Natural Pigment Spot Treatment

Regardless of age or ethnicity, every woman wants even, clear and glowing skin. For most women, the challenge of achieving glowing skin starts with dark spots or hyperpigmentation caused by the build-up of melanin (the natural skin pigment). Hyperpigmentation can be exacerbated by genetics and ethnicity.

For women of European or Asian origin, sun spots, blemishes and ageing processes can also hinder clear and glowing skin. These blemishes are not caused by increased melanin, but by tissue growth due to skin atrophy that makes the skin appear darker. Therefore, treatment is completely different.

Other barriers to clear skin include dehydration and acne, which are caused by hormonal fluctuations linked to life changes such as menopause and stress.

Although they sound the same, there is in fact a significant difference in the lightening, whitening and shine of the skin. Before deciding on a skincare routine, it's important to understand all three categories, their pros and cons, and even the potential health risks.

In this article, we will find out everything you need to know about these topics, including:

• Why is "skin whitening" dangerous for your health and why is it not recommended?
• How "skin lightening" helps correct skin imperfections and can be done naturally
• How "skin revitalisation" can make your skin look refreshed, vibrant and beautiful
• Skin whitening

Skin whitening, a treatment that gives you a lighter skin tone than you were born with.

Skin bleaching is controversial and can have potentially dangerous side effects. Unless you want to involve a health professional in your skincare regimen, "skin whitening" is probably not what you're looking for. We don't recommend "skin whitening", so we'll move on to "lightening and spot treatment".

Skin lightening and hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition that refers to any darkening of the skin. Dark spots usually form on the face and hands or other areas that are frequently exposed to the sun. This skin darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, a brown pigment that gives our skin its colour, forms deposits in our skin.

Hyperpigmentation spots are often caused by repeated sun exposure. This happens because melanin absorbs the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays to protect the skin from overexposure.

Another form of hyperpigmentation is melasma. Melasma spots are larger than spots caused by sunlight. They appear as symmetrical, blotchy, hyperpigmented patches on the face, usually on the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead, chin and upper lip. It is most often caused by hormonal changes. Pregnancy and use of the contraceptive pill can also cause an overproduction of melanin due to hormonal changes.

Acne and other skin conditions can cause hyperpigmentation, which can leave dark spots after the condition has resolved.

For the treatment of hyperpigmentation, skin-lightening products are designed to even out skin tone and restore the natural colour of the skin before the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

How skin lightening works

The aim of lightening pigment spots is not to whiten the skin, but to remove unwanted spots by inhibiting the melanin that gives the skin its colour, if possible in a way that allows the skin to retain its fair complexion.

In the many different layers of our skin, there is a layer called the basal layer. In this layer, our skin cells form and divide, creating the outer layer of skin. In this layer is a cell called a melanocyte. This cell is responsible for transporting melanosomes, which are cells that contain pigment (melanin) that gives our skin its colour. Melanocytes contain an enzyme called tyrosinase. This enzyme is responsible for the production of melanin. Hyperpigmentation is caused by an overproduction of melanin by this enzyme.

To remedy this, a number of pigment spot fading products have been formulated to inhibit tyrosinase, essentially preventing the overproduction of melanin. Skin brightening products containing tyrosinase inhibitors are not just for people with hyperpigmentation. Many even-skinned people use these products to prevent hyperpigmentation in the future, as it is much easier to prevent hyperpigmentation than to correct it once it has already appeared in your skin. Unfortunately, even if hyperpigmentation is corrected, it can return as our skin has a memory. Another reason why skin lightening is recommended for people with even skin tone is that sometimes hyperpigmentation is found under the surface of the skin, which appears later in life.

"Skin Fading" reduces pigmentation, fades discolouration, eliminates blemishes and evens skin tone. Importantly, it can be done with simple skincare products and does not require any medical intervention. Skin lightening products target specific areas of discolouration, such as age spots and hyperpigmentation caused by acne and bruising. Fading creams reduce melanin pigmentation in a specific area of the skin. 

Natural skin brightening ingredients

While hydroquinone is a popular option for skin fading, it comes with a number of negative side effects. In fact, experts say it can be dangerous and should be avoided. Despite the limitations of research, nanopeptides are considered to be a much more effective and safer active ingredient. 

How do they work?

DECAPEPTIDE-12 is a small oligopeptide with potent anti-tyrosinase activity. Research shows that it can improve both skin tone and texture. Tyrosinase is an enzyme widely found in plant and animal tissues and is essential for melanin production. Overproduction of tyrosinase can lead to hyperpigmentation of the skin. As decapeptide-12 is a potent tyrosinase inhibitor, it could be a potential treatment for skin hyperpigmentation problems.

NANOPEPTID 1 can prevent melanin synthesis and unwanted pigmentation by blocking the activation of tyrosinase, thus allowing better control of skin tone.

TETRAPEPTIDE-30 has a nice soothing function that has a double effect in inhibiting the pigmentation process. It acts as a tyrosinase inhibitor (the famous enzyme needed to produce melanin) and inhibits the uptake of melanin into the upper layers of the skin.

Here are some natural fading ingredients that can make your complexion look brighter:

• Stable Vitamin C - All fading products
• Lactic acid - in all Lightening products
• Glycolic Acid, Bio AHA - (the basis for intensive AHA peeling)
• Chamomile - In all Lightening products
• Sage - It's in every Lightening product
• Houseleek - It's in every Lightening product
• Mitra Carpe - (lightening serum, fading cream)
• White lily flower (base of Lightening Oleogel)
• Licorice root extract
• Kojic acid (the basis of bleaching toning)
• Bearberry extract - natural Arbutin - (lightening serum, fading cream)

These ingredients are safe to use, so you can safely use 100% natural high-tech natural cosmetics all year round.

Alternatively, invest in skin-lightening supplements that contain one or more of the above ingredients.