Even Skin Complexion - Pigmentation Control

Skin Whitening

WITHOUT being too philosophical about it, as a friend once said, "beauty is subjective," referring to the fact that we live in a diverse world, with different values -what is beautiful to me might not be to you.

Regardless of our reasons or preferences, we can use cosmetics to change our appearance as we desire - hair dying, curling, straightening, skin tanning, skin whitening, etc.

Talking about skin whitening, there are effective treatments that help to minimize the appearance of uneven skin pigmentation that affects most people, regardless of ethnic background, skin color or age. Skin may either appear lighter or darker than normal; there may be blotchy, uneven areas, patches of brown discoloration, or freckling.

Skin pigmentation disorders occur because the body produces either too much or too little melanin. Melanin is the pigment triggered by the enzyme tyrosinase, and creates the color of a person's skin, eyes, and hair shade. Most skin-lightening treatments, which can reduce or block some amount of melanin production, act by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase.

Many treatments use a combination of topical lotions or gels containing melanin-inhibiting ingredients along with a sunscreen, an exfoliating agent, and sometimes even laser treatment. Our options range from a group of active ingredients that are known to be effective, but present some toxicity, and others that are safe, without being as effective.

Skin Whitening agents

Hydroquinone: it's a very effective, popular whitening active ingredient that should be used with caution due to its toxicity. The treatment can be combined with a corticosteroid to decrease local irritation. The cosmetic concentration is up to 2%; above this concentration, the product is available from a physician or by prescription.

Azelaic acid: 15% to 20% concentrations with a decreased risk of irritation when compared to hydroquinone.

Kojic Acid: form a chelation with copper ions, which affect the activity of the enzyme tyrosinase preventing the formation of melanin. It's not very popular due to its stability.

Vitamin C: some research shows the vitamin to be an effective agent for inhibiting melanin production.

Peelings and laser: used for complementary action; these treatments will not be discussed in this posting.

Sunscreen with Anti-UVA and Anti-UVB: the most typical cause of darkened areas of skin, brown spots, or areas of discoloration is unprotected sun exposure. Refer to previous sunscreen posting for products. Always check for professional advice for your particular case - get to know your options.

We live in a big and diverse world, and should take advantage of the easy interaction available these days - browse the internet, learn a different language, another dance, read different authors, and...

Vive la Différence!

Vanessa

Helpful link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_whitening#Uses