How to Lighten Skin Tone
A common problem with many individuals is uneven skin tone or dark patches of skin on certain areas of the body. This is called hyperpigmentation and it can be exhibited in such skin problems as freckles, age spots, blemishes, acne scars and the like. There are many products that claim to be able to lighten or "bleach" skin tone, but not all of them are effective and some of them may even have toxic heavy metals, such as mercury, in their ingredients, which could cause a host of other problems. There are safer methods that may be able to help you lighten your skin.
Things You'll Need
- Sunscreen Topical steroid cream Skin peel Laser treatment 500-1000 milligrams of vitamin C Raw potato Cream or whole milk Almond oil Lemon juice Powdered milk Honey Apple cider vinegar
Instructions
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Use a good sunscreen every day, with a 15 or higher SPH, that helps to block UVA and UVB rays. Even if you belong to an ethnic group that has a darker complexion, you still need to use sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage, which not only contributes to hyperpigmentation, but could put you at risk for skin cancer. A good sunscreen product should contain zinc oxide, Parsol 1789 and titanium oxide.
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Use over-the-counter skin lightening products that contain natural plant extracts. Read the ingredients carefully and make sure that there are no heavy metals or hydroquinone, as these can be potentially toxic.
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Consider using a topical steroid creme , which can be extremely effective in lightening your skin tone. This needs to be prescribed by your dermatologist and taken only as directed.
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Think about asking your dermatologist about a skin peel, which can lighten your skin.
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Get laser treatment, which has successfully been used to lighten the complexion. Make sure that you get the treatment from a reputable dermatologist with a proven record for safely administering laser treatment, to safeguard against any possible injuries to the skin.
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Supplement with 500-1000 milligrams of vitamin C on a daily basis. Vitamin C can reduce how much melanin is produced in your skin. Melanin is what causes your skin to darken.
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Slice a raw potato and apply it to areas where your skin tone is uneven. Potatoes have the ability to naturally "bleach" your skin.
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Add 1-1/2 cups of cream or whole milk to a tub full of hot bath water and soak in it, to aid in lightening your skin naturally.
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Make a paste composed of 1/2 teaspoon of almond oil and a teaspoon each of lemon juice, powdered milk and honey. Apply it to the areas where you have hyperpigmentation and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before washing it off. This should be done on a daily basis, until you see signs of improvement.
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If you have dark spots on your face, apply apple cider vinegar twice a day to improve your pH balance and to help lighten your skin. Use caution if you have overly sensitive skin, since apple cider can be acidic.
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Tips & Warnings
Always speak with your dermatologist to determine the best method of lightening your skin tone. Read the ingredients of any over-the-counter skin product you use.
