after. Conduct the procedure for 15 days.

11) Tomato Juice & Lime Face Mask
Mix grated tomato with 2-3 drops of lime juice, apply the mask to your face, keep it for 20 minutes, and wash it off after. For better results, it can be done twice a day, through 15-20 days.

12) Complex mask
Mix one tablespoon each of cucumber juice, tomato juice, lemon juice, and sandalwood paste. Apply the mask to your face; leave it till it dries up. Wash it off with water and use moisture after.

13) Fennel and buttermilk mask
Add a teaspoon dried fennel into glass of boiling water. Leave it for 40-60 minutes, after this get rid of all herbal stuff from the glass of water. Then add a tablespoon of buttermilk and apply the received mixture to your face. Leave it for 15-20 minutes before wash off with clean water.

14) Juice of half a cucumber and half a lemon and a pinch of turmeric.

15) Peer parts of honey and almond paste (before soak almonds for night in water, peel them in the morning, make a paste )

16) Make a mixture: 2 tbsp gram flour, 1/2 tsp milk cream, 1/2 tsp lemon plus a pinch of turmeric.

17) Mix equal parts of lemon juice, sandalwood powder, tomato juice, and cucumber juice.

18) 1 tbsp bleaching powder, ½ tbsp hydrogen peroxide, plus a few drops ammonia.

19) 1 tsp 20 volumes peroxide, 2 tsp fuller’s earth, 6 drops of ammonia.

20) Ground dried orange peels, plus needed quantity of milk for a paste.

21) 2 tbsp cucumber juice, ½ tsp glycerin, 1 tbsp lemon juice, ½ tsp rose water

22) Mix equal parts of fresh coconut milk and fresh pineapple juice.

Don’t forget to moisturize your skin after applying the masks and always use sunblock to prevent further pigmentation problems.

Although some people fancy freckles, others detest them. Freckles may suit individuals with red hair but they often are the cause of teasing. It is hard to get rid of them. The process of freckles lightening is a continuous one. It requires patience and proper care.

Freckles are darkly pigmented cells formed after sun exposure. They appear as small batches of spots. Freckles are safe and don’t indicate on health problems.

Lightening techniques

Various techniques are employed for freckles removal. Among the freckles lightening techniques are the following:
- Prescription-strength retinoids.
- Chemical acid peels.
- Dermabrasion.
- Laser resurfacing.

Superficial and deep chemical peels are used for freckles whitening. The former, especially glycolic ones, require repeated treatments while the latter work immediately but need some time for recovery. Skin resurfacing can help to reduce freckles and age spots but it’s painful and unsafe. It may leave scars and require continuous recovery.

Bleaching agents are traditional means for freckles whitening. They conceal freckles by lightening them to the skin tone. Though, they may cause pigmentation problems, decolorized or darkened spots around the freckle. This attracts extra attention to problem areas.

Laser removal is very accurate and effective. It can eliminate every small spot causing minimal damage to the skin. Other freckles whitening techniques utilize Retin-A. Although they deliver wanted results, repeated continuous treatment is required.

Natural and home whitening treatments

Among natural freckles lightening means are the following:

Sour milk facial washing (lactic acid contained in sour milk peels skin gently and doesn’t case irritation and dryness).

Lemon juice is a success at freckles lightening since ancient times. Pat the juice gently into your skin as if it was lotion. Don’t rub your skin and avoid direct sun.

Facial whitening masks made with fruit or vegetable puree help to lighten freckles. They are of comparable efficiency with sour cream mask. Choose cucumbers, apricots, strawberries or red currants. Don’t wash this mask off completely. Rinse it gently with a cloth and apply chemical-free moisturizer. Those who have oily skin should apply lemon juice before the mask and control sun exposure.

Fusion of parsley, lemon, orange, and red currant juices applied under your daily cream does its work in freckles lightening.

Exposed to ultraviolet radiation dermis produces more dark pigment called melanin. To make it shorter skin tans under the sun rays. Tan occurs after continuous sun impact. Some people tan on purpose to gain better looks. Though, extra sunbathing may lead to various skin conditions. In Western countries tan is a trend while in India, China, Korea and other Eastern countries pale complexion is considered more attractive.

What is tanning?

The process when your skin gains darker color or gets tanned is called sun tanning or just tanning. Usually, tanning is caused by the influence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or from artificial sources, like a tanning bed. But sometimes you can get a tan because of windburn or reflected light.

Usual exposure to the sun has moderate advantages that include the production of Vitamin D by your body. However, enormous exposure to ultraviolet rays causes ruining effects to your health, such as sunburn or even worse, skin cancer. Besides, it leads to immune system function weakening and boosts the risk of activating aging process.

