Fighting pigment spots at home

Skin pigmentation - causes.

To understand how to whiten pigment spots on the face, you need to understand the mechanism of their appearance - not all pigmentation can be eliminated, and not all remedies, especially folk remedies, act on the true causes of pigmentation. For example, if any component does not affect the production of melanin, then can we talk about the effective elimination of pigmentation? Correction of age spots using external means involves an integrated approach, which consists of the following effects – reduction of melanin synthesis + exfoliation + protection from UV rays.

Most often, a pigment spot is formed by a local and excessive accumulation of melanin pigment, which is found in our skin with the primary task of protecting against solar radiation.

Skin color is mainly determined by the concentration of melanin. But besides this, this palette also includes other pigments.

• Melanin is the determining pigment for skin color, and is also a close object of study by dermatologists and cosmetologists.
• Melanoid is a pigment with a relatively high concentration on the soles and palms.
• Carotene - gives a yellow tint to the skin, is present in people of any race, the content is higher in women than in men.
• Restored hemoglobin - appears where the venous network is expressed / For the face, this is the eyelid area.
• Oxidized hemoglobin - gives a red tint to the skin, most pronounced in Native Americans.

Melanin is produced by specialized skin cells - melanocytes, as a protective reaction to exposure to ultraviolet rays. The sunnier and brighter it is, the more melanin is produced. The illustration below shows in a simplified way how solar activity causes an increase in the number of melanin granules in the skin.

Tanning is melanin granules distributed in the epidermis and coloring it dark. But solar activity is not the only reason for the appearance of age spots.

It is very frivolous to believe that melanin determines only the color of the skin, hair, and eyes. The true purpose of this pigment is protection from many external factors.

Functions of melanin.

• Protects against viruses, including tumor-causing (oncogenic) agents.
• Protects against radiation: solar and radioactive, as well as radionuclides.
• Neutralizes free radicals.
• Improves the functioning of the immune system.

Briefly about melanin and pigmentation.

Melanin determines skin color and tanning ability. The more melanin a person's skin contains, the more its color resembles that of an African American. Fair-skinned Europeans have less melanin than indigenous Africans. The same applies to different areas of the skin. In those areas where there is more melanin, the skin is darker.

Pigmentation is caused by a higher concentration of melanin at the location of the spot compared to other areas of the skin. Melanocyte cells are evenly distributed throughout human skin, but their activity in producing melanin can sometimes be different in different areas. For example, the sun warmed up after winter, and people prone to freckles appeared, because the sun was bright and melanocytes worked with different intensity in different areas.

Pigment formations are classified and each has its own name - melasma, lentigo, chloasma, vitiligo, etc. Only a specialist can make a correct diagnosis, and he must determine the possibility of eliminating pigmentation. Either through cosmetic procedures, or using external means, including cosmetics.

Why do you need to consult a cosmetologist? Yes, if only because some sources on the Internet allow the elimination of freckles with cosmetics, while another part is of the opposite opinion.

Solar activity is not the only reason for the activation of malanocytes and the production of melanin.

The most common causes of pigmentation.

A relevant question is how post-traumatic pigmentation appears in the absence of active exposure to the sun. The fact is that melanocytes are very capricious and can increase melanin synthesis in response to any aggression. To put it simply, the mechanism of pigmentation formation, in addition to exposure to ultraviolet radiation, can be represented as follows.

Under the influence of various negative factors, the production of hormones involved in melanogenesis is disrupted, which causes skin pigmentation without exposure to sunlight.

Other popular folk remedies

The arsenal of folk remedies against age spots is not limited to masks alone. At home, you can prepare lotions, peelings, and decoctions with a similar effect.

Parsley

Parsley not only lightens age spots. It tightens the skin of the face, restores its tone, helps get rid of redness, swelling, and small expression wrinkles.

Parsley, chopped in a blender, can be used without additional ingredients. The resulting paste is simply applied to problem areas and washed off with water after 15–20 minutes.

Parsley is superior to many vegetables and fruits in its content of vitamins and microelements.

