Melanin is the pigment present in your skin that leads to darkening of your skin complexion. Who wants a dark complexion! Read on to learn how to reduce melanin.
Your skin color depends on a lot of things and melanin is one of them. While the dark side of melanin is that it makes your complexion darker, the good side to it is that it actually protects you from the harmful Ultraviolet rays of the sun. The amount of melanin you have depends on how much you expose yourself to the sun and even your genetic makeup.
Instead of opting for expensive treatments with frightening side effects, go for natural ways to reduce melanin. Excessive production melanin is also known as hyperpigmentation.
Before we proceed to knowing ways to reduce melanin, let’s get to know the reasons for an increase in melanin in the body. The first and foremost reason is excessive exposure to sun rays. Other causes of increase in melanin are Adrenal disorder, unbalanced diet and lack of vitamins, various skin ailments and fluctuation in hormonal levels.
Here are some top ten ways along with useful tips to keep the melanin in check so that you can have brighter and lighter skin.
1. Consume Colorful Vegetables
You probably already know that eating colorful and bright vegetables are essential to remain healthy and the same goes for pigmentation as well. Did you know yellow, orange and red vegetables contain Beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A upon consumption? This vitamin A then facilitates production of new skin cells, shields against UV damage and heals wounds. Do one more thing. Next time you go to buy your daily skin care product, do check if they contain beta carotene as well. Dermatologists believe that it helps in skin discoloration.
2. Fill up the vitamin gap
Hyperpigmentation can also be due to lack of certain vitamins particularly vitamin A, B12, C and E.
- It is the vitamin B12 that controls skin production of pigment. It keeps a check on it and prevents excessive production. If you happen to be a vegetarian, then you probably lack vitamin B12 as it is found in animal products like meat, eggs and dairy products. You should definitely maintain an intake of B12 supplement if you don’t take animal products.
- Vitamin A also known as retinol can be commonly seen in the list of ingredients of various creams and lotions. Vitamin A doesn’t directly remove melanin. What it does is enhance the growth of new skin cells and replaces the older ones. You can eat potatoes, green vegetables, carrots, liver and other vitamin A rich food. You can also use retinol cream to lighten your skin.
- Vitamin C is well-known for its strong antioxidant qualities which help to inhibit melanin production. If applied topically, it is absorbed by the skin and eliminates melanin. It combats the free radicals produced when you are exposed to UV rays and minimizes melanin formation. You can eat vitamin C rich foods like herbs, berries, citrus fruits, grape fruits, dark green vegetables and others.
- Vitamin E doesn’t interfere directly with melanin production, but it does inhibit its production. It helps to recover from effects of increased melanin faster. It fights off free radicals that make your skin dark along with producing new skin cells. You can eat vitamin E rich food like spinach, nuts and oily fish or buy vitamin E capsules. You can also find creams that contain vitamin E.
3. Ditch the sun
Why not turn to the root cause of the problem itself and simply change the way you interact with the sun. It is the sun rays that make the melanin in your skin overactive leading to darker skin tone. This one is the most important and among the best tips to reduce your melanin.
Use your anti-pigmentation products but also put on a layer of sunscreen (with at least 30 SPF) whenever it is not possible for you to avoid the sun rays. The sunscreen simply prevents the production of melanin. You can also wear a cap to protect your facial skin. Try not to go out in the sun unnecessarily and especially when the sun is at its peak. This way you will be able to even prevent excess melanin production in the future as well.
4. Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera is extremely effective for skin affected by hyperpigmentation, dark spots and blemishes. It works by regenerating new skin cells and scraping away the older pigmented skin cells exposing clearer skin. Aloe Vera gel owes this quality to the polysaccharides that it contains.
- Cut an Aloe Vera leaf or buy the Aloe Gel from the store
- Scoop out the aloe gel.
- Add one or two capsules of vitamin E oil to make it more effective.
- Directly apply it on the affected areas before going to bed.
- Leave it overnight
- Then wash it off the next morning.
- Repeat for few weeks.
OR
- Combine one teaspoon of sugar, one teaspoon of lemon juice and two tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel.
- Massage your skin with this mixture with a light hand.
- Leave it on for 15 minutes.
- Wash it off.
- Repeat 2 to 3 times a week till you notice positive results.
5. Lemon Juice
When it comes to skin lightening abilities, you cannot move on without mentioning lemon juice. Lemon juice is the best bleaching agent nature has to offer. The rich citric acid content of lemon juice will help to kill bacteria, exfoliate your skin and eventually give you a lighter and brighter skin.
- Cut a fresh lemon and squeeze to extract the juice.
- Apply it on your face or other affected areas using a cotton pad.
- Let it stay for 15 minutes.
- Wash it off with cool water.
- Do this daily for a month.
OR
- Take some lime juice and add a little sugar.
- Use it to gently rub the affected areas.
- You can even add some olive oil to this mixture.
- Sugar granules will exfoliate your skin while the lemon juice will lighten up the dark skin due to hyperpigmentation.
Warning: Avoid going out in the sun immediately after you use lemon on your skin as it makes your skin photosensitive. This means that you look darker than you already are. In case you find your skin sensitive to lemon, dilute it by adding a little water.