Also it is known that some people get tan or sunburn easier than others. The reason is people have different skin types and natural skin color, which are the results of genetics.

Why skin darkens?

You should know that UV rays, no matter were they produced by Sun or artificially boost the production of melanin. Melanin is a molecule that has dark color situated in our epidermis, our skin color depends on it.

The quality and quantity of melanin produced by each of us differs. Phototypes depend on the expression of genes that are responsible for the skin sensitivity to the Sun.

The color of the skin depends on the type and amount of melanin, produced by the melanocytes, and also by the way of its distribution in the epidermis. A number of oxidative reactions that include the amino acid tyrosine and the enzyme tyrosinase lead to the melanin formation. The process includes two different mechanisms. The first one: UVA-radiation causes oxidative stress that leads to melanin oxidizing and to fast melanin darkening. The second one: the boost of melanin production (melanogenesis) due to the fact that body reacts to photodamage and is caused mainly by UVB radiation.

Tips to remove tan:

There are many relatively fast and safe ways to remove the tan quickly and effectively. There are 3 most important things you should know about tan removal:

1. Try to avoid sun exposure. Hide your skin during the worst hours – from 10am to 4pm. Put on tight knit, sun- protective clothing, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Apply sunscreen. Use SPF 30 or higher always!

2. Exfoliate to release young naturally coloured skin. This helps either to remove tan or to fasten lightening. You should peel dead cells off to promote skin whitening. Most common exfoliation techniques employ the following: granular abrasive cleansers and scrubs, chemical lotions containing AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) or BHA (beta-hydroxy acids), enzyme peels, rubbing with loofah or exfoliating brush in shower.

3. For complexion whitening utilize widely available topical lightening creams, lotions, masks, etc. or employ home remedies.

Topical lighteners against tan:

Topical skin lighteners usually contain substances which inhibit the activity of melanin tyrosinase or melanotropin and thus decrease or prevent the melanin production. Chemical peels may be applied as an additional measure.

Very often topical treatments have melanin-inhibiting compounds along with exfoliants or sun blocks.

In case you are looking for the most effective over the counter topical skin lightening cosmetic products, mind that they should contain a number of ingredients including exfoliants, inhibitors of melanin production, sunscreen (in day creams) , and antioxidants.

Tanned skin doesn’t need any harsh substances to restore the normal color. Look for the cosmetic products with natural ingredients. The most successful and safe skin whitening agents are:

Glutathione – antioxidant, skin lightener,
Kojic acid – skin lightener,
Arbutin – skin lightener,
Licorice Extract – skin lightener,
Mulberry extract – skin lightener,
Sodium Lactate – moisturizaer, skin lightener,
Vitamin A (Retinol) and retinoids – skin lightener, exfoliant,
Bearberry extract – antioxidant, skin lightener,
Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) – antioxidant,
Green tea extract – antioxidant,
Vitamin E – antioxidant,
Lactic Acid – exfoliant, skin lightener,
Azelaic Acid – exfoliant, skin lightener,
Glycolic acid – exfoliant, skin lightener,
Fruit acids – exfoliants,
Salicylic acid – exfoliant,
Papain – gentle enzymatic exfoliant,
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) – skin lightener, moisturizer, exfoliator,

Pay attention!
You should be aware of 2 core side-effects while applying skin lightening elements: they are burning sensation and sun sensitivity. But both of them are normal. The skin lightening procedure may include itching, redness, burning and/or stinging feeling. To apply sunscreen regularly is a must (because of increased sun sensitivity). Be careful and not overdo with skin lighteners, it may lead to blotchy skin and irritation.

Homemade lightening treatments:

Home recipes are natural and also quite effective in tan removal. These recipes usually include natural fermented milk products, fruits and vegetables which contain natural enzymes, alpha hydroxy acids or abrasive substances because they are great exfoliators, some vitamins and extracts which are natural antioxidants etc.

1. Wipe your skin with lemon juice to remove the tan
2. Rub your face with inside of watermelon slices
3. Curd is a great whitening product. Apply it before bathing daily.
4. Tomato juice is good at whitening as well.
5. Mash cucumber and honey into paste. Apply the blend onto your face to soothe redness caused by tan.
6. Mix lemon juice with raw milk and apply it on problem zone. Wait for 15-20 minutes and rinse it off.
7. Buttermilk is helpful in complexion whitening
8. Dilute yogurt with water to make an effective lightening mask
9. Mix cream and saffron with lime juice
10. Aloe vera will remove tan as well
11. Sugar and olive oil scrub helps in lightening
12. Corn meal and oil scrub

Much more home recipes for skin lightening you can find Here>>

Tanning is not a very healthy habit. Although it excites vitamin D production in dermis and prevents osteomalacia, sunbathing has more minuses than pluses. If you still wish to have a good tan limit time of sun exposure.

