Skincare Routine, Skin Whitening, Anti-aging & Wrinkles Remedies

Our skin color depends on our genetics and exposure to the sun’s UV rays mostly. The skin’s color comes from a pigment known as “Melanin” which is produced by specialized cells called “Melanocytes”. Melanocytes are found in the basal layer of the skin’s epidermis. Melanin is produced by a process called “Melanogenesis”. Darker-skinned individuals possess more melanin compared to lighter-skinned people. Melanin has a protective feature against the sun’s ultraviolet rays as well.

Mainly, genetics are responsible for providing your skin, hair, and eyes their color. The more melanin, the darker the color. However, skin color can be quite uneven, from person to person. Your soles and palms are lighter compared to other parts of your body. Such variation is noticed in a single part of the body as well, such as the face. Some parts of an individual’s face may be hyperpigmented while others may be lighter.

Hyperpigmentation could be due to excessive sun exposure or as a result of an underlying pigmentation disorder. Mild hyperpigmentation can be ignored and poses no trouble for people but if there are uneven hyperpigmented areas on a person’s body, especially on the face or hands, people tend to become quite conscious of themselves.

Age Spots and Skin Hyperpigmentation Causes

There are various causes of hyperpigmentation. These include:

• Genetic Predisposition
• Ageing / Age Spots
• Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays
• Hormonal Imbalance
• Skin Allergies
• Use of unsuitable and frequent beauty products/creams/ointments, etc.
• Skin injuries
• Lack in Vitamin B12
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
• Use of certain drugs such as ACTH analogs, progestogens, estrogens, psoralens, busulfan, arsenic, anti-depressants, etc.
• Underlying medical conditions – melasma, lichen planus, pellagra, Addison’s disease, etc.
• Certain skin tumors – Acanthosis Nigricans, melanoma, etc.

Treatment:

The first and foremost step is to consult a dermatologist regarding any unusual patch of hyperpigmentation you may come across. The majority of the skin pigmentation you develop is harmless and goes away quite easily, either on its own or with the help of an ointment prescribed by the doctor. However, there is always a minute chance of it being something more serious. Hence, it is advised to consult a dermatologist, just to be on the safe side.

Read Also: Blackheads & Whiteheads Causes, Symptoms and Treatment with Home Remedies

Your dermatologist may give you topical creams to apply to your hyperpigmentation lesion, which may contain ingredients like retinoids, corticosteroids, Vitamin-C, Azelaic Acid, Hydroquinone, etc. If you require extensive treatments that require cosmetic procedures, you will be given options like:

• Laser Therapy
• Dermabrasion
• Microdermabrasion
• Chemical Peels
• IPL Therapy

Some home remedies are commonly used to treat hyperpigmentation at home. These include:

Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is a powerful herbal agent available quite easily. It contains Aloesin, which is known to lighten hyperpigmentation by inhibiting melanin production.

Green Tea Extracts: Green tea extracts have been found to be useful in lightening hyperpigmented spots due to its innumerable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Licorice: Licorice extracts are also found useful for lightening dark skin spots due to a compound called Glabridin, which is also a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

PREVENTION:

Hyperpigmentation can be prevented by protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. You can do this by investing in a strong sunblock with a good SPF. Apply it daily for maximum benefits. Another way to prevent hyperpigmentation is by avoiding picking at acne, pimples, scars or any marks on your skin as this can aggravate them and fester infection. Precious skin such as your face is more sensitive, so it is best to avoid touching it frequently.

Blackheads and whiteheads are naturally occurring phenomena of the skin. They are collectively known as “Comedones” which means a clogged pore or hair follicle on the skin. Comedones are classified into two types- Blackheads, which are open or Whiteheads which are covered by skin. The color black refers to the clogged material oxidizing.

Causes:

Normally, the skin is composed of sebaceous glands which secrete sebum. Sebum, along with bacteria, dead cells, dirt, etc., can clog the skin’s pores very easily. The buildup over time leads to the formation of blackheads and whiteheads. Every person develops them, and they are nothing to be ashamed of. As a matter of fact, they can be easily extracted or cleaned out, leaving your skin feeling fresh and new. The most commonly affected areas include the nose, the T-zone of the face, neck, back and even shoulders.

A complication of comedones is seen quite often, called Pimples or Acne, which occurs mostly with adolescents and adults, especially women. This is due to an infection or inflammation of the comedones, leading to the formation of pus, which worsens the clogged pores. These pus-filled inflammatory bumps are known as pimples, or in more severe and extensive cases, Acne.

Natural Home Remedy to Get Rid of Blackheads & Whiteheads

Blackheads & Whiteheads Treatment:

To clean and unclog pores, there are some wonderful home remedies, which will leave you feeling beautiful. These include:

Lemon and Honey Scrub: Making this is super easy. Take a lemon, slice it into two halves. Add a teaspoon of honey to the cut-open side of one lemon half, add 2 to 3 pinches of sugar and your magical scrub is ready. Rub this gently all over your comedones and other dull spots and you will notice a considerable difference right after the first try. You can do this as often as up to twice a week.

