Skin Lightening Treatments
Various skin discolorations like freckles, cane scars and dark spots could be lighten using topical applications. Skin lightening products can lighten and even out a person’s complexion over time. While there are skin lightening treatments that require the individual to visit the dermatologist’s office, there are treatments that can be done at home. However, you must know how to properly use skin lightening applications so that risks could be minimized. What these products can do is to partially block melanin production. Melanin is responsible for giving our skin its color.
The two most common method of skin lightening are using whitening creams, gel or lotion and chemical peels. Skin Whitening products can be used along with skin exfoliant. You have to exfoliate the skin first before attempting to apply any skin whitening product. Exfoliation simply means getting rid of dead skin cells. Skin whitening- Skin Bleaching will be more effective when the skin is well-exfoliated.
When you are using skin whitening creams, you may also use a moisturizer. You have to apply the moisturizer after each application especially at night before you go to sleep. Whitening applications are usually applied twice daily. Moisturizer helps in minimizing the onset of some minor side effects like drying, peeling and burning.
Of course, you must use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher even for casual exposure to the sun. When you use any skin care product your photosensitivity increases. It would only be futile to use a skin whitening product if you go outdoors frequently. Our skin produces melanin when we are exposed to the direct sunlight. While the product that you are using blocks melanin production, the melanocytes can still produce such, darkening the skin in the process. If you cannot avoid going out, you must wear protective clothing.
Further, chemical peels are slowly regaining the confidence of the people who want lighter skin due to its effectiveness. A chemical peel speeds up the turnover of the epidermis, removing melanized keratinocytes. This can result into the lessening of melanin in the skin which could lead to whiter skin. However, because the process is chemical-based, it must not be used on a daily basis. Peeling should be repeated between four to six weeks. This period allows the skin to recover from peeling which usually occur in two to three weeks.