The simplest masks:

• A tablespoon of ground herbs, three - thick sour cream, 2-3 pinches of potato starch. Keep for 12–15 minutes.
• Chopped greens are ground with approximately an equal volume of cottage cheese, diluted with kefir or whey to the consistency of liquid sour cream. Apply for 20–30 minutes.
• A tablespoon of greens and a teaspoon of liquid honey. Action time: 8–10 minutes.
• Two tablespoons of greens, egg white whipped into a strong foam, a pinch of fine sea salt. Apply to face, lightly massaging. Use no more than twice a week.

Alcohol lotion gives a good effect. Three tablespoons of chopped herbs are poured into 500 ml of vodka and shaken. The mixture is infused for two weeks in a cool, dark place. Before use, strain the lotion.

You can freeze the green juice, infusion or decoction of parsley leaves and roots and wipe your face with the resulting ice cubes several times a day. Juice gives the best effect, but to obtain any noticeable volume, you will have to grow greens on an almost industrial scale. To prepare the infusion, the raw materials are poured with boiling water in a ratio of 1:5, the container is tightly closed, and the decoction is boiled for 15 minutes. If you don’t have fresh parsley, dried herbs, roots or seeds are quite suitable for preparing a decoction.

Ice cubes from parsley decoction not only brighten the skin of the face, but also have a tonic effect on it.

Video: whitening properties of parsley

Cucumber

A cucumber is more than 90% water. It will help not only whiten the skin, but also restore its firmness and elasticity. Homemade cucumber cosmetics are also useful for oily skin - these products tighten pores, reduce the activity of sebaceous glands, and help get rid of shine, pimples and blackheads.

The easiest way is to regularly wipe your face with cucumber juice or apply slices to problem areas. After this, it is recommended not to wash your face for as long as possible.

Many in childhood probably saw how mothers and grandmothers put cucumber circles on their faces

Cucumber lotion gives the fastest effect. But it is not suitable for dry, thin and sensitive skin. Five small fruits, without peeling, are grated on a coarse grater and poured with a glass of medical alcohol. Leave for 10 days and squeeze through several layers of gauze before use.

Homemade cucumber lotion is made with alcohol; this product is very irritating and dries out sensitive skin.

For masks, it is recommended to pre-cool cucumbers:

• Chopped pulp of a medium peeled vegetable, a teaspoon of honey. Keep for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water, apply any nourishing cream.
• A tablespoon of oatmeal flour, one grated cucumber, whipped egg whites into a strong foam. Apply spotwise for 10–15 minutes.
• Dilute the parsley pulp with freshly squeezed cucumber juice until a creamy mass is obtained. Keep on face for 20–30 minutes.

Hot cucumber compresses additionally have a pronounced rejuvenating effect. But this procedure is contraindicated for any inflammation or mechanical damage to the face. Keep the compress on dry skin for no more than 15 minutes, on any other skin - half an hour. Water (100 ml) is heated to 40–45ºС, the juice of one cucumber and a teaspoon of glycerin are added. Soak a cloth with the resulting liquid and apply it to the face.

Video: cucumbers against age spots

Tar soap

Tar soap has a pronounced antiseptic effect and dries the skin well. When a course of procedures is carried out for 3–5 weeks, it begins to peel off, mainly cells from the superficial layers with hyperpigmentation die off. Laundry soap gives a similar result, but it will take more time. Contraindications: very dry, hypersensitive skin, any stage of pregnancy.

Tar soap causes intense peeling of the skin

The soap is rubbed on a fine grater and applied to problem areas. From above, the skin area is covered with gauze or a cotton pad folded in 2-3 layers, the entire structure is fixed with a plaster. You can remove the “bandage” after 2–3 hours. The procedure is carried out in the morning and evening. Then be sure to apply a nourishing cream so as not to provoke the premature appearance of wrinkles.

Apple vinegar

Only a natural product will benefit your skin. If you cannot prepare it yourself, carefully study the composition. There should be no preservatives, dyes, flavors and so on. Apple cider vinegar is essentially an analogue of a salon chemical peel. It dissolves the surface layers of the skin, and these are the cells with excess melanin. Contraindications - any damage to the skin of the face, acne, multiple pimples, herpes, the presence of any neoplasms of unknown etiology.

