How to Treat Discoloration
Skin discoloration can be a sign of illness or aging, the remnant of a scar or a side effect of some prescription drugs. Fortunately, there are several options for evening out the skin tone. Some inexpensive treatments can be done with items you probably already have around the house. If stronger measures are required, there are several medical procedures through which a dermatologist or plastic surgeon can treat the problem. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Apply yogurt, milk or buttermilk with your fingertips or a cotton ball. Let sit for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse.. These dairy products all have lactic acid, a mild acid that can fade dark spots by exfoliating the top layer of skin. As new skin cells grow, the discolored areas are less noticeable.
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Apply lemon juice with your fingertips or a cotton ball. Let sit for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse. Lemon juice contains citric acid, another mild acid that safely bleaches skin splotches.
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Apply hydrogen peroxide with your fingertips or a cotton ball. Let sit for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse. Hydrogen peroxide is a popular bleaching agent used in hair dyes or tooth-whitening products. It comes in various strengths. The lower percentages, like 3 percent, are safe for the skin (this is what you'll find in the drugstore); a 35 percent strength is used to bleach paper. Hydrogen peroxide is a stronger bleach than citric acid or lactic acid.
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Try specially designed skin-bleaching products. In most of these products, the main ingredient is hydroquinone, which has skin-whitening properties. The FDA allows only 2 percent hydroquinone in over-the-counter products, but stronger versions are available with a doctor's prescription.
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See a dermatologist. Skin doctors offer many techniques to improve the look and texture of the skin, including chemical peels, laser resurfacing and dermabrasion. In each of these procedures, the doctor exfoliates the top layer of skin. As the skin heals and new skin grows, the discoloration fades. These techniques are usually done a few times for best results. These procedures aren't cheap, so try the home remedies first.
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