The skin is the first-line defense of the body against infection and diseases, so it is a priority to keep it in top health. Skin pigmentation problems are caused when the skin cells are damaged or become unhealthy, affecting melanin production.
While some issues only affect specific skin patches, more severe pigmentation concerns can affect your whole body. Pigmentation may result from different problems, but no matter what the cause for yours may be, it is natural to want to correct skin discolorations.
Depending on your exact case and issue, you can find a skin pigmentation treatment that will work best for your skin type and condition. Proper treatment must begin with understanding the cause of your pigmentation. Once you figure this out, you can then try out some of these common treatments.
Apple Cider Vinegar
If you are interested in trying a skin pigmentation treatment at home with natural ingredients, this remedy will work for mild problems:
- Mix equal amounts of water and apple cider vinegar in a bowl or container.
- Apply the mixture to the areas with skin pigmentation and leave on for three to five minutes.
- Rinse your skin using lukewarm water.
- Repeat the treatment twice a day until you achieve your desired results.
Lightening Creams
If you want an over-the-counter type of skin pigmentation treatment, you can try looking for lightening creams in drug stores, beauty stores, and supermarkets. There are several lightening creams with stronger ingredients available for purchase with your physician’s prescription.
The treatment is typically applied twice a day, and you should see the lightening of the skin within several days. Some topical treatments are available in a gel form and are available over-the-counter and in prescription forms.
Over-the-counter products are more accessible and affordable, but they can take longer to affect prescription treatments. If you have patches of discoloration, you may try lightening cream products for your skin pigmentation. The lightening creams will work best for flat spots such as age spots or melasma.
Some products can help fade old acne scars while preventing future scars from acne. If you have oily skin, there are lightening creams that can reduce skin pigmentation and redness in one product.
For your safety, only purchase lightening creams from trusted retailers and manufacturers. When checking the list of ingredients, avoid using lightening creams with mercury to avoid adverse side effects.
Face Acids
The word “acid” may seem intimidating, but when you use the right amount for your skin type, it can improve skin pigmentation issues. Using face acids as a skin pigmentation treatment works by exfoliating the top layer of skin to replace old skin cells with new ones.
This treatment can help make your skin smoother, and your skin tone becomes more even. If you have sensitive skin, you must first perform a patch test before trying any face acids. The skin patch test will check if there are substances that may cause you allergic reactions.
As long as there are no negative reactions from the patch test, you can try using the face acid a few times a week, then gradually incorporate the products into your usual daily skincare regimen.
Conversely, if you want an over-the-counter type of treatment, you can find several face acids in drug stores, beauty stores, and supermarkets. You can find many face acids with stronger ingredients available for purchase with your physician’s prescription.
If your skin tone is fair and you have mild skin pigmentation, using face acids will work best for you. When purchasing face acids, remember to only purchase from trusted retailers and manufacturers.
You should check that the acid content is not higher than 10% to avoid over-peeling your skin. If your skin pigmentation is severe, you can seek professionals who perform acid treatments in a dermatological clinic.
Dermabrasion
You can also treat your skin pigmentation with dermabrasion, which involves the exfoliation of your skin using handheld devices in a clinic. The dermabrasion tools used in the treatment decrease skin pigmentation by gently scraping the top layers of the skin to unveil new smooth layers underneath.
If you want fast and visible results, you can try dermabrasion. The treatment will work best for individuals with fairer skin, but it may also work with people with medium skin tones. Within eight to ten weeks, you should see the lightening of your skin pigmentation.
With your dermatologist’s help, you can identify the cause of your skin pigmentation and decide on the best treatment plan to lighten your skin effectively. Whether you choose over-the-counter treatments or proceed with a treatment at a clinic, resolving your issues and concerns with the right skin pigmentation treatment will keep your skin healthy and smooth.