For home cosmetic procedures, choose only natural apple cider vinegar.

For peeling, 6% apple cider vinegar is diluted with water in a ratio of 2:1 for oily skin and 4:1 for normal skin. You need to get 200 ml of solution. 5-7 buds of cloves are added to it. The container is placed in a cool, dark place for 5 days, the liquid is shaken daily. Store the finished product in the refrigerator with a tightly closed lid. Moisten a cloth with the solution, press it tightly to the face, and repeat the procedure after 15 minutes. Then you need to wash your face with warm water and lightly massage your face with a wet terry towel. The duration of the course is no more than 10 procedures with an interval of 5 days (for oily skin) and 10–12 days (for normal skin).

You should not increase the concentration of apple cider vinegar in the peeling solution or carry out procedures more often, hoping for a more noticeable and faster effect, it is still an acid

Gommage is more gentle. A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar will require the same amount of liquid honey and a teaspoon of the finest sea salt. The mixture is kept on the skin for 2-3 minutes, then “rolled” off the face. After the procedure, you need to wash your face and apply regular cream.

The tonic is suitable for daily use. Apple cider vinegar is mixed with still mineral water, strong green tea or chamomile infusion in a ratio of 1:10, 1:5 or 1:1, respectively, for dry, normal and oily skin. Its effect is cumulative, you will have to be patient. Once every 2-3 days, you can wipe your face with a mixture of apple cider vinegar with lemon, onion, potato, and cucumber juice.

Video: apple cider vinegar against facial skin pigmentation

Hydrogen peroxide

In air, hydrogen peroxide oxidizes, releasing oxygen. Its molecules cannot exist in a free state, necessarily combining with something. When applied to the face, it is mainly pigments and sebum particles that “suffer”, which are literally “pushed” to the surface.

The maximum safe concentration of hydrogen peroxide is 3%. To avoid mistakes, it is better to purchase it at a pharmacy. Apply the product pointwise, using a cotton swab or disk, every 3-4 days. The duration of the course is no more than a month. Then a twice as long break is required. After the procedure, you cannot go outside for 6 hours.

Pharmacy hydrogen peroxide eliminates the risk of making a mistake with the concentration of the solution

Masks with peroxide are less aggressive, but you will have to wait longer for the effect:

• Grind a tablespoon of cottage cheese with thick sour cream, add 10 drops of peroxide. Keep on face for 20 minutes.
• Heat a tablespoon of burdock, sea buckthorn or castor oil, add 5 drops of wine or apple cider vinegar, peroxide. Apply pointwise and leave for 7-10 minutes.
• Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in 70 ml of water and add 3 ml of peroxide. Use as lotions. Keep for 10–15 minutes.
• A tablespoon of rice flour, a teaspoon of alcohol tincture or regular calendula infusion, 10 drops of peroxide. Apply the paste pointwise and hold for 10–15 minutes.
• A tablespoon of peroxide, a teaspoon of baby soap shavings, 4-5 drops of salicylic alcohol. For dry skin, add a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Keep on face for 5-7 minutes.
• Grind the pulp of half an avocado, add 5 ml of peroxide and a tablespoon of starch. Apply spotwise for 20–25 minutes.
• Pour cold green or chamomile tea over the grain bread crumb, let stand, squeeze a little. Add a teaspoon of sour cream and 10 drops of peroxide. Validity period: 15–20 minutes.

It is better to make masks with hydrogen peroxide at night - after the procedure you should not go outside for a long time

Video: how to get rid of age spots using hydrogen peroxide

Herbs

Plants (fresh or dry) are used at home to prepare decoctions, infusions and lotions. You will have to wait quite a long time for the result, but there is no risk of burning or otherwise damaging the skin. To combat pigmentation, the following are suitable:

• licorice;
• elecampane;
• yarrow;
• bearberry;
• birch leaves;
• pharmaceutical camomile;
• calendula;
• poppy;
• geranium;
• Linden blossom;
• lily petals;
• mint;
• sage;
• elderberry leaves;
• dandelion;
• fig leaves;
• arnica;
• comfrey.

