White, glowing complexion is the desire of every heart. Some people are blessed with naturally bright skin however others now have options to improve their skin complexion by either natural or artificial means.
We have brought you some of these remedies so if you are interested in improving your complexion, we may assist you. Cheers!
Skin whitening is defined as the process of lightening the darker areas of the skin by using different natural and medical procedures. Our skin contains melanin a pigment responsible for making our complexion darker so there are number of ways being used nowadays in order to whiten our skin.
In this article we shall discuss the causes of dark skin, available skin lightening treatments for achieving better skin color.
In tropical countries where temperatures are slightly hot, most of the people of the country have darker skin tone, this is because naturally or inherently their body respond to the dry and hot weather condition by producing more melanin which ultimately leads to the darker skin tone. Melanin decides our skin color and hair color. Melanin is also responsible for guarding our skin from the harmful rays of the sun.
Darker skin tone is always beautiful, natural, warm and admirable, it only depends on how we accept ourselves. Although you can try few simple tricks that really works great and get to know the modern sophisticated treatments for fair complexion that can help skin for its betterment.
Major Causes of Dark Color of the Skin
Here are the few internal and external causes that contribute for the darker skin tone.
Genetic Factors
Genetics is one of the major causes of skin darkness. If a person’s family has skin with high melanin, he/she will have darker skin.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal imbalance is one of the main causes of dark skin. Hyperthyroidism and pregnancy are mentionable causes in this regard. But these changes are temporary and the body soon goes back to its original skin tone.
Environmental Impact
Environmental causes of course impact the skin as skin cancer is on the rise these days. Over exposure to sunlight causes dark skin and other skin diseases. Exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment also causes dark skin.
Other causes
Other reasons for dark skin are hyperpigmentation, freckles etc.
How to prevent skin darkness (artificial means)
With all this technological advancement, the skin treatments for whitening are becoming more popular as the days pass. Now everyone has an option as to how quickly they can achieve a good looking white skin. In this respect some of the most popular methods of skin whitening are described below.
1. Microdermabrasion
Micro represents anything in minute quantity, derm indicates the skin and abrasion is the process of scraping off or removing something. Hence their terms describe the actual procedure. Microdermabrasion is also referred as Microderm.
Microdermabrasion is aleast invasive or non-invasive procedure in which layer of skin consisting dead and dry skin cells is skimmed off and the skin is allowed to rejuvenate (renew/regenerate new skin cells).
It helps in renewing the skin texture and tone. It removes or reduces any skin damages including signs of premature aging signs such as wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, acne marks and skin diseases like melasma. This procedure involves exfoliation of the skin by removing the dirt particles that are embedded in the deeper layer of skin resulting in brighter and softer skin.
2. Whitening Serums
Skin whitening serums also called as skin lightening serum. These serum works by hindering the production of melanin. More the melanin production darker is our skin tone. Melanocytes are the specialized cells that produce melanin.
These Whitening serums penetrate the skin and prevent melanocytes from producing more melanin. Without melanin, skin starts to showing a pale color, and gradually to a more whitened, brightened skin tone.
These are specialized serums that contain different ingredients also provide nourishment to the skin by keeping it moisturized.
Kojic Acid, Hydroquinone (HQ), Arbutin, Licorice Extract, Glutathione are the most common skin whitening agents.
3. Chemical Peels
Chemical peels aims to improve the appearance of the skin. The procedure ensures a clear, flawless, smooth and brightened skin. It can be done on face, neck and hands.
It is of the most important and preferred procedure, in which the physician usually applies a layer of some chemical such as alpha hydroxy acid or Glycolic or trichloroacetic acid. The chemical peel tries to exfoliate the skin and eventually causes it to peel off at the end.
This removes melanin and the damaged skin cells on and beneath the top layer of the skin. Hence the soft, smooth and fresh skin underneath the exfoliated skin takes over the peeled off skin.
Chemical peels can be of different types which are light, medium and deep. The chemical peels works depending on its types.
Light chemical peels removes the outer most layer of the skin and medium chemicals peels also known as a Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) Peel, works beneath the outermost layer of the skin. It shows sudden and noticeable changes within a shorter period of time.
The results of medium chemicals peels are better than the light chemical peels. Deep chemical peels are suggested for those with deep wrinkles, scars and it is performed only once.
Chemical peels treats rough and dry skin, dark patches, sun burns and sun tan, heals acne, blemishes and blackheads. It also reduces fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and age spots. It enables to get fresh, smooth and brightened skin.
4. Laser Treatment – Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is a method used to reverse the skin damages caused in course of time i.e. aging and to get a younger looking, flawless skin. This procedure helps to correct minute facial flaws and to get a brightened, flawless skin.
Laser resurfacing aims to rejuvenate skin, which literally means to revitalize the skin back to its younger looking appearance. This treatment also helps to get a flawless skin devoid of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, sun damaged skin, scars and improves the uneven skin tone or texture of the skin.
In this treatment skin is exposed to a high intensity light beam which refreshes the skin by breaking excessive melanin which makes the skin look bright and fair. It is best for removing hyperpigmentation, dullness, tan and dark spots from the skin.
Laser treatment might lead to bruising, crusting and blistering. These scar the skin too.
5. Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a surgical invasive procedure that targets aged, stubborn scars and worn out skin cells. This procedure involves removing the layers of the skin, in order to get rid of deep scars that have impinged deep into the layers of the skin.
There is always quiet number of side effects that come with it. Scarring, skin discoloration, redness and chances of infection are the possible side effects of this procedure.
It is preferred in case that needs to treat deep scarring any kind. Dermabrasion is either performed by a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon.
Since it is invasive, dermabrasion requires local anaesthetic. There is skin bleeding during the procedure, so it takes about 48 hours or more for skin recovery after the procedure.
This procedure helps in removing the top layer of the skin by using a specialized instrument. What actually occurs is exfoliation of the skin using a rotating instrument. It helps to remove acne and brown spots giving you a smooth and glowing skin.
Conclusion
Most of these sophisticated skin whitening treatments are very effective in achieving their purpose and the results are permanent. Since they focus only on the layers of the skin, it poses only negligible risks to the body.