Every one of us has suffered from some sort of skin problem before, whether it’s acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, sunspots, or hyperpigmentation. We've all tried many skincare products to help. If you’re no stranger to these skin conditions, you might also be familiar with skin discoloration. In darker skin types, many inflammatory skin diseases can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Skin discoloration is characterized by patches that appear on your skin in different colors or tones. Even though it’s quite widespread, it’s important to be aware that it can be a symptom of one of the following: birth marks, certain illnesses, hormonal changes, increased inflammation in the body, damaged skin cells, and changes in melanin (the substance that gives your skin color). It can affect anyone, no matter their skin color.
Although they may seem harmless, discolored skin patches may be the result of an underlying medical condition, so it's always important to be seen by a doctor.
Skin Discoloration Remedies
You might be wondering whether there’s a natural cure for skin discoloration. Luckily, a few remedies can help with this particular condition, both at home and in a dermatologist’s office.
There are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of getting discoloration in the future. First, make sure you follow a proper skincare regimen closely, consisting of certain acids (see below) or retinol-A, which will shed the dead skin layers and leave you with healthy and glowing skin.
It’s crucial to maintain a balanced diet and work out often, which will help you manage your stress levels. There are also a few homemade skin spot treatment options to treat skin discoloration, such as honey, aloe vera gel, or lemon juice.
Let’s see which skin treatments provide the best skin discoloration results.
Chemical Peels
If you're into skin care, you've probably heard about chemical peels quite a few times. Chemical peels are a very popular method of dealing with discoloration, hyperpigmentation, age spots (also known as liver spots), and the surrounding skin. As the name suggests, they contain mostly chemical acids such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid. They serve as a harsher exfoliant meant to get rid of dead skin cells and rejuvenate the skin quickly.
The most common types of peels include: alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids.
After undergoing a light chemical peel treatment, your skin will need four to seven days to recover. Always use a gentle cleanser (usually containing hyaluronic acid) after undertaking this hyperpigmentation treatment.
If you want to use more salicylic acid in your life, you can always try a clear skin salicylic cleanser. It's a skin care must!
Lasers
Laser treatment and laser skin resurfacing offer a variety of benefits for the skin. On top of being great for discoloration, they can also treat acne, acne scars, age spots, and other chronic skin conditions. Laser treatments destroy the outer skin layer, revealing the healthy skin cells below.
IPL (intense pulse light) and ActiveFX are some of the best laser treatments for skin discolorations.
Microdermabrasion
This treatment is very successful in getting rid of discoloration and achieving a more even skin tone. It uses small crystals to gently exfoliate the skin without damaging the skin tissue. Because it draws out any impurities and oil from the pores, it’s also extremely effective in fighting acne. The outer layer of skin is removed, revealing the new skin cells below, leaving your skin rejuvenated, healed, and dewy.
Since it’s not very abrasive, it’s best to use it for milder cases of skin discoloration. The recovery time is around two weeks.
Microneedling (Collagen Induction Therapy)
Yes, the term for this treatment sounds terrifying, but it’s not far from the truth. If you don’t like needles, then you can skip this treatment entirely.
It consists of a steel roller that contains fine needles to puncture the top layer of skin. This treatment makes the body produce more collagen and elastin, which give your skin elasticity, firmness, and a youthful appearance. Usually, microneedling is combined with topical creams and serums to get the best result.
Your skin should return to normal after four to six weeks.
Topical Creams
No skincare routine is complete without a topical cream. If you suffer from discoloration, opt for a retinol-A product containing vitamin C, hydroquinone, or kojic acid. According to this study, it's one of the leading treatments for hyperpigmentation.
How to Get Rid of Sunspots
Sunspots are patches of discolored skin that usually appear due to extreme sun exposure. Those who have fair skin tones are more prone to getting them. Sunspots can also be caused by excess melanin production, sunburns, sun damage, and sun allergies.
If you’re not wearing sunscreen regularly and you have sunspots, you should take them as a sign to start protecting yourself from sun exposure regularly. Too much sun exposure can lead to skin cancer.
There are a couple of different homemade remedies you can try to get rid of sunspots. Most of these ingredients you probably already have at home.
Lemon
Since lemon has lightening properties, it can help lighten up dark areas. Squeeze a few drops of lemon juice on your skin two times a day to fade dark spots. You will notice an improvement in your dark spots after a couple of weeks.
Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E oil is known to help hyperpigmentation and sunspots. Since it boosts collagen production, it will speed up the recovery of uneven skin tone. Simply put a few drops of vitamin oil on the sunspots and leave it overnight. You can also use a crushed vitamin E pill and dissolve it in water.
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera is an amazing ingredient when it comes to skin damage caused by the sun. All you need to do is apply aloe vera gel on your spots several times a day.
Over-the-Counter Creams
Creams that contain acids (such as hydroxyl acid and glycolic acid) are remarkable for treating sunspots. These usually work quicker than home remedies with regular use. Check out this amazing pore-purifying toner, which will keep any discoloration away in the future.