Chamomile is a very common plant; you can prepare the raw materials yourself

Lotion Recipes:

• Chop two teaspoons of elecampane leaves and roots and add a glass of cold water. After an hour, bring to a boil, strain. Wipe your face 2-3 times a day.
• Pour hot water over fresh lily petals (about a handful) and boil for 15 minutes. Let it brew under a closed lid for 4-5 hours, strain.
• Pour boiling water over poppy petals and let steep for an hour. Strain before use.
• Pour three tablespoons of dandelion leaves and flowers into 0.5 liters of water and boil for 20 minutes.

Tinctures are used for lotions. Cotton pads moistened with liquid are applied to age spots for about an hour, not allowing them to dry:

• Juice of two lemons, mint infusion (two handfuls of dry leaves per 0.5 liters of boiling water). The product is suitable for both whitening and soothing the skin.
• A tablespoon of dried elderberry inflorescences, 300 ml of hot water. Leave for 12 hours. Strain, dilute with water in a 1:1 ratio.
• A tablespoon of yarrow leaves, 600 ml of water. Boil until its volume is reduced by half. Strain before use.

Lemon and mint tincture brightens and soothes skin

Available herbs, crushed into a paste, can be used as a mask. About 30 g of the mixture is poured with two tablespoons of boiling water, and a teaspoon of any vegetable oil is added. The mask is cooled and applied to the face for 20–25 minutes, covering it with a warm towel.

What else can you use?

Any foods high in vitamin C can be used as raw materials for masks. They will also become a very useful addition to the diet. These are, for example, citrus fruits, kiwi, black and red currants, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, wild garlic, bell peppers, onions, carrots, turnips. Grapefruit, pomegranate, and strawberry juice have the property of lightening the skin.

Black currants are superior to lemons in vitamin C content

You can add 2-3 drops of lemon, lavender, tea tree, vanilla, and mint essential oil to a regular store-bought cream. It is applied to the skin only when solar activity is minimal. The duration of the course is 20 days, then a break for 1.5–2 months.

An alternative to salon peeling is a mixture of chopped nuts with oatmeal in equal proportions and about half the volume of dry milk or powdered cream. Mineral water is added to it, bringing it to the consistency of sour cream. The product is applied to the skin using a sponge with light massage movements, washed off after 5 minutes. To enhance the effect, you can add grated pulp of a small green apple.

A procedure similar to salon almond peeling can be performed at home.

Correction of age spots – what works and what doesn’t.

Pigment spots caused by pigmentation can be corrected.

Let us briefly describe pigmentation that is not included in this list.

Pigment spots during pregnancy disappear a few months after birth. But, if there is no desire to wait, then pigmentation can be classified as removable and appropriate means can be applied to it.

Freckles will appear every spring, so is it worth spending time and energy on removing them? In this case, it makes sense to pay more attention to sun protection.

With deep pigmentation, you can correct the stain with the help of cosmetics, but most likely it will not be possible to completely eliminate it. By correction we mean:

• contrast reduction,
• reduction in size,
• By using lightening cosmetics you can prevent the appearance of new spots.

Understanding what pigmentation is and what causes it, it is quite possible to prevent the appearance of age spots. It is necessary to use sunscreen cosmetics, take timely measures to treat inflammation on the face, and provide the skin with proper care, both according to its type and anti-aging.

You can read more about sun protection and photoaging in the articles.

What is SPF in cosmetics - a short but informative guide to choosing the right cream.

Photoaging is not only pigmentation; skin aging from this effect can appear much earlier than wrinkles from chronoaging. For more information about how not to age prematurely, read – Photoaging of the face.

The cause of pigmentation may be post-acne in problem skin. About caring for problem skin - Remedies for acne on the face - stages of treatment, recommendations.

How to choose the right cosmetics for facial skin depending on its type and age can be read in the article, Facial care cosmetics - we use it at home.

Understanding the mechanism of occurrence, as well as the complex of effects aimed at eliminating age spots

reduction of melanin synthesis (whitening effect of cosmetics) + peelings, exfoliation (lightening effect of cosmetics) + protection from UV rays

Let's move on to recommendations and consideration of specific cosmetics.

