Home remedies for skin pigmentation

Shahnaz Husain *

Hyperpigmentation of the skin causes uneven color and dark patches on any part of the body mainly on the face, neck, hands, arms and legs. Excessive or too little production of melanin due to some factors like emotional stress, dietary imbalances, biological conditions burning, excessive, sun exposure, excessive medication is responsible for this condition.

Natural pigmentation of skin disorders is accompanied by several itching. Hyper pigmentation is very disturbing and embarrassing due to dark patches and uneven skin tone but is not a serious medical condition.

Heredity also plays a major role in deciding if you are susceptible to Skin Pigmentation but it can occur to anyone regardless of one’s gender, race or age. Medical treatment for skin pigmentation is a costly affair however there are few home remedies which can get rid of these dark circles and provide you radiant and flawless skin.

Coping with the skin is a daily affair, needing an awareness of its needs and a little knowledge about the kind of treatment it deserves to look its best. Pigmentation occurs during the change in the season. You may find that your skin has become rough and flaky. Or, you may find that your skin has an uneven colour tone and dark patches.

During winter, we love to bask in the sun. This not only causes the skin to become tanned, but exposure to the ultra-violet rays can also lead to dark patches or pigmentation of the skin, because the melanin is transferred in an uneven manner.

The cause may be an internal one, but sun-exposure makes it visible on the face in the form of dark patches. Repeated exposure to the sun causes the patches to become more apparent and persistent.

The first aspect of the treatment is protection from the sun. Actually, as part of the treatment, one should try to avoid sun-exposure as far as possible.

Physical protection is the only answer by applying a sunscreen before going out in the sun. Select a sunscreen with SPF of at least 20. The sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before sun-exposure, to allow it time to be absorbed by the skin. It should be reapplied if you are in the sun for longer than an hour.

The effects of the sun increase near water bodies and snow, as they reflect the sun’s radiation. Therefore, it becomes all the more important to protect the skin and re-apply the sun screen after 20 to 30 minutes. If the skin is dry, it should be kept moisturized at all times.

At night, after cleansing, apply a nourishing cream and massage it on the skin with a few drops of water. This helps to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture.

The use of scrubs and masks also help to remove dead skin cells and their contained pigment. This helps the dark patches to gradually become lighter.

External care, itself, can remove pigmentation permanently, provided protective care is followed afterwards. Even when the pigmented patches disappear, one should continue to use a sunscreen.

In fact, the use of a sunscreen has become an important part of modern cosmetic-care, to protect the skin from problems and premature ageing.

During the change of season, after a harsh winter, a dry skin may become dehydrated, with rough reddish patches. Give the skin some nourishment. As a home remedy, you can try applying a little sesame seed (til) oil and pat the skin with a hot moist towel.

Or, apply a little milk, with a few drops of honey, leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and wash off with water. If you wish to make a cleanser at home, add 5 drops of oil to one tablespoon cold milk. Mix it well. Using cotton wool, use this mixture to wipe the skin. You will find that milk is very soothing to dry skin.

Here are some home remedies for pigmentation (dark patches):

Scrub: Mix 3 tablespoons almond meal (ground almonds) with half cup yogurt (curd). Apply on the face and neck. Rub gently, especially on the dark patches and wash off. It also helps to remove tan. Scrubs should not be applied on dry or sensitive skin.

For dry skin, add half teaspoon til oil to a little milk and apply on the face. Wipe off with moist cotton wool after 15 minutes.

For sunburn: Actually, cold milk applied daily, using cotton wool, not only helps to soothe the skin, but also keeps it soft. It also makes the skin colour lighter over a period of time, if used daily.

For dark patches: Mix together a big pinch of coarse salt with a cream. Apply only on the areas with the dark patches or spots and rub gently. Wash off. Then apply cold milk and wash off after 15 minutes. Do this twice a week.

For dark spots: Add a pinch of turmeric (haldi) to curd and apply daily on the entire face. Wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes.

Mask: Mix 3 teaspoons oatmeal with ripe papaya pulp and one teaspoon curd into a thick paste. Apply and wash off after 20 minutes. This mask suits both dry and oily skins.