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Ways to Prevent Skin Pigmentation Disorders

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Ways to Prevent Skin Pigmentation Disorders

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Human skin color is due to melanin present in the skin, a brown color pigment inside melanocytes. Read the article below.

Written by

Dr. Rabia Anjum

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Sneha Kannan

Published At March 14, 2019
Reviewed AtFebruary 16, 2023

What Is Skin?

Skin is the largest sense organ of the body; it plays an important role in the integumentary system. The skin consists of different types of sweat and oil glands and hair follicles. It is composed of different layers named – dermis, epidermis, and hypodermis, which help the body protect from exposure to sunlight, bacteria, chemicals, and other external factors.

What Is Skin Pigmentation?

Human skin color is due to melanin present in the skin, a brown color pigment inside melanocytes. Different races have different amounts of pigment in them. Apart from melanin, other substances like carotene and hemoglobin also impart color to the skin.

Melanin pigment is of two types – eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin is a brown or black-colored pigment that protects the skin from ultraviolet rays (UV rays). These UV rays penetrate into the skin, bond with the reactive oxygen radicals that damage the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and can lead to serious health complications like cancers. Pheomelanin is a red and yellow-colored pigment that also protects from ultraviolet rays but supports reactive oxygen radicals' activities.

What Is Skin Pigmentation Disorder?

Skin pigmentation disorder is a health condition caused by damage to the melanin pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. It depends on the excessive or decreased production of melanin; it may affect small spots or entire body pigmentation. There are different skin pigmentation disorders; some are birthmarks present on the body since birth, which may not cause any problem, but if they get exposed to external factors, it may lead to serious complications. Hypopigmentation skin disorder refers to the less or defective production of melanin causing albinism, vitiligo, pityriasis alba. Hyperpigmentation skin disorders are caused by excessive or uneven melanin production, causing melasma, freckles, solar light, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

How to Prevent Skin Pigmentation by Using Home Remedies?

Skincare is important for the prevention of skin pigmentation and related disorders. There are several home remedies for skin care and protection.

  • Olive oil - The application of olive oil blocks the damage caused by sunlight and boosts the skin.

  • Apple cider vinegar - The application of apple cider vinegar to the skin helps to reduce sunburn and dark spots.

  • Aloe vera - Aloe vera has natural depigmentation properties because of the presence of vitamins, enzymes, sugar, minerals, amino acids, lignin, and salicylic acid, which helps to reduce depigment spots.

  • Red onion - Application of cream extract on red onion helps lighten the skin's dark spots.

  • Green tea extract - Application of green tea extract after boiling it was found beneficial to some extent.

  • Turmeric paste - Turmeric has natural medicational values, which help to lighten the skin.

  • Milk - Apply raw milk to the skin to prevent dark spots and moisturize the skin.

  • Tomato paste - Tomato is rich in vitamin C and citric acid.

  • Use of natural exfoliate.

How to Prevent Skin Pigmentation With Proper Diet and Lifestyle?

Skin is the body's largest part, requiring care and nourishment. Eating healthy plays a vital role in preventing skin pigmentations; several superfoods are filled with all the nutritional values required for healthy skin. A healthy lifestyle with good food habits will increase the quality of the skin.

  • Fatty fish - Fish is really good for healthy skin because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, which prevents skin pigmentation.

  • Seed and nuts - Eating seeds and nuts bring a great value in nutritional supply to the body and skin, as they are loaded with vitamins, proteins, and minerals.

  • Avocados - Avocados help as an antioxidant for the skin that protects the skin from harsh sunlight damage.

  • Citrus fruits - Citrus fruits are loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C, which are very important for healthy skin.

  • Sweet potatoes and carrots - They have antioxidant properties with provitamin A, vitamin C, and carotene, which prevent skin damage.

  • Drinking water - Skin is a sensitive organ, and it is essential to keep it hydrated by drinking enough water.

How to Improve the Skin Tone?

For improving skin tone, the most important thing is protection from sunlight. Some tips to protect yourself from the sun and enhance skin tone are as follows:

  • Appropriate clothing to protect from sunlight is essential, especially for those who are sensitive to the sun and get sunburn easily. Properly woven clothes with broad-brimmed hats are very important for this purpose.

  • A good sunscreen with SPF 60 should be applied evenly and frequently, 30 minutes before going out. Physical sunscreens like zinc oxide give more protection than chemical sunscreen.

  • Vitamin C preparation has antioxidant properties. It scavenges free radicals in our skin and helps to improve skin tone.

  • For other pigmentation problems like melasma, bleaching agents, or skin lightening agents like Hydroquinone can be used, but it can also have side effects on the skin. A combination of Hydroquinone with Hydrocortisone and Retinol is better in lightening the skin tone.

  • Glycolic acid and other natural beta hydroxy acids can also improve skin tone.

  • Lasers like Q-switched lasers are used for pigmentary disorders like melasma, freckles, and lentigines.

