Home Remedies To Minimize Dark Spots

For those people who have dark spots on the face, chest, hands, or anywhere else on the body, removing them can be quite an ordeal.

Not only are they difficult to treat, but some cannot even be covered by the best concealer in the world.

So what are these discolorations, and why do some people have them and others don’t? For the most part, dark spots on the skin are attributed to two causes: scarring and hyperpigmentation .

Scars can be divided into two categories: dark marks that are actually the result of post- inflammatory hyperpigmentation , which appear as dark or pink marks, or a change in skin texture , which results in sunken or raised scars.

Pigmented scars are caused by injury to the pigment-forming layer of the epidermis, while textural scars are caused by actual tears in the dermis.

There are people with more pigment who are more prone to hyperpigmentation . And there are others with more pigment in the skin that are more prone to hyperpigmentation and scarring.

But regardless of the type of stain or trend you have, you will most likely want to get rid of them.

To help you achieve this, I have rounded up the 7 best natural ingredients that will help you minimize hyperpigmentation .

How to treat dark spots with natural home remedies

Exfoliate with papaya

One sure way to even out your overall skin tone is to light the top layer with a natural scrub like papaya.

This fruit has fruit acids known as alpha-hydroxy acids , a well-known chemical exfoliator.

AHAs are used for dry skin and for anti-aging, and work to improve the skin by removing the top layers by weakening the lipids that hold them together , thus removing dead and dull skin cells and revealing healthy skin cells.

It is very effective in exfoliating the skin and also in increasing collagen production due to the removal of dead particles.

Papaya specifically will help brighten and give skin a youthful glow.

How to use it? To treat papaya stains, simply smash the ripe papaya in a bowl into a paste and apply it like a regular mask .

When removing it, you can use gentle circular motions to add an extra exfoliation.

Match the tone with turmeric

For centuries, people in India, parts of Central America, and other subtropics have turned to turmeric for its many healing properties, ranging from reducing inflammation to aiding the digestive process.

Turmeric benefits extend to the skin care area as well, and it has been shown to inhibit melanin formation in the body , resulting in blemishes due to hyperpigmentation.

How to use it? To fade dark spots with turmeric, make a mask using one part turmeric with one part honey .

To maximize results, add a few drops of lemon juice, as long as your skin is not overly sensitive, and the citrus does not come into contact with damaged skin, such as recent acne wounds.

Soothe skin and reduce blemishes with sweet almond oil

Another ingredient to strengthen the skin is sweet almond oil. It is often fortified with additional vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E and niacin, which help improve hyperpigmentation and skin tone .

And since sweet almond oil is non-comedogenic – meaning it won’t clog pores – you can add it to your nighttime routine as a makeup remover or moisturizer to help protect the skin’s barrier.

Rinse with yogurt

Another natural element that brightens the tone and that you probably have in the fridge is yogurt, which works to blur stains by exfoliating the epidermis .

Like the exfoliating properties of papaya, yogurt breaks down dead skin cells thanks to lactic acid , which is found naturally in dairy products.

Lactic acid is an AHA, which improves discoloration and age spots. This acid is gentler on the skin than other chemical exfoliants.

As it is derived from dairy, it helps correct pH imbalances , works to improve tone, texture, and reduces redness.

Additionally, lactic acid may also be effective in calming the skin.

How to use it? Yogurt can be applied directly to cleansed skin on its own, or mixed with additional skin-health-enhancing ingredients like honey, which is antibacterial and great for acne-prone skin.

You can also add ground oatmeal to make a yogurt mask that will help remove discoloration and soothe dry skin.

Just be sure to rinse this mask out carefully, so you don’t tear or irritate the skin.

Reverse photodamage with tomatoes

Rather than putting this ingredient directly on your face, tomato works best when taken consistently.

According to one study , participants who ingested 40 to 55 milligrams of concentrated tomato with olive oil a day saw protection against acute and long-term photodamage caused by UV rays .

Why is this tomato paste so effective? Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which has multiple health benefits, including sun protection.

Not a fan of tomatoes? Look for other fruits and vegetables of a similar hue, such as guava, pink grapefruit, watermelon, and red bell peppers.

Reduce scarring with aloe vera

For some people, dark spots are not the result of hyperpigmentation, but rather scarring, which can be especially apparent in those with skin that is richer in melanin.

Scars are unpredictable, which can make them difficult to treat. The most important thing is to treat them immediately.

The more supple your skin, the less chance there is of scarring , so adding moisture to your skin with oils and lotions can reduce its appearance and prevent new ones from forming.

A proven and effective ingredient that can be used to improve skin health from the inside or outside is aloe vera.

Aloe vera can be taken in the form of juice or drinks, or applied to the skin as a moisturizer or healer by breaking the leaf of an aloe plant and spraying the sticky substance on the scar.

Don’t have an aloe vera plant on hand? Aloe vera gel can be applied directly to the face, as can many cleansers or moisturizers that contain this ingredient.

Keeping skin healthy with vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of the most effective natural ingredients you can count on to lighten existing blemishes and prevent new ones from forming.

For a dark mark scar, look for AHA or retinol peels that will help promote cell renewal to remove the upper layers of the skin.

But to fade hyperpigmentation, the best are the illuminators ingredients, as the arbutin , kojic acid, phytic acid and L-ascorbic acid .

The latter is a powerful skincare ingredient that is also found naturally in vitamin C-rich foods like oranges and spinach .

While some people prefer to lighten blemishes with lemon juice, others find the high acid content too intense for their skin and choose to ingest its vitamin C, reaping the benefits from within.

Know when to turn to commercial cosmetics

The natural ingredients routine is not for everyone. In addition, they leave room for error, since they are not formulated in the same proportions as commercial products .

If natural masks and scrubs aren’t for you, there are a number of products designed with the same ingredients and packaged to last more than a day or two.

You are also interested in: Melasma: everything you need to know to eliminate it

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Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.

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