You could also try more abrasive treatments like lasers, cryotherapy, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels.
Sunspots on Black Skin
People with darker skin tones are also at risk of developing sunspots. It’s up to you whether you choose to go with natural, homemade remedies or visit a professional for harsher treatment such as lasers or peels.
Remember, preventing sunspots is much easier than treating them, so make sure you don’t leave the house without a proper SPF, even on cloudy days. Wearing sunscreen is crucial for every skin tone and will help you preserve healthy and youthful skin.
How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation can be very tricky to deal with. However, there are a couple of ingredients that work like magic on discolored skin patches! Here are a few treatment options for dark spots and uneven tones that will brighten your skin effectively.
Vitamins are essential for our health - all of us know that. But did you know that applying certain vitamins like vitamins A, C, and E can speed up the recovery of hyperpigmentation? Use vitamin E and C oils interchangeably on the skin for the best results. When it comes to vitamin A, choosing a good retinol cream does wonders for refreshing and exfoliating the skin.
You could also try skincare products with glutathione to aid melanin production.
Lemon juice is another great option for those that prefer natural treatments to lighten dark patches. Due to the citric acid, lemons brighten your skin and treat hyperpigmentation. Apply a few drops of lemon juice on the area and wash it off after 5-10 minutes. If you have sensitive skin, combine lemon juice with water and apply it.
Turmeric is widely known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. It can work wonders on people who suffer from hyperpigmentation and skin discoloration. While some topical products contain curcumin, you can easily make a quick, DIY mask at home. The only things you’ll need are turmeric and water.
Put one tablespoon of turmeric in a bowl and add water to make a paste. Apply this mixture to your face and let it sit for around 20 minutes. After you’re done, wash your face thoroughly and proceed with your regular skincare routine.
If your skin discoloration is caused by an inflammatory skin condition such as rosacea, and you can see visible blood vessels, you should visit a dermatologist - especially before trying any of these home remedies.
Hyperpigmentation on Dark Skin
For people with darker skin, melanin production increases when their skin suffers a pimple, cut, or irritation as a defense mechanism. This can result in hyperpigmentation and dark spots if not treated properly.
Retinoids, glycolic acids, and hydroquinone are the ingredients you want to look for. These will regenerate your skin and heal hyperpigmentation in no time. Be careful when using them, though, since they can cause side effects like burning, irritation, and redness.
Alternatively, you might have vitiligo. This is where you may have white spots or patches on your skin. It's caused when your melanin cells die, and you are left with a lack of melanin in the skin. There is no cure, but certain treatments can slow down the process.
How to Prevent Hyperpigmentation
As mentioned before, preventing a skin issue is much easier than treating it. To prevent hyperpigmentation, skin care is key. Avoid picking at your skin at all costs. This causes skin discoloration, as it leads to scarring and permanent marks on the area.
Also, ensure you apply sunscreen multiple times a day, even if you live in a colder climate without much sun exposure. This will help you reduce the chances of developing skin discoloration, dry skin patches, and age spots.
Living a healthy lifestyle is also important to improve your immune system and avoid skin disorders. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables so you get your daily recommendations of vitamins and minerals, exercise regularly, and manage your stress levels.
Manuka Honey for Skin Pigmentation
This type of honey moisturizes the skin and speeds up the recovery time of skin discoloration and brown patches. It’s also incredibly effective for revealing your natural skin tone and removing dark spots. The most effective way is to use it as a spot treatment.
Dip one cotton ball into Manuka honey and apply it to places with hyperpigmentation or brown spots. Let it sit for a couple of hours, then wash it off with water. Since manuka honey has moisturizing agents, your skin will be left feeling beautiful and soft.
How To Get Rid of Skin Discoloration with Misumi
You don't have to deal with skin discoloration. Give Misumi's Retinol Intense Repair PM Creme a try. This cutting-edge miracle cream will not only improve skin discoloration and dark patches but also reduce fine lines and wrinkles and boost cell health. Get the healthy skin you deserve. Misumi also offers a range of gentle skin care products designed to get you the glowing skin you've been after.
Conclusion
A couple of factors can contribute to the appearance of discoloration and dark patches, like stress, certain illnesses, environmental pollutants, and previous skin problems. It might take some time to disappear, but it’s totally possible to heal skin discoloration. You just need to be patient and persistent.
When it comes to skin care, it's important you look after yourself. If you're suffering from skin discoloration, we recommend you seek treatment from a dermatologist. Skin symptoms (such as brown patches, spots, frequent redness, and more) may be caused by an underlying health condition or a chronic skin condition.
If you've already been diagnosed and your existing skin condition worsens with any of the remedies above, we recommend speaking to a doctor.
References
Management of hyperpigmentation: Current treatments and emerging therapies
Are Natural Ingredients Effective in the Management of Hyperpigmentation? A Systematic Review
