Facial skin lightening refers to treatments that even out the skin’s tone and give it a homogeneous and clear look. This is done primarily by reducing and/or eliminating blemishes on the skin that cause dark spots. Facial skin lightening is different from skin whitening since it doesn’t involve any bleaching of the skin.
So where do dark spots come from? They are a result of something called hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation refers to the accumulation of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the brown pigment that produces normal skin color. When the body produces an excess amount of melanin, the deposits form brown patches on the skin. Hyperpigmentation is extremely common and affects individuals of all ethnicities and all ages.
Hyperpigmentation can result from genetics or hormonal changes, but most commonly it is caused by overexposure to the sun’s damaging UV rays and heat. The sun triggers the production of melanin and causes existing pigmentation to darken and it also stimulates the production of new pigmentation. Heat triggers inflammation and the body responds to the heat by increasing the production of melanin. Therefore, it is highly recommended to protect your skin from the sun and avoid staying too long in the heat.
While hyperpigmentation doesn’t pose a medical concern, the patches of melanin cause the skin tone to be uneven. Fortunately, there are many aesthetic facial skin lightening treatments that curb the production of melanin and reduce/eliminate existing melanin deposits. As a result, the skin looks clearer, lighter and more radiant.
How Facial Skin Lightening treatments work:
The skin is composed of different layers. One of the deeper layers of the Epidermis is called the Basal layer. In the Basal layer, skin cells are formed, and some of the cells migrate to form the outer layer of the skin. The Basal layer also contains cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are responsible for transporting melanosomes – cells that contain melanin. The Melanocytes therefore set the skin tone of each individual. Within the melanocyte cell is an enzyme called tyrosinase which is responsible for the production of melanin. When the tyrosinase enzymes create an excessive amount of melanin, hyperpigmentation forms.
In order to limit hyperpigmentation, many facial skin lightening products have been developed which inhibit tyrosinase and stop it from producing excessive quantities of melanin. These products are popular not only among people who want to reduce existing hyperpigmentation but also as a preventative measure to limit future hyperpigmentation.
Effective facial skin lightening treatments reduce/ eliminate unwanted pigmentation such as freckles, age spots, liver spots and Melasma. Melasma spots are large dark patches that are predominately caused by sun damage, but can also be caused by hormonal changes. Skin lightening treatments can also treat dark spots caused by acne (once the acne subsides, dark spots sometimes appear).
Ingredients used for facial skin lightening
Some of the common ingredients used to lighten the skin are:
- Hydroquinone
- Vitamin C
- Kojic Acid
- Arbutin
Hydroquinone is a steroid based medication that has been frequently used to treat skin pigmentation. The advantage of Hydroquinone is that it effectively limits the number of melanocytes in the skin and thus curbs the production of melanin. However, the safety of Hydroquinone has come into question and its use has been banned by the European Community for cosmetic use and the FDA announced in 2006 that it could potentially cause cancer.
Fortunately, there are a myriad of natural solution for facial skin lightening. Primary among them is vitamin C!
Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant which plays a critical role in combatting hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C helps to inhibit the production of the tyrosinase enzyme and therefore prevents the production of melanin. Also, it lightens pigmentation without affecting normal skin.
Kojic Acid is an additional and natural alternative to treat hyperpigmentation. Kojic acid is produced from fermented fungi and it inhibits the over production of melanin in highly pigmented skin. Kojic acid is a widely used ingredient for facial skin lightening.
Arbutin is a completely natural solution that acts like hydroquinone. It inactivates the tyrosinase enzymes and therefore the production of melanin. It has been shown to effectively lighten and brighten the skin tone as well as correct hyperpigmentation such as age spots, melasma and freckles.
The NowMi treatment for facial skin lightening
The NowMi treatment is an effective solution that quickly and safely lightens the skin. Firstly, during treatment the facial skin is exfoliated. The exfoliation gets rid of dead skin cells but also removes darkened skin cells in the outermost layer of the skin. As a result, it lightens hyperpigmentation. Secondly, during the NowMi vitamin C oxygen facial treatment, the skin is infused with 50% concentration of pure vitamin C. As mentioned above, vitamin C curbs the production of melanin and thus the creation of pigmentation and also evens out and lightens the existing skin tone. Vitamin C is also a potent anti-oxidant which helps the skin protect itself from UV rays and thus slows down the appearance of pigmentation.
The NowMi Pro oxygen facial treatment also includes a daily cleansing routine that includes vitamin B3. This vitamin has been showed to prevent the melanin from migrating to the upper layer of the skin.
Conclusion:
Facial skin lightening is a sought-after treatment for individuals with hyperpigmentation. Fortunately, there are many natural treatments that reduce unwanted pigmentation and help individuals gain a clearer and lighter complexion. The NowMi vitamin C oxygen facial treatment is one such alternative. It infuses the skin with highly concentrated vitamin C that curbs the production of pigmentation and clears away unwanted blemishes.