  • Chemical peeling is done to improve the skin condition; it is a cosmetic procedure that involves the application of a chemical over the affected area, then the damaged skin gets peeled off, self-regulating the formation of a new skin layer.

  • Microdermabrasion is an invasive procedure performed to remove dark spots, acne, and hypopigmentation.

When to Consult a Dermatologist?

A dermatologist is a specialist doctor of skin and hair. Problems related to the skin should not be ignored as a small problem can lead to serious complications. Skin pigmentation is not just a skin condition; diffuse pigmentation in the body can also occur due to underlying disease and systemic causes like liver disorder, kidney disorder, malignancies, drugs, and endocrine problems. Other causes include,

  • Prolonged acne.

  • Severe hypopigmentation.

  • Burns.

  • Injury.

  • Gradually increasing moles or birthmarks.

  • Allergic reactions.

Conclusion:

It is very important to protect the skin from harmful rays or chemicals which can lead to permanent damage. As it is said, precaution is better than cure, it is essential for an individual to understand their skin type and take proper preventive measures and lead a happy and healthy life.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

What Is the Treatment For Skin Pigmentation?

Options for hyperpigmentation therapy include the use of face acids, the application of retinoids, the use of peeling agents, laser peeling, and the use of whitening lotion. Other treatment options, such as intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment, microdermabrasion, and dermabrasion, also give good results.

2.

How to Reduce Pigmentation Naturally?

Home remedies for pigmentation are useful. Mixing water and apple cider vinegar in equivalence can be applied. Apply to dark areas, then wait two to three minutes before washing off. Next, use warm water to rinse. Repeat this process twice every day until you get the desired results.

3.

What Is the Cause for Hyperpigmentation?

Patches of hyperpigmentation are most commonly caused by sun damage, which may significantly reduce by using SPF and avoiding direct sunlight. In addition, using products with components like retinol or niacinamide can help cure darker skin pigmentation.

4.

What Food Can Help in Reducing Pigmentation?

Dark-green vegetable consumption in meals gives good results. Apart from that, citrus fruits, tomatoes, salmon, almonds, and yogurt are also good. Eating an antioxidant rich diet can help in reducing pigmentation.

5.

How to Reduce Melanin in the Body?

Melanocytes are cells found in normal skin. Melanin is the pigment that is produced by these cells and gives skin its color. Hyperpigmented skin is described as having an excess amount of melanin. Hypopigmented skin is described as having insufficient melanin. During the sun's peak hour, staying inside, away from sunlight, can reduce melanin production in the skin. Wear safety gear, including caps, long sleeves, and sunglasses.

6.

Can Aloe Vera Help in Removing Pigmentation?

Aloe vera contains aloin, a naturally occurring depigmenting substance that has been shown to lighten skin and function well as a nontoxic hyperpigmentation therapy. Apply pure aloe vera gel to pigmented regions before going to bed. Rinse the following morning with warm water.

7.

What Is the Fastest Way to Treat Pigmentation?

The safest way includes using chemical exfoliants for the skin that can remove dead cells. Microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing using intense pulsed light (IPL). Nowadays, cryotherapy also gives good results.

8.

What Are the Causative Factors of Hyperpigmentation?

Sun exposure and inflammation are the two main risk factors for generalized hyperpigmentation since both conditions can enhance melanin production. There is a risk of developing more pigmentation increases with increased sun exposure.

9.

Can Pigmentation Be Treated?

Contrary to popular belief, freckles, melasma, and dark spots rarely disappear. In reality, in 90 % of cases, therapy is required to eradicate pigmentations from the face completely.

10.

How Hyperpigmentation Look Like?

Spots or patches of hyperpigmentation may be brown, black, gray, red, or pink. The spots are also known as liver spots, age spots, and sunspots. The spots might appear all over the body or just in one location.

11.

How to Stop Pigmentation from Spreading?

Avoid being in the sun. Try to avoid the sun between 10 am to 2 pm when it is at its strongest. It is also advised to wear a hat or a cap with a wide brim to protect your face and scalp. Make vitamin C a part of your cosmetic regimen. Apply sunscreen and avoid frequent touch to the skin.

12.

Can Turmeric Help in Removing Pigmentation?

Turmeric evens skin tone, and its extract may help lessen the visibility of acne scars. In addition, turmeric can lessen hyperpigmentation, also known as dark spots on the skin. Turmeric extract reduced hyper-pigmentation by up to 10 % to 15 % after four weeks.

13.

How Much Time It Takes for Pigmentation to Fade Away?

Fading might take time once the root of the dark spots or patches is identified and stopped. Usually, a spot a couple of shades darker than your normal skin tone will go away in 12 months. But it may take years for the color to fade if it is deeply ingrained in your skin.

14.

Is Vaseline Effective For Pigmentation?

Vaseline does not eliminate dark marks, so the answer is no. Vaseline does not include any ingredients that would erase black stains; it is simply petroleum jelly that locks in moisture.
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Dr. Rabia Anjum
Dr. Rabia Anjum

Dermatology

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