If you spend too much time outdoors, you might not get the sun-kissed glow that celebrities and models sport. Noticeable brown splotches and spots of pigment are caused when your skin produces too much melanin in isolated areas of your face. Sun spots–also known as liver spots or age spots–associated with photoaging can be particularly problematic. These beauty tips for skin whitening will help you minimize noticeable brown splotches and spots of pigment using the right skin-care products. You can protect discolored skin from the culprit that caused it: the sun.
Use Thorough Sun Protection
First, do no further harm: When dealing with any type of skin discoloration, from sun spots or melasma to the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that lingers after a blemish heals, the most important thing to do is protect discolored skin from the sun. The American Academy of Dermatology stresses the importance of rubbing on a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 30 a half-hour before you go outdoors. Using thorough sun protection is important even if your skin tone is darker, the AAD says.
Pick the Right Active Ingredients
The majority of skin whitening creams available on the consumer market use hydroquinone as their active agent. Hydroquinone has a bleaching effect on pigmented skin. According to skincare guru Paula Begoun, hydroquinone is supported by dermatologists and scientific research as being safe and effective. Other ingredients that may be effective include deoxyarbutin, glycolic acid and kojic acid. Begoun notes that while alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, won’t lighten your skin, they do encourage skin cell turnover, expediting the shedding of damaged cells in the skin’s outer layer.
Be Patient-–and Realistic
Nonprescription skin whitening creams may or may not give you the results you expect. According to the Mayo Clinic, the efficacy of these products depends on the extent of hyperpigmentation and on whether you use them religiously. Because the hydroquinone in skin whitening products must penetrate through the epidermis to the point at which it meets the dermis–or the middle layer of the skin–you may have to use your product for months before you will see a noticeable difference in your skin tone. Prolonged use of hydroquinone can irritate your skin.
Read Product Labels
Nonprescription skin-lightening creams may, by law, contain a maximum concentration of 2 percent hydroquinone, the AAD points out. Stronger bleaching creams, up to 4 percent hydroquinone, are available by prescription. Make sure that the skin whitening cream you choose explicitly states the hydroquinone concentration, the AAD advises. If it doesn’t, give the product a pass. Applying too much hydroquinone to your face without a dermatologist’s approval can cause a type of discoloration that’s difficult to reverse.
See Your Dermatologist
Resolving stubborn skin discoloration may be more effective with the assistance of a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in skin treatment. A dermatologist may recommend prescription topical creams or suggest a series of microdermabrasion, chemical peels, or laser treatments to make your face more uniform in tone.
