10 Skin Care Secrets To Undo Uneven Skin Tone
Uneven skin tone, also known as hyperpigmentation, is the result of the body’s overproduction of the pigment, melanin; which gives color to skin and hair. Melanin’s purpose is to protect the skin from the sun’s potentially dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays. When too much melanin is produced, it can lead to the uneven coloration of the skin.
While uneven skin tone is not exactly a medical emergency, it can be unsightly. In severe cases, the skin can be mottled with many patches or dark spots. Uneven skin tone can be embarrassing; particularly since it has a tendency to occur on the face. Women can sometimes camouflage an uneven skin tone with makeup, but that is at best an imperfect skincare solution.
What Causes Uneven Skin Tone?
While uneven skin tone always relates to melanin production; there are many reasons why melanin is overproduced. For instance, overexposure to the sun’s potentially harmful UV rays may cause an immediate tan, but as we age, our youthful tans can set the stage for what is commonly called “age spots.”
Hormonal fluctuations can also take their toll on healthy skin and cause melanin production to surge. This often occurs during pregnancy when some women develop melasma or the “mask of pregnancy,” patchy dark splotches on the face or other areas of the body. And birth control pills may also alter melanin levels. Even an injury to the skin can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). So a burn on the hand may permanently discolor the skin even after the burn heals. This is more common in darker-skinned individuals.
Can You Prevent Uneven Skin Tone?
The best strategy against uneven skin tone is to prevent it in the first place:
- Minimize sun exposure. The Australians have an expression, “Slip, slop, slap.” It means when you’re out in the sun, slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, and slap on a hat.
- Think twice about tanning beds. Avoid the use of tanning beds, which expose you to UV rays.
- Take care of your skin. Do your best to protect your skin from injuries, such as burns or cuts. If you develop a pimple or a sore, do not pick it. That can injure the skin and lead to PIH.
- Practice healthy skin habits. Keep your skin as healthy as you can, which means washing it with a gentle cleanser, eating a healthful diet, and staying hydrated. A lot of skincare is “inside out,” which means we maintain a healthful diet and hydration so it shows up in healthy skin.
How Can You Undo Uneven Skin Tone?
Because it takes many years for the skin to become discolored, it will take some time to even it out. But with a little patience, these 10 skincare tips will help undo uneven skin tone.
Change your ways.
If you are doing things known to cause excess melanin production (taking certain drugs, going out in the sun, tanning in a tanning bed), stop them. If you are unsure about drugs you might be taking, ask your doctor.
Try skin bleaching.
To bleach skin, a cream containing a bleaching agent is applied to dark spots to even out the skin tone. Hydroquinone is a common agent that prevents melanin production and aids exfoliation—but watch out. Long-term use of hydroquinone may cause further discoloration. High doses can be carcinogenic.
Experiment with exfoliation.
Exfoliation can prevent dark spots from becoming darker. There are many products and methods available for exfoliation. Do it regularly, but be gentle. You’re not scraping old paint off the walls! You’re just helping your skin shed its dead cells.
Like exfoliation, this procedure removes the outer layer of skin by blasting it with aluminum oxide microcrystals. Microdermabrasion is not for everyone. It can redden the skin and make it feel sensitive.
Talk to your doctor.
You may want to try a dermatologist-performed skin peel; (this should only be done by a qualified medical professional at his or her office). Peels can remove superficial pigment-packed cells and allow other products to penetrate more deeply into the skin. This can make the skin feel more sensitive, so it is not a solution that works for everyone.
Learn about lasers.
Let there be light.
Intense pulsed-light therapy can help move more darkly pigmented areas of the skin to the surface so that they can be sloughed off. This is a medical procedure that must be performed by a qualified clinician.
Use a 1:1 mixture of organic apple cider vinegar (make sure it is apple cider vinegar) and water as a daily facial toner. This treatment can make you more susceptible to sunburn, so avoid sun exposure without extra sunscreen.
Lemon juice is probably one of the best-known standbys for lightening age spots. Apply fresh lemon juice to darker areas of skin. Just as with vinegar, you should avoid sun exposure or wear extra sunscreen.
Opt for oil.
Frankincense essential oil recommended for overall healthy skin, and some people claim it reduces age spots and discolorations. Test a bit of the oil on the inside of your arm to be sure you are not sensitive to it. Then apply a drop or two to the darkened areas of skin once or twice a day.