Employ listed tips and treatments to promote complexion whitening, provide dark spots lightening and remove unwished tan.

Kojic products to choose

Many products contain kojic acid as a major ingredient. There are no perfect creams for skin whitening. Proper product choice is subjected to your needs and wants.

A big variety of soaps, lotions and creams include kojic acid. All of them are commonly used for complexion lightening. Kojic products are advised for skin whitening in case of discoloration conditions such as melasma. They are helpful with lightening of freckles, sunspots and other pigmentation problems. You may even find kojic acid in certain whitening toothpastes.

How safe kojic acid is?

Safety of kojic acid has been controversial issue. Although it has been proven to be free of carcinogens causing cancer, continuous use of kojic acid may have an adverse effect. Permanent application may lead to skin sensitivity causing condition named allergic contact dermatitis. Kojic acid is often combined with topical corticosteroid to prevent mentioned consequences.

Kojic acid and hydroquinone

Kojic acid is utilized in cosmetics for skin whitening. It resembles hydroquinone (complexion lightening chemical) by action. Kojic acid is less popular since it has been discovered not long ago. Though, it gains popularity due to bad medical reputation of hydroquinone.

How to use?

Lightening creams, lotions or serum to employ kojic acid are used topically as a rule. Kojic acid concentration shouldn’t exceed 1%. To lower the risks of side effects, mainstream skin whitening products use concentrations of 0.2%. You should take into account how your body responds to kojic lightening. If your skin becomes more sensitive try to apply kojic acid products more rarely in smaller concentrations.

Kojic acid lightening products should be applied with carefulness. Such skin whitening treatments are safe if used rarely. Frequent durable application may lead to irritation. Switch the product if skin becomes irritated or too whitened.
Therefore, if you need complexion lightening try whitening products to contain kojic acid with carefulness.

Sunscreens against hyperpigmentation

Sunlight to affect skin stimulates hyperpigmentaion and darkens already hyperpigmented patches.

Wide range of sunscreens with minimum SPF 30 can prevent dark patches from forming. Employ sunblocks composed of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for better result. Sunscreens containing Parsol 1789 or avobenzone also have good record.

Melasma

So-called mask of pregnancy or melasma is a form of facial hyperpigmentation. It can be intensified by sun exposure. Melasma sufferers should have fewer contacts with sun and apply sunscreen not less than SPF 30 daily to avoid deterioration. Hats with wide brims combined with sunscreen treatment are advised for pregnant women to lessen sun exposure.

Sun protection after chemical peels

Chemical peel is common hyperpigmentation cure. Sunblock should second chemical peel to protect UV sensitive skin, especially unevenly pigmented skin, from sun radiation. Bad sun protection after chemical peel increases the risk of hyper- or hypo-pigmentation. UV radiation damages new and young cells appeared after chemical peel treatment and boosts melanin production, which can intensify pigmentation problems particularly while skin whitening.

Sunblocks

Common advice is to apply sunblock SPF (sun protection factor) up to 45 and lessen contacts with sun during three months following the peel treatment. Sun block defends skin by blocking 98% of UVA and UVB radiation. Sun block and sunscreen protect skin from sunburns, uneven tan, untimely aging, dark skin patches called hyperpigmentation and reduce skin cancer risks.

Hyperpigmentation removal alternatives

Treatment choice depends on hyperpigmentation causes, set aims and skin type. You should visit competent facial plastic surgeon or dermatologist first to find out the cause of dark spots appearance. Normally, doctors scrutinize client’s skin, take his or her medical history and recommend treatment proceeding from outcomes obtained. Risks, expenses and recovery period related to suggested measures should be specified.

You may be advised to employ lighting cream or change your skin care habits. Treatment alternatives vary from switching to health-and-beauty aids that don’t affect skin pigmentation to invasive methods.

Hyperpigmentation medication

Bleaching products to remove hyperpigmentation by diminishing melanin (dark pigment) production should contain such ingredients as: Arbutin, Vitamin C, Glycyrrhetinic (acidlicorice extract), Kojic acid, Retinol (Tretinoin, all-trans retinoic acid), Melanostat, Hydroquinone (being slightly toxic they are involved in some medications in safe amounts), glutathione, AHA, Azelaic acid.

Whitening agent hydroquinone stops melanin (pigment cells to determine skin tone) production. You can get it even with no prescription in small doses. It can be used with Retin-A or other products. You should obey doctor’s directions to improve the outcomes and avoid such complications as irritation, lasting hypopigmentation (reduced pigmentation), increased pigmentation if sunblocks are not employed, and ochronosis (dark marks or discolorations) if overdosing.