6. Red Onion
Onion juice is an age old method to treat freckles, blemishes, dark spots and even skin pigmentation. It is also a very easy and simple method. It is the enzymes, organic compound and rich content of vitamin C in onion that helps to give you brighter skin.
- Cut some slices of onion
- Gently rub it over the affected areas
- Do this twice or thrice a day.
OR
- Combine two tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of onion juice.
- Cover the dark skin with this mixture.
- Let it stay for 20 minutes.
- Then wash it off properly in order to get rid of the strong smell that’s usually found in onions.
- Repeat one to two times a day.
7. Mint Leaves paste
Mint leaves are not only a great ingredient for summer drinks, but it also helps to fix the damage done to your skin by the sun in summers. Apart from the soothing quality of mint, it is highly rich in vitamin A which helps in generation of new skin cells and strengthens your skin tissue. The salicylic acid sloughs off the dead cells and even cleans your pores freeing you of hyperpigmentation and lightens skin tone.
- Take 8 to 10 mint leaves.
- Crush them to form a paste.
- Apply this paste over the affected areas.
- Leave it on for 15 minutes.
- Rinse it with water.
- Do this every day for few weeks.
8. Cucumber juice
Cucumber is a great skin lightening treatment when it comes to getting rid of blemishes, fading freckles and reducing skin pigmentation. It doesn’t only cool you off when the sun is at its peak, but it also protects your skin from the sun damage by cleaning the pores and wiping out the darker skin layer.
- Take a blender and add a fresh cucumber.
- Combine one tablespoon of cucumber juice, one tablespoon of lemon juice and one tablespoon of
- Mix well and apply this paste on your skin.
- Let it stay for 20 minutes.
- Wash it off with cool water.
- Do it every day till you notice positive results.
OR
- Take a fresh cucumber and blend it to extract its juice.
- Then use a cotton ball to apply it over your skin.
- Let it stay for 20 minutes.
- Then rinse your face with cool water.
- Repeat daily for a month.
9. Sandalwood powder
Sandalwood possesses skin bleaching quality which helps to fix a hyperpigmented skin along with getting rid of scars, dark spots or blemishes. It contains anti-inflammatory qualities, kills bacteria that causes acne and cools your skin. The melanin production increases with heat and sandalwood lowers the temperature of your skin slowing down the process.
- Mix two tablespoons of sandalwood powder, one tablespoon of turmeric powder, and four tablespoons of milk.
- Apply this paste over the affected areas.
- Massage for few minutes with a light hand.
- Let it dry naturally before washing it off
- Repeat every day for a month.
10. Avocado
Avocado is an amazing fruit that contains vitamin C, vitamin E, fatty acids and enzymes. Just what is needed for reducing pigmentation!
- Take a ripe avocado and cut it into slices
- Rub the slices over the affected areas.
- Let it stay for 15 minutes before washing it off.
- Repeat daily for a month.
OR
- Take a ripe avocado.
- Mash it nicely to make a smooth paste.
- Apply this paste over the affected areas.
- Then wash it off
- Repeat two times a day and continue for a month.
Warning: Avocado contains latex enzymes that can trigger allergy in some people. Better do a skin patch test before applying.
Some useful suggestions
Try a good scrub
While you might think that exfoliating cannot help with pigmentation but the truth is it can. Pigmentation basically occurs on the surface skin cells. When you scrape that off, you will be able to expose the brighter and clearer skin beneath.
Remain covered
While it may be tempting in summers to wear lesser and lighter clothes, try to wear clothes that cover you most so that you can shield your skin against those harmful UV rays and increased melanin production. A cap and sunglasses can be of great help too.
opt for natural products
Chemical products can raise havoc on your skin with their side effects. Do not take the risk of using chemical based product containing chemicals like mercury and hydroquinone. Try using natural products or use natural methods. You can try a natural method that is listed in this article or choose natural skin lightening creams. You can do that by looking for natural ingredients in the cream that are proven to reduce melanin and give you brighter skin like coconut oil, kojic acid and mulberry extract.
Cut down sun time
Cut down on the hours you spend in the sun which results in increases production of melanin leading to hyperpigmentation and darker skin. Try your best to stay inside particularly when the sun is at its peak. You will automatically be able to reduce melanin production when you stay away from the sun.
Use sunscreen
Simply can’t avoid the sun? Then you should definitely use sun screen of minimum SPF 30. Do not forget to reapply after every 3 hours if you have to continuously spend time in the sun.
Wrap up!
The remedies mentioned require patience, but they are effective when used on a regular basis. One thing to remember is that increased production of melanin could be indicative of a medical issue which is why consulting a dermatologist is imperative.
Sources
http://www.enkivillage.com/how-to-reduce-melanin.html
http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/How-to-Reduce-Melanin.html
http://www.caretricks.com/skincare/how-to-reduce-melanin-in-skin/
http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/5-simple-tips-to-reduce-skin-pigmentation/
http://www.skincareihub.com/how-to-reduce-melanin-naturally/
http://www.top10homeremedies.com/how-to/get-rid-hyperpigmentation.html
http://www.fairnfitness.com/2014/11/your-skin-color-depends-upon-various.html
