Human skin is physiologically prone to pigmentation and darkening. For her, this is a protective mechanism against ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, the easiest way to lighten it is to avoid excessive exposure to sunlight.
But it also happens that age spots appear regardless of this factor. In this case, it is better not to postpone a visit to a dermatologist since severe treatment may require painful treatment up to prescription drugs.
It’s an entirely different matter when you want to make your skin a little lighter for purely aesthetic purposes because it seems more beautiful that way. To do this, there are many care products – masks and creams. However, they also have several restrictions on their use.
Why whiten your skin
Skin whitening or lightening is a cosmetic procedure performed locally to lighten individual age spots and to even out the overall skin tone. To do this, use hardware techniques or creams, gels and masks.
The principle of action of such funds is to reduce the concentration or production of melanin – the pigment responsible for the colour of the eyes, hair and skin. To do this, the composition contains active ingredients divided into synthetic and natural. Depending on the concentration, they are available with or without a prescription.
The need to lighten the skin can arise for various reasons; sometimes, this is a purely subjective need. For example, in Asian culture, a light “porcelain” face has been considered an essential element of female beauty and success and prosperity.
Today, Asian countries account for more than half of the skin-whitening cosmetics market. In European history, bleached light skin has long been a sign of nobility.
According to one version, this fashion was unwittingly set by the Queen of England, Elizabeth I. After suffering from smallpox, the queen was forced to hide the flaws on her face under a thick layer of white.
“From a medical and health standpoint, most people who use skin lighteners do so for a medical reason. As a rule, prescription drugs are used, including creams, gels or hardware techniques. May need such treatment may need such treatment for:
- Age spots
- Acne scars
- Change in skin colour due to hormonal disorders, after Pregnancy or problems with the endocrine system
- Melasma is a skin disease associated with the overproduction of melanin
One of the ingredients in skin lighteners is hydroquinone. In over-the-counter cosmetics, its concentration is about 2%, and in drugs prescribed by a doctor, it is 4-6%. It is banned in some countries due to potential toxicity and the risk of developing ochronosis with long-term use.
Also, the composition of such funds may be steroid components or natural, obtained from products and plants. For example, protocatechuic acid from pear fruit, rapeseed bee pollen phenolic extracts, pomegranate extract or aloe vera.”
How to whiten skin at home
However, the role of specific nutrients found in several foods has been well studied, and there is even evidence of their effectiveness in skin lightening, but with reservations. Here are some of them.
Citrus masks for skin lightening
Vitamin C and its derivatives can reduce the synthesis of melanin. Such activity is associated with an obstacle to the action of tyrosine, which is responsible for the rate of pigment production.
It is found in many products; citrus fruits are considered champions in their content. Orange, lemon, and grapefruit are excellent sources of this element. There are at least a dozen recipes for folk masks with these fruits, including skin lightening. For example, one suggests mixing lemon juice with water and applying the resulting solution with a cotton pad on the skin for 20 minutes.
In theory, you can notice a small result from such a mask after three to four weeks of regular use. But it is worth remembering that lemon juice can cause severe irritation and that it reacts to sunlight. So before you go outside, make sure it’s thoroughly rinsed off.
At the same time, when vitamin C is applied topically to the skin, everything is more complex since it needs auxiliary agents and special conditions for better absorption. For example, one study indicates that this is possible at pH levels below four and vitamin C in ascorbic acid.
Masks with oils for skin lightening
In one study, substances isolated from palm oil are considered potential agents for skin whitening products. But, as the authors admit, they have an auxiliary role, and the issue requires further study. The main action is assigned to vitamin E, which is abundant in vegetable oils and nuts, leafy greens and spinach.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant consisting of eight substances. A pronounced depigmenting effect, as studies show, has α-tocopherol. It can be found in many cosmetic products, from serums to ointments.
When making a mask rich in vitamin E on your own, it is worth remembering that this is a volatile element easily broken down into inactive forms by exposure to light and air. In industry, to preserve nutritional properties and better transport to the layers of the skin, complex chemical compounds are used that cannot reproduce that cannot bear that at home.
Retinol masks for skin lightening
Vitamin A is essential for maintaining the integrity and health of the skin. However, it is not used in its pure form in dermatology, but its derivatives, particularly retinol, show high efficiency. It has been proven to improve skin texture and eliminate pigmentation.
In cosmetics, retinol is present in different forms – serums, creams and sheet masks. The latter is most convenient for home use. But mixing ready-made retinol serums with other products, including food, is not recommended.
“Retinol serums are not mixed with other products, unless indicated in the annotation to them. Otherwise, inactivation will occur, retinol will break down, and there will be no effect from its use,” says dermatologist Hecht.
Sheet masks with retinol, like other cosmetics with it, should be used in doses since the drug can cause dryness and irritation of the skin. To begin with, they can be applied only every other day and then move on to night procedures. Additionally, you should apply sunscreen throughout the day. It is also recommended to avoid the use of such drugs during Pregnancy.
How to whiten skin with creams
Instant optical effect. To reduce the visibility of pigmentation. For example, due to pearlescent particles or masking with a pigmented agent (concealer) or with the help of functional fillers that hide pigmentation according to the principle of complementary colours.
For example, we apply a product with a green pigment on a red post-acne spot, which becomes invisible. This effect lasts until the first wash, but it helps a lot when you need to even out the tone here and now, for example, before an important event.
Delayed effect. Impact on already visible age spots, their clarification. AHA-, BHA-, PHA-acids, niacinamide, retinol and other active agents work great here.
Preventive effect: To inhibit the synthesis and maturation of melanin from preventing the appearance of new spots. In this case, in the composition of creams, you should pay attention to 1-methylhydantoin-2-imide.
When using brighteners, especially those with retinol and acids, you should avoid sun exposure and use an SPF cream.
Otherwise, the achieved lightning results will lose the achieved lightning results. In addition, there may be adverse side effects.”
