6 best beauty treatments to reduce pigmentation and get clear skin

If you want to lighten your skin tone and reduce pigmentation, laser whitening can give you the fastest results. Here are other beauty treatments for skin whitening.

By: Dr Jaishree Sharad | | Updated: May 13, 2016 9:56 am

For some reason, in most parts of Asia, there is a desire to have a fairer complexion among most people. I wonder if it is the grass greener on the other side scenario because most Caucasians love their tan. Our markets are flooded with skin whitening creams and there are happy buyers too. Skin whitening treatments not only lighten skin colour but also help in cases of particular pigmentation problems and thus help get an even skin tone. They can help lighten a tan, fade scars, and eliminate dark patches on the skin. A variety of skin lightening treatments is available that can help you get that enviable glow and lessen dark spot. If you want to go all natural, try these packs to reduce pigmentation. Also Read - 6 miraculous home remedies to lighten dark underarms

Also Read - Tips to remove tanning from elbows and knees easily at home

1. Oral skin whitening agents In addition to external skin lightening creams, the oral pills are also gaining popularity. Systemic skin whitening agents which are available in the market include: Also Read - Four natural ways to reduce hyperpigmentation from skin

Glutathione (GSH): It is the most commonly used systemic skin whitening agent. It lightens the whole body from inside. It can be used alone or in various combinations. GSH for skin whitening is available in both tablet and injectable form. When taken in an oral form it takes about three months for skin lightening. When given by intravenous or intramuscular method, the results can be seen as early as 2-3 weeks.

L-cysteine peptide: L-cysteine peptide is another agent which promotes skin whitening and is believed to be more potent than GSH. It is a naturally occurring plant compound that acts as potent antioxidants. They protect cells against free radicals, reactive atoms that contribute to tissue damage in the body.

Alpha lipoic acid: This is a super antioxidant that regulates oil production, firms skin, increases glutathione produced naturally by the body and thus lightens the skin. Alpha lipoic acid is also found in most skin lightening creams.

Miscellaneous agents: Large doses of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, epidermal growth factor and combinations of multiple natural extracts like natural collagen extracts, bearberry extract, glycyrrhiza glabrate extract, lycopene, kelp, olive leaf extract, hawthorn, starch, coix seed, pearl extract aids skin whitening in the form of food or dietary supplements. If you are using a topical skin-lightening cream, be wary of these skin-lightening products.

2. Chemical peels Chemical peeling using fruit acids or other peeling agents is one of a preferable skin whitening treatments. It helps to jump start the turnover of the dead, discoloured skin layers to achieve a brighter more even skin tone, free of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. There are several types of chemical peels, ranging from mild to strong alphahydroxy acids to trichloroacetic acid and formula strength is tailored to each patient.

3. Microdermabrasion This procedure works by gentle abrasion to remove the top layer of the skin with the use of a crystal or diamond tipped instrument and thus helps to lighten the blemishes and gives a skin a more even tone. It is one of the least invasive procedures on the market today and very safe even in people with dark skin. To achieve effective skin lightening using microdermabrasion multiple sessions are required. Mircrodermabrasion also helps to get rid of tanning.

4. Laser whitening Laser skin whitening shows the fastest results out of all the treatments present in the market. They function by emitting high-intensity energy sources which get absorbed by melanin that is responsible for the skin colour. Due to absorption the dark parts of the skin cells that cause high melanin get destroyed. The laser skin whitening treatment requires four sittings at a gap of 6 weeks to get rid of the undesired skin pigments. Q-switched Nd: Yag laser (1064 nm) is the laser of choice for skin lightening treatment.

5. Mesoporation Mesoporation is a novel process, allowing the painless delivery of medically active compounds into targeted areas through the skin. For skin lightening a specially prepared mixture of vitamins, amino acids and brightening ingredients like liquorice arbutin are introduced into deep skin using an electroporation device. This procedure is very safe and does not have any downtime.

6. Microneedling with glutathione It is a new and very effective treatment for skin lightening. With the help of a derma roller, microchannels are created in the surface after which glutathione solution is applied. This leads to significant improvement in skin colour. In addition to that, it also decreases the dark spots and gives an even skin tone.

Important tip— Your face is very delicate. So ensure that you seek the advice of a qualified professional if you want to lighten your skin and get rid of the pigmentations. Image source: Getty Images

Published : May 12, 2016 12:58 pm | Updated:May 13, 2016 9:56 am