Clay Mask: All you need is bentonite clay and water. Mix the two up in approximate proportions to make a thick, creamy paste. Apply it all over your face for 20 minutes. This was clean out your pores thoroughly. Rinse it with water, pat dry and moisturize as per your skin type. This mask can be used around once or twice a week for best results.

Activated Charcoal Mask: This is one of the most effective remedies. Take two capsules of activated charcoal, take out the powder in a bowl. Add half a tablespoon of bentonite clay and enough water to make a creamy paste of medium consistency. Apply it on your face and clean it off after it dries and stiffens on your face. Use once to twice a week.

See Also: Age Spots and Skin Hyperpigmentation Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Egg Mask: Take 2 eggs and separate the yolks from the whites. Take the egg whites and apply it to affected areas. Take a piece of toilet tissue and separate its two leaves. Apply one on top of the egged skin. Apply another layer of egg white, followed by tissue paper. Layer it 4 to 5 times. Let the tissues dry and slowly pull it off your skin. You will visibly see your blackheads come out of the tissue mask.

Aspirin Mask: Aspirin (Salicylic Acid) has impressive anti-inflammatory properties and an aspirin mask reduces the inflammation around blackheads. It also removes the dead cells and blackheads. Two to three aspirin tablets should be dissolved in lukewarm water, followed by a few drops of an essential oil or lemon juice, depending on your skin type. Apply this mask for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

Final Thoughts:

Skin care and diet are crucial factors in controlling acne and preventing the formation of comedones. Make sure to regularly wash your face, cleanse and exfoliate as well. Never miss out on the moisturizer. Eat a healthy, balanced diet with less oily and fatty foods. Drink plenty of water to keep your skin well hydrated. If you take ample care of yourself, you will be successful in preventing pimples, acne or even comedones from forming.

As you age, your body undergoes multiple natural processes which cause changes in every part. Similarly, over the progression of years, your skin tends to age as well and is subject to change as well. The most common problems which arise are the development of fine lines or wrinkles, and age spots or solar lentigines. Both are affected and enhanced by environmental exposure and can occur early if not prevented on time.

Wrinkles occur due to loosening of the skin’s elastic fibers or collagen fibers. This happens due to the repeated tugging of the skin, damaged by excessive sun exposure, smoking, dehydration, excessive alcohol use, and many other causes. The skin’s elasticity decreases, making it stiffer and weaker. UV light breaks down the collagen in the skin, which can easily be prevented by taking adequate care.

Age spots are mostly darkly pigmented, flat marks on the skin and occur mostly on exposed skin surfaces, such as the face, neck, arms, back of hands, legs, feet, etc. They form due to excessive exposure to UV rays which accelerates the production of melanin by overactive melanocytes. Other factors include the use of tanning beds and lamps. These could also be prevented easily.

PREVENTION

Both wrinkling and development of age spots can be delayed or prevented by regularly taking care of your skin. A few ways to do so include:

• A healthy, balanced diet composed of colorful fruits and vegetables, which provide abundant vitamins and minerals required to strengthen and repair skin.
• Quit smoking as it speeds up the process of aging.
• Limit the use of alcohol in your diet.
• Drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices to replenish your body.
• Drink adequate water every day to keep your normal bodily processes functioning smoothly.
• Use a 30+ SPF sunscreen daily and re-apply every few hours in case sun exposure is prolonged.
• Cover up using proper clothing to prevent sun exposure.
• Use high-quality skin care products such as anti-aging skin creams, serums to prevent early aging effects.
• Get adequate beauty sleep daily.

TREATMENT:

If you have already developed wrinkles, there are ways to reduce them and prevent further wrinkling:

• Use of broad-spectrum sunscreen regularly with a preferable SPF of 30 or more
• Use of anti-aging skin products now easily available everywhere according to your skin type; it includes a daily day moisturizer, eye cream, facial serums, masks to tighten skin, cleansers, facial oils and night cream.
• Use of prescribed Vitamin A retinoids – helps in the regeneration of the skin’s fibers.
• Oral anti-oxidants and supplements which will nourish the skin
• Microdermabrasion or Dermabrasion to promote new growth of skin cells
• Chemical peels
• Laser Therapy
• Botox treatment injections every three months or so

To treat age spots, there are multiple ways available:

• Use of broad-spectrum sunscreen regularly with a preferable SPF of 30 or more
• Use of retinoid creams like Tretinoin. Visit your doctor before starting such strong medications
• Prescription bleaching creams such as Hydroquinone
• Laser and Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)
• Freezing or cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen
• Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion
• Chemical peels

Conclusion:

As aging is a natural process, you can not stop it. What you really can do is prevent it from occurring. If you are in your early adult years, you should start to take care of your skin from right now onwards. If you already have developed wrinkles and age spots, it is best first to treat them followed by thorough care of your skin from this point onwards to prevent them from reoccurring. With the progress of science, more and more anti-aging tools are now available for relevant age groups. Prevention is no doubt, the best cure.