Occurs after sunbathing

As a result of active exposure of the skin to sunlight, white spots may appear on its surface. They can form both as a result of natural tanning and after visiting a solarium.

The main reasons for their appearance are:

• Sunburn;
• Fungal infections;
• Effect of drugs;
• Skin reaction to ultraviolet radiation after cosmetic procedures;
• Pregnancy;
• Pressure on the skin.

The method of treating white spots due to tanning depends on the causes of their occurrence.

If they appear, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe the appropriate course of medications.

If discolored areas appear on the body after sunbathing due to a fungus, then antifungal drugs, ointments and creams are prescribed.

If white spots form on the body after a sunburn, you need to speed up the process of restoring the skin with the help of aloe and seaweed extract.

Damaged areas of the skin can be treated with vitamin A and E. Until the depigmentation disappears, the skin must be protected from ultraviolet radiation.

Include carrots in your daily diet. It contains a significant amount of carotenoids, which take an active part in the formation of skin color.

To avoid this situation, you need to remember the following precautions:

• Stay in the open sun for no more than 30 minutes;
• Use high-quality sunscreen;
• Drinking fluids before going to the beach;
• Proper nutrition;
• Skin moisturizing.

Recommendations for eliminating age spots.

Before you begin the fight for white skin, you need to understand the following.

At home, care is carried out in three directions.

• We eliminate the impact of the main negative factor – solar radiation.
• We remove the top layers of skin (peelings) at the site of pigment spots.
• We block the synthesis of melanin and its transport to the epidermis.

The following cosmetic products and procedures correspond to these effects.

Cream with SPF. It is necessary to eliminate the main factor determining the appearance of pigmentation - exposure to sunlight. To do this, we use a cream with a sun protection factor - this is a prerequisite for correcting age spots, otherwise all efforts may be in vain.

Exfoliation. Acid or enzyme peels. Typically, fruit acids are used as the main assets.

Using cosmetics containing whitening components that reduce melanin production and its transport. These components include:

• Vitamin C and its derivatives, more details - Liposomal vitamin C in cosmetics.
• Arbutin is isolated from bearberry and blackberry. Well enhances the effect of other whitening components.
• Extracts: lemon, mulberry, bearberry, blackberry, cucumber.
• Kojic acid, the effectiveness of its use, is determined by its exfoliating and whitening effects.
• Azelaic acid.
• Peptides are unique components that interact directly with cells, working both on skin problems (from acne to age spots) and anti-aging care. Read more, Peptides in cosmetics - how to negotiate with cells.

Depending on the degree of pigmentation and the depth of the pigment, the line of defense may look like this.

USING SUNSCREEN + EXFOLIATING.

in more severe cases

USING SUNSCREEN + EXFOLIATING + REDUCING MELANIN SYNTHESIS.

You can read about exfoliation (peelings) in the article.

What is peeling?

We know what needs to be done to eliminate or correct a pigment spot, we know what components to use for this, all that remains is to understand what skin care cosmetics to use. But first we need to decide whether we will bleach or lighten the pigmentation.

How to treat these spots

The course of treatment for white spots is prescribed by the doctor individually, taking into account the causes of the disease and associated factors.

Complex treatment consists of:

• Drug treatment;
• Use of ointments and creams for skin care;
• Radiation therapy;
• Proper nutrition;
• Compliance with personal hygiene rules;
• Skin grafts;
• Bleaching.

Radical methods include photochemotherapy (PUVA). This is the activation of melanin production under the influence of ultraviolet rays, while simultaneously taking medications that increase skin sensitivity. To achieve results you need to take 3-4 courses.

To get rid of white spots on the skin faster, laser therapy is used.

The laser only affects damaged areas with a higher power of UV rays. The method can cure neoplasms and spots that have existed for several years.

In cases where traditional treatment methods are ineffective, healthy epidermis is transplanted to damaged areas.

The patient is prescribed a course of vitamins and medications that strengthen the immune system and stimulate the formation of pigment cells.

Whitening is carried out if the skin tone is predominantly light. To do this, chemicals are used that destroy melanocytes. As a result, the skin acquires an even shade throughout the body.

Whiten or lighten? What's the difference?

