Medizines

Although a lot of us dream of flawless skin, the truth is that most people, regardless of ethnicity and skin color, have pigment blemishes on their skin. The discolored small or large patches might be considered aesthetically unappealing and most people would like to get rid of these spots. To understand how to lighten your blemishes you need to understand that these spots or patches are nothing more than accumulation of melanin.
What is melanin?
Melanin is the substance that gives color to your skin. Ideally, melanin concentration should be even across the entire expanse of your skin but this is seldom the case. Various environmental, dietary, hereditary and age factors contribute towards the formation of these spots and blemishes. These lesions or spots have different names depending on the cause. Melasma, hyperpigmentation, freckles are some of the various names that refer to these blemishes.
How do I rid myself of these spots?
Any dermatologist will tell you that pigment problems are extremely difficult to get rid of. But there is hope. There have been various advances in the field of pigment research and there are a number of remedies that can effectively remove the excess pigment and prevent the re-accumulation of melanin on the skin.
Are all pigment problems basically the same? Can I use the same treatment for various pigment problems?
There are several ways to get rid of spots or patches of hyperpigmentation. Pigmentation could be hormonal in nature like melasma, dark underarms, dark skin patches on the neck or inner thigh area and age spots. Once these spots or patches of dark skin have lightened, you will need to continue some sort of maintenance regimen due to the hormonal nature of the problem. Stopping treatment as soon as these spots have disappeared will cause them to reoccur in a few months. There are certain other kinds of spots or patchy skin caused by trauma to the skin by insect bites, shaving, acne or repeated pressure to certain areas of skin. These patches or spots once lightened usually don't return.
What are the various ways I can use to get rid of these blemishes?
There are three ways to get rid of these blemishes.
Mechanical: Mechanical methods work best when the pigmentation is recent and superficial. Those who don't exfoliate their skin on a regular basis will also see good results. There are various derma-abrasion kits available in your local pharmacy that could help gently exfoliate the area. Micro-derma abrasion cloths are also a good option as they remove dead skin cells very gently. Exfoliating encourages skin cell turnover ensuring that fresher and more even toned skin surfaces. However, one needs to be careful when exfoliating because over exfoliation or over zealous use of mechanical methods can actually increase the darkness of blemishes.
Skin peels: Peels work to invisibly remove the "glue" that holds the surface skin together and encourages exfoliation without any need for mechanical interference. Peels used to be administered at a doctor's office and some strong peels are still only available to medical or aesthetic specialists. Nowadays there are various kinds of peels available online and even at low concentrations over the counter. The right choice of peel depend on the nature of the problem, the depth of pigmentation and the general health of the skin. Certain peels can go as deep as the dermis (deepest layer of the skin) to lighten skin from the inside out. Certain peels along with their exfoliating capabilities also target abnormal pigment cells and work to uniform skin tone.
Skin Lightening Agents: Skin lightening agents penetrate the skin to destroy extra melanin and give skin an appearance of being even toned. There are various skin lightening agents identified by scientists and herbalists and many of them work very well on skin blemishes. Different skin whitening agents have different modes of action. Some work to destroy melanin, some work to prevent the transfer of melanin from the deepest layer of the skin to the surface, still others interfere with the actual production of melanin. There are a few chemical agents actually destroy the melanin creating cells called melanocytes. These should never be used for skin blemishes unless one has depigmentation problems. The best methods entail the use of herbal or natural skin lighteners that are used in a combination so as to affect the whole production cycle of melanin.
A combination of the right peel or exfoliation combined with the right combination of skin lightening agents can effectively lighten even the toughest pigment spots.

By Sheila Ray

When you have a brownish skin discoloration or splotch on your skin, it is known as skin pigmentation. Age spots, sun spots, liver spots, freckles, and lentigos are the different types of skin pigmentation. It happens when your body produce too much melanin which darken the skin. People with this skin problem tends to look for skin pigment dark spots treatment.
The common treatment for this skin disorder is Intense Pulsed Light System (IPL), a form of laser. It can treat sun damaged skin. It works by removing the layer of uneven pigmentation. This will allow new pigment to be produced which will give a lighter tone. You can see faster results compared to other therapies. But you need to understand that it also comes with risks. In some cases, it can make your pigmentation worse. Scarring can also occur but it is rare. When you are treated with laser treatment, you need some time to recuperate after the surgery. Since this treatment carries more risk and costs more, you should opt for it as the last option after all other methods have failed.
Another common treatment for dark spots is hydroquinone cream. It can fade the the dark skin tone so that people would not notice your skin problem. However, it can cause skin irritation and redness when used in higher concentration. You are at risk of developing a rare disease called ochronosis, a blue-black skin condition. You should avoid using it on blemishes.
Chemical peel is still used by many victims of hyperpigmentation. You will experience a burning sensation after the treatment which is a normal reaction. This peel contains glycolic acid with tri-chloro acetic acid which helps to lighten the dark spots. The treatment will last about three weeks before you see any visible result.
Hyperpigmentation is caused by the excess of melanin production. It usually affects those people with darker skin type. But it can also happen on those with white skin. Many of the skin pigment dark spots treatment can be done with skin lightening creams. There are some which uses natural ingredients which mimic hydroquinone. They can restore the color of the skin effectively.

By Markus Giancola

Dark spots and discolorations on the skin can be a difficult and embarrassing problem. Skin pigmentation, age spots and melasma are hard to treat. There is no shortage of fading creams on the market - many of which are unsafe and do more harm than good, such as those containing hydroquinone. Others are simply ineffective and a waste of time and money. However, there is the possibility that a simple, natural home remedy may be just the solution you're looking for.
When I first noticed the darkening area on my forehead, in my late twenties, I didn't know what it was. Was it dirt? It wouldn't wash off! I did some research and determined it was melasma - like an age spot it's a type of hyperpigmentation on the skin.
Age spots are generally like large, dark freckles. Melasma is an area of patchy darker skin that often affects the forehead, temples and cheeks. Both age spots and melasma can be treated by the same types of lightening solutions.
Since I am the type of girl who appreciates a good home remedy, I dove headfirst into research and came upon several simple natural treatments to try to lighten the dark spots on my face.
Vinegar: Dilute vinegar equally with water, and use to cleanse and rinse your face. Allow to air dry to seal in moisture. Or, use the vinegar/water mixture in place of an astringent or toner. Vinegar is chemically acetic acid, and is capable of whitening and brightening, as well as making skin smoother and more radiant. It has also long been used for a skin softener. Apple cider or other natural vinegars are recommended, though some people use distilled white vinegar.
Onion Juice: To get onion juice, you can finely chop up an onion, or blend it, and squeeze the juice through a cheesecloth. Mix with equal part apple cider vinegar, apply twice daily with a cotton ball and watch for results over the next several weeks. Alternatively, you can cut a slice of onion, dip it in vinegar, and apply it to the pigmentation.
Lemon Juice: Applying the juice of a fresh lemon to the pigmentation has a similar effect to the onion remedy - it is acidic and can safely peel off the top layer of skin, causing spots to fade.
Onion, vinegar and lemon juice are excellent home remedies to relieve you of age spots, melasma, pigmentation and discoloration. I found this treatment quite effective for lightening over several weeks - what I didn't like was the onion smell. Though it was great in a pinch, I didn't want to have stinky hands and face for life, so I learned of many more natural remedies to combat my melasma.

By Alicia Green