Retin-A (prescription topical retinoid obtained from Vitamin A) peels skin and boosts its regeneration, reducing problem areas. It varies by strength. It’s seven modifications are frequently taken in an ascending manner. It may be combined with lighting agents, i.e. hydroquinone. For example, prescription topical skin bleaching medication TriLuma contains both hydroquinone and Retin-A.

Procedures to remove dark spots:

Exfoliation is a good option. Result obtained is determined by the depth of penetration.
Microdermabrasion, which implies dead epithelium elimination with rough surface, is commonly used for blemish treatment and is claimed to be effective for hyperpigmentation spots removal. Diamond microdermabrasion and crystal microdermabrasion techniques can be distinguished. The former employs diamond-tipped wand for epithelium elimination while the latter applies aluminum oxide crystals.

Laser skin resurfacing is a widespread invasive technique used for elimination of wrinkles, scars and hyperpigmentation. It involves defective layer ablation to uncover younger skin layer and to boost collagen renewal. Laser resurfacing is a gentle procedure requiring less time for recovering.

You may find some nonprescription chemical peels for hyperpigmentation removal and elimination of wrinkles and liver spots. Dermathologist can advise Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) to eliminate age spots. Glycolic acid peel and Jessner peel can also help to remove hyperpigmentation dark spots

To reduce melanin (dark pigment) production the following ingredients of lightening products are used:

1. Arbutin
2. Vitamin C
3. Glycyrrhetinic (acidlicorice extract)
4. Kojic acid
5. Retinol (Tretinoin, all-trans retinoic acid)
6. Melanostat
7. Hydroquinone (hydroquinone products have been shown to have a mild toxic action, but they are still used in some products in low and safe concentrations.)
8. glutathione
9. AHA
10. Azelaic acid

These agents inhibit the action of tyrosinase (the enzyme which regulates melanin production) leading to decrease of dark pigment formation.

Exfoliation is another method to achieve skin lightening. The lightening effect of exfoliation depends on the depth of peeling action. Superficial peel can help to remove the outermost dead and dry cells layer, stimulate cells renewal and to speed up the revealing of new fair cells layers. To achieve a visible lightening effect series of superficial treatments needed.

Apart from light peels there are several deep peel methods such as laser resurfacing, cryosurgery, deep chemical peels etc. These techniques allow deeper skin layers and pigmented cells removal causing visible (and sometimes permanent) skin lightening or whitening. Despite of its effectiveness deep exfoliation have some serious risks and side effects like scarring and pigmentation disorders. These peels usually are not recommended to the people with dark and black skin.

The compromise between superficial and invasive deep peels are medium depth exfoliators which can help to achieve visible lightening results with the less risk of injuring and other unwanted effects.

Protecting skin from the taning is onother one important point of skin ligthening. It is necessary to protect the skin from the sun exposure and to use sunscreen cosmetics every day.

All the skin types (African-American, Asian, European, Caucasian etc.) have the same structure and different pigmentation. Human skin consists of the three layers: epidermis, dermis and fatty layer. Epidermis is the first one outer layer, dermis is the middle one structural layer and fatty layer is the innermost one. These layers constantly interact and produce skin features such as complexion and texture.

As it was said, melanin which causes pigmentation is located in the epidermis or outermost layer and is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. All the people have melanin in their skin but the number and size of the pigment particles can differ. There are also two forms of melanin — pheomelanin and eumelanin. Pheomelanin is mostly found in the skin of light complexioned people has red to yellow colour while eumelanin has brown to black colour and it’s mostly found in the dark skin.

Melanin protects our skin form the ultraviolet radiation by absorbing it and transforming into harmless heat. This property of melanin helps to prevent sunburn damage and numerous skin disorders caused by sun radiation. Due to the fact that in the tropical latitudes the ultraviolet radiation is the most intensive, people there have darker skin by nature.

Tanning
Our skin also can change its pigmentation depending on the amount of sun radiatin igets. It happens in the summer when the amount of sun radiation increases and our skin seasonaly changes its colour into the darker one. This ability of changing pigmentation is usually called tanning. When our skin tans the amount of melanin in its cells increases.

Tanning process is divided into two processes: darkening of the melanin that already produced in the cells and increasing of the production of new melanin particles which causes delayed skin tanning within 3 days after the sun exposure.

Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of a certain skin areas, dark skinned people with African, Asian, and Mediterranean skin types are more prone to it. Hyperpigmentation can be caused by inflammations, sun damage, injuries, scars etc. The reason of hyperpigmentation is an excess melanin production in the skin cells.