Dealing with skin impurities can be worrisome. You will be conscious of how you look and what people can see. It could lead to low self-esteem when it is not properly hidden by makeup and clothes. This is why you try to do anything to remove spots and every impurity on the body. For dark skin, removing spots is not any different from other skin types.
Though some dark skins can camouflage spots on the face, they are still visible. And the thing about spots is that they can appear anywhere on the body. They are discolorations caused by the skin breaking out due to closed pores, forming white or blackheads. Other causes of discoloration include scars, hyperpigmentation, sun exposure, and inflammation.
It might be tasking to cover spots on the faces, especially if the skin is tough and hard to heal. But there are natural methods to remove spots on dark skin, and they cost little to nothing. They are ready materials in a household. The list includes edible foods, so you are treating your spots with organic products.
9 Remedies to Remove Spots on Dark Skin
When it comes to spots, you really do not know what to expect. But knowing the type of skin you have will go a long way in treating your spots. For instance, oily skin and combination skin types are acne and breakout-prone, so they are more likely to have spots. Knowing your skin type will make you proactive in treating your spots.
Even if your skin type is different and your face is riddled with spots, you can remove the spots on your skin with these helpful home remedies. According to Lisa Stirling M.D, these home remedies will help lighten skin imperfections caused by hyperpigmentation.
1. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a known remedy for skin imperfections. It has exfoliating properties and Vitamin C, which helps to lighten the skin. To apply, cut a slice of lemon and gently massage on the affected areas. Leave the juice on for 10 minutes before rinsing off with water. Do this steadily morning and evening.
You can dilute the lemon with water if you have sensitive skin. This reduces the irritation of the skin. Use this solution, and over time you will notice the changes in your dark skin.
2. Papaya
Papayas have a natural chemical called alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). You can use papaya to cleanse your skin with its sticky paste. The fruit works by weakening the lipids that bond the dead cells with the pores, which makes them come off easily when washed away.
Also, papaya works well in breaking down the skin cells. Also, it improves collagen production and the elasticity of the skin. You can wear the papaya paste as a face mask. And then rub in circular motions around your affected areas to penetrate the skin layers. Finally, rinse off with water.
3. Apple Cider
Apply cider vinegar can be used for exfoliation. They are just like lemon juice, with lightening properties. Due to the harsh acid in them, it’s best to mix the vinegar with an equal amount of water. Then you use a cotton pad to apply on spots and pigmented areas. Leave it on your face for about 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with water.
You can switch the water for orange juice or lemon, but the ratio of the orange juice to apple cider is 3:1 tablespoon.
4. Buttermilk
Not only is buttermilk a refreshing drink, but it can also remove spots on dark skin. All you have to do is apply this milk on a cotton pad, massage the milk into your skin with the pad. Leave the buttermilk for as long as 20 minutes before rinsing off with water. For oily skins, mix the buttermilk with lemon juice to clear the pores and remove bacteria.
5. Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel is a well-known remedy for removing spots on skins in general. It has moisturizing and soothing properties, with the gel mucilage made up of 99.5 % water. Aloe vera is great for clearing spots caused by scars and hyperpigmentation. And it is mild on the face when applied. It works effectively when you apply the gel for 30 minutes before rinsing off with water.
You can leave the gel on overnight because it is a great mild moisturizer. It won’t irritate the skin. To seal the moisture of the aloe vera, apply a toner or moisturizer after rinsing off.
6. Yogurt
You can get radiant skin with yogurt, according to dermatologist Lisa Sterling. Yogurt has an active ingredient called lactic acid that exfoliates and brightens the skin. It’s a ready product in a dairy home. AHAs like lactic acid help improve the discoloration and age spots on the skin. The acid is also gentle to the skin more than some chemical exfoliants.
Yogurt helps to moisturize the skin and soothes the redness of the skin. Also, it helps with the pH imbalances in the skin. You can apply yogurt on your face with honey or oatmeal. These will enhance the antibacterial treatment of your skin’s complexion.
7. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are enriched with lycopene. This protects the skin from damage by the sun’s UV rays. There are two ways in which tomatoes can help clear spots. The first is by ingestion. You can make healthy and organic tomato paste with olive oil. This is systemic protection from the sun’s damages.
Another way is to apply the paste topically on your skin. Let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water.
8. Turmeric
Turmeric is a wonder root plant that can do many things. It is a natural exfoliant and skin-lightening plant. It has many benefits on skincare and is guaranteed to work for any skin impurity. Turmeric has an active ingredient called curcumin which helps with hyperpigmentation.
The turmeric powder can be mixed with water or honey to make a thick paste. You can use it as a face mask. You can enhance its efficacy by adding lemon juice. This treatment can be harsh for sensitive skins. So make sure to patch test the paste on another part of your skin, like your underarm. Wait for at least 24 hours and if you have no reactions, proceed to wear it on your face.
9. Sandalwood
Sandalwood is also a natural exfoliant. The grounded powder has lightening properties to clear discolorations and smoothen the face. For preparation, mix a teaspoon and sandalwood powder with orange zest and juice. Mix it till it becomes a thick paste. Use it as a face mask, spreading evenly on your face but concentrating on the spotted areas.
Leave the paste on your face for about 20 minutes before rinsing with room-temperature water. You can do this routine two to three times a week till you see a positive change.
Spots on Dark Skin FAQs
What causes spots on dark skin?
There are several causes of spots on the skin. The first is sun exposure. The UV rays darken the skin, causing hyperpigmentation (over secretion of melanin to protect the skin). UV rays lead to fast aging of the skin causing aging spots to appear on the affected areas of the skin.
Also, we are quite familiar with acne spots, which are caused by the skin stretching outwards due to the overproduction of sebum, clogging skin pores. Spots occur when the acