Skin whitening cream.
Skin lightening is a term used to describe treatments or processes that lighten a person’s skin. Often, skin lightening creams and techniques are used to lighten dark spots on a person’s face. Dark spots can develop due to acne, sun exposure, skin injuries, or medical conditions. Some people, however, seek to lighten their entire skin to appear lighter. For cosmetic reasons, others try to lighten the naturally darker skin in the genital area.
Side effects of treatment may include skin irritation, including redness or itching.
Melanin is a substance produced by the body that gives color or pigment to the skin. People with darker skin have more melanin than people with lighter skin. Sometimes the body produces too much melanin, which leads to uneven skin tone. For example, age spots occur when sun exposure leads to excessive melanin production, causing dark spots to form on the skin. This effect is often called hyperpigmentation.
Some people visit dermatologists for chemical peels to lighten their skin.
Usually, people resort to special skin lightening creams. These creams, available over the counter and over the counter, decrease the production of melanin in the skin. Over a period of months, they help dark spots fade. Prescription skin lightening agents are generally stronger than over-the-counter creams. They can lighten faster and produce more pronounced results.
A dermatologist can advise patients on how to choose the best whitening cream.
While there are many types of creams created to lighten the skin, many of them include hydroquinone, a lightening agent. These creams work in two ways. They prevent part of the production of melanin in the area and deteriorate the melanin already present in the skin. Most people use these creams without side effects, but others notice skin irritation when using them. For example, some people notice redness and itching of the skin.
Products containing hydroquinone can help lighten and fade age spots by breaking down melanin in the skin.
Instead of using creams, some people go to dermatologists for procedures to help remove dark spots. For example, chemical peels involve the use of an acidic substance to remove the top layer of skin. This removes the patches of hyperpigmentation along with the outer skin cells. Laser resurfacing is another treatment that works in a similar way. For this treatment, the dermatologist uses a laser beam to destroy a person’s epidermis, which is the top layer of skin.
Sun exposure can be the cause of dark spots on the skin that a person may want to lighten.
Some people are looking to lighten all of their skin in a given area, rather than just getting rid of dark spots that make skin look uneven. They may do this because they feel that lighter skin is more attractive. To achieve this, some apply lightening creams to the face, rubbing it all over the face instead of applying it to the spot. Others try chemical peels and laser treatments, with variable results.