Depigmenting cosmetics can be whitening or brightening. These two words are not synonymous; they differ not only in sound and spelling, but also in meaning.

Whitening cosmetics work at the stage of pigmentation formation. It acts on the synthesis of melanin and its transport to the epidermis. Lightening cosmetics correct an already formed pigment spot.

Obviously, depigmentation treatment will be most effective when it uses both of these effects. Read more about the features of the choice - Whitening cream for age spots on the face.

Reviews about the procedures

Previously, I suffered greatly from this; I had a lot of age spots on my cheeks, chin, and cheekbones. At first I wanted to do dermabrasion, since neither oatmeal, nor clay, nor anything else helped. But I decided to use a folk remedy called badyaga. It is diluted with hydrogen peroxide and applied to the face. After a couple of days, the skin tightens, begins to peel off, and the entire top layer with spots is removed. I used it for six days, even deep marks (dimples) disappeared!!! Only, of course, you have to stay at home for a week. There were no allergies or recurrent acne, although my skin is very sensitive.

Thoughtful

https://www.woman.ru/beauty/medley2/thread/3855077/

Regular serum - wipe your face five times every day. Whitens perfectly. I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve heard a recipe: grated cucumber + thick kefir - all this on the face for about twenty minutes. Proportions by eye, very praised.

Allie

https://www.woman.ru/beauty/medley2/thread/3855077/

It’s good to smear your face with cottage cheese, which is sold in the form of a paste (low-fat, like sausage, in packages like this). Apply a thick layer and leave for about an hour until it dries.

Pipa

https://www.woman.ru/beauty/medley2/thread/3855077/

I know one good recipe. Crush 10 tablets of acetylsalicylic acid for one glass of alcohol or vodka, mix everything and smear with this solution twice a day.

Vika

https://www.woman.ru/beauty/medley2/thread/3855077/

Dilute one part badyagi, two parts baby powder (preferably domestic) and hydrogen peroxide to a mushy mass. Apply 2-3 times a week in autumn and winter. When the sun begins to shine, in no case - the spots on the affected skin will appear even more.

Natalia

https://www.woman.ru/beauty/medley2/thread/3855077/

About castor oil - this is the honest truth, you also need to lubricate your hands with it so that there is no “buckwheat” on the skin, this is also pigmentation.

Zoya

https://www.woman.ru/beauty/medley2/thread/3855077/

I also broke out after giving birth. 2% salicylic alcohol bought at a pharmacy helped once and for all. Moisten a cotton swab and wipe away age spots. It is necessary after the bath for the body to be clean. It helped me once, the next day nothing happened, and it didn’t appear again.

Anonymous

https://www.u-mama.ru/forum/women/fashion/405826/

Lemon juice is a good whitener. You can also look at Korean cosmetics, they have a lot of products aimed at whitening the skin.

Maria1300

https://forum.sibmama.ru/viewtopic.php?t=814023&start=15

Castor oil removes age spots; it should be rubbed into the stain twice a day. This is the cheapest and safest method, but it takes a long time; it will take 2–6 months for the stain to disappear.

Steisi

https://forum.sibmama.ru/viewtopic.php?t=814023&start=15

I know a folk recipe - a water infusion of parsley leaves. Wipe your face frequently or make ice cubes out of it and wipe your face too. And also - wipe your face with cabbage brine. True, after it the skin may sting slightly.

Astra/olga/

https://forum.say7.info/topic14737.html

Over the weekend, I was visiting a friend who had a pigment spot on her face for more than one year. I was surprised where it went. I thought that they took me out in the salon. It turned out that she was told to smear this spot with earwax. Believe it or not, the stain is gone. The one who advised also removed his stains. What is the mystery, what kind of substance is in sulfur, I don’t know. I can’t explain this phenomenon, but there is no stain.

1601Gabi

https://forum.say7.info/topic14737.html

Pigment spots don't just appear. Skin is an “indicator” of the condition of the whole organism. Therefore, there is no need to strive to get rid of them as quickly as possible at any cost. First you need to establish the cause. Based on this, treatment is selected. Folk remedies in this case are quite competitive. When used correctly, they are safe for health, readily available, cheap and easy to use.

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