Introduction:
Many technologies and products have been developed for effective facial skin toning. The more aggressive treatments involve light-based technologies such as Lasers and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). A wide variety of chemical peels are also available which even out the skin’s tone and give it a more youthful appearance. The less aggressive solutions include a variety of creams and serums that often contain chemicals that curb the production of pigment in order to give the skin a more homogenous look. For those who prefer a more natural approach, there are endless natural combinations that promise to get rid of unwanted spots and clear the skin.
The NowMi treatment offers an innovative approach to facial skin toning- it infuses the skin with pure vitamin C, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid which enable the body to get rid of dark spots and unwanted pigmentation. The active ingredients also help the skin to protect itself from extrinsic factors such as UV rays which cause pigmentation.
What is an uneven skin tone and what cause it?
An uneven skin tone, known as hyperpigmentation, refers to the irregular darkening of the skin. Hyperpigmentation is caused when the body overproduces melanin – the pigment that is responsible for the color of the skin.
The main reasons hyperpigmentation occurs are:
1. Sun exposure: When the skin is overexposed to the sun’s UV rays, it produces excessive quantities of melanin. The melanin absorbs the UV rays in an attempt to protect the skin. However, the UV rays ultimately damage the skin cells and the exposed areas become darker than the rest of the skin.
2. Post-inflammatory [AC1] hyperpigmentation (PIH): PIH occurs following skin injury or inflammation. If the skin isn’t able to heal properly, skin in the injured area becomes darker. Most commonly flat spots of discoloration appear- they range in color from pink to red, brown or black, depending on the skin tone and the depth of discoloration.
3. Hormonal changes: A hormonal imbalance in the body can trigger the overproduction of melanin. This frequently occurs in woman when they are pregnant or if they take contraceptives. The hormonal charges can also cause a condition called melasma, which results in larger patches on the skin.
4. Aging: Frequently, over the age of 50, the skin produces age spots- dark spots caused by the over production of melanin. In general, with age, the skin becomes less firm and elastic and is less able to maintain an even skin tone.
Treatment of uneven facial skin
Aggressive treatments (lasers, IPL, chemical peels): Lasers and IPL use light to get rid of unwanted pigmentation. The light is absorbed by the pigmented (dark) cells and doesn’t affect the neighboring (light) cells. The light causes the pigmented cells to heat up to temperatures above 42° C causes irreversible cell damage. Following treatment the pigmented cells break down and they are naturally cleared away by the body.
The chemical peels use acids to clear away the layers of the skin. There are three levels of peels: light, medium and deep. The more aggressive the peel, the deeper the skin layer that is targeted. Once the layer is peeled it is replaced by a new and clear layer of skin.
Less aggressive treatments (creams and serums): a variety of products exists to even out skin tone. Many of the products combine retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid to target dark spots (click here for a list of popular products). An important warning note: some creams contain a chemical called Hydroquinone. 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.
Natural remedies: Here is a list of natural home remedies you can use to even out your skin tone- https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/how-to-treat-uneven-skin-tone/#gref
The NowMi treatment: The NowMi treatment uses powerful vitamins to achieve effective facial skin toning. The NowMi treatment includes two parts- weekly skin treatments and daily facial cleansing.
NowMi Weekly treatment for Facial Skin Toning
In the NowMi weekly skin treatment, pure vitamin C is infused into the skin. Vitamin C has two major anti-pigmentary qualities. Firstly, it decreases the formation of melanin. It does so my inhibiting the production of tyrosinase– a copper-containing enzyme responsible for the production of melanin. Secondly, vitamin C curbs the migration of pigmented cells from the deeper levels of the skin to the skin’s surface, thus preventing dark spots from forming.
Vitamin C also protects the skin from harmful damage caused by sun exposure. Excessive exposure to sunlight, especially UV rays, creates free radicals in the skin that damage it and cause premature aging. Vitamin C significantly reduces the impact of these free radicals by donating electrons which neutralize them.
In addition to the vitamin C, during the weekly NowMi treatment, vitamin E is also infused into the skin. Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from UV rays and it also exponentially increases the effectiveness of the vitamin C.
The NowMi weekly also includes skin exfoliation. The exfoliation removes the upper layer of the skin and clears away the cells that contain melanin. It also speeds up the production of new cells.
NowMi Daily Facial Treatment for Facial Skin Toning
During the daily facial cleaning treatment, the skin is infused with Vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide. Vitamin B3 reduces hyperpigmentation by lowering the production of pigment and its transfer into the skin. It is also renowned for its antioxidant qualities which protect the skin from infrared, UV and visible light. Importantly, vitamin B3 also protects the skin from heat, an important factor for those with hormonal related pigmentation since the heat can cause the overproduction of pigment.
Lifestyle changes to improve you facial skin tone
Regardless of which treatment option you choose, here are a few tips that will help you take care of your skin and improve the tone of your skin.
1. Wear sunscreen: UV rays are the #1 cause of unwanted pigmentation and dramatically age the skin. Do your best to wear sunscreen whenever you are out in the sun.
2. Stay hydrated: your skin will look its best when it is well hydrated. Make sure to drink a lot of water and regularly apply moisturizer to your skin.
3. Adopt a healthy diet: certain foods can trigger an uneven complexion. For example, foods that have a high sugar content speed up age spots and wrinkles. Also, alcohol causes the blood vessels to dilate and leads to a flushed face. In general it is not recommended to eat highly processed foods or spicy foods.