Pigmentation, dark spots, freckles and uneven skin tone are a few problems that we all face. The reason behind these conditions is the excessive production of melanin on the surface of your skin. And the good news is that this can be treated at home. To learn how to treat pigmentation at home, one first needs to understand the causes of pigmentation. Here’s everything you need to know about pigmentation.
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What is pigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation, usually called pigmentation, is a common skin condition where some areas or patches of skin turn darker in colour. People identify it as a skin problem but it is usually a harmless condition that occurs due to excessive presence of melanin; a brown-coloured pigment that produces our normal skin colour. Melanin is produced by melanocytes and functions as a shield for skin cells to protect the skin from sun and UV damages.
What causes pigmentation?
The root cause of excessive melanin production is generally associated with internal factors like hormonal changes in the body, pregnancy and other health problems. External factors like excessive sun exposure, skin injury, burning, emotional stress or contact with certain chemicals can also cause pigmentation. It can occur on almost any part of the body including face, neck, hands, arms or legs.
How to treat pigmentation?
Depending on the degree of pigmentation you may choose going for laser treatments by professional dermatologists/cosmetologists or try some home remedies to reduce pigmentation at home. Natural remedies are not only safe and inexpensive but have been known to give you positive and effective results. Try these easy DIY recipes to reduce pigmentation naturally and acquire a healthy glowing skin.
#1 Slice one potato into two, put a few drops of water on its surface and rub it on the pigmented area. If you have more time at hand, grate the potatoes and squeeze the juice out of it. Apply the juice on the age spots and leave it on for half an hour. Rinse with lukewarm water. Doing this home remedy for a month will bring noticeable difference to your pigmented skin.
#2 Grate a piece of papaya and extract the juice out of it. Apply it on the pigmented area, leave it for 15-20 minutes and rinse it off with cold water. Do this for a month and wait patiently till you see amazing results. The enzyme papain in papaya is used for skin exfoliation and helps regenerate new skin cells. This helps in removing the pigmented layers of skin every time you do an exfoliation and help reduce and finally remove the pigmented mark.
#3 Application of vinegar also helps in controlling pigmentation. Dilute vinegar with equal amount of water as it’s very strong and has acidic properties. To treat the pigmentation for your face, wash your face as you normally do and spritz this mixture on. Do not rinse it off. Vinegar has good astringent properties. Its acidity makes it a good exfoliator, removing the dead cells from the surface and revealing clear and beautiful skin within.
#4 Application of a mixture of castor oil and vitamin E on the areas of pigmentation every day is also a great remedy. This will slowly remove the pigmented area leaving your skin smooth and free of patches and blemishes. Vitamin E helps reviving the skin and castor oil acts as antiseptic to treat pigmentation.
#5 Aloe Vera works excellently on hyper-pigmented skin due to the presence of mucilaginous polysaccharides in the gel. It removes dead skin cells and promotes regeneration of new skin cells. Apply some fresh Aloe Vera gel on pigmented skin and leave it overnight. Rinse it off in the morning. Follow this remedy daily for a few weeks to get positive results.
#6 Cucumber is used for dark circles which is also a form of skin pigmentation. Mix one part each of cucumber juice, lemon juice and honey. Apply it evenly on the pigmented area, leave it for 30 minutes and rinse it off with room temperature water. These skin lightening agents when put together can surely work wonders in fading freckles and blemishes.
As the popular saying goes, “precaution is better than cure”, apply sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 or more daily whether you are at home or stepping outside and reapply it every 2 to 3 hours. Sunscreen helps protect your skin from UV rays which are emitted from sunlight or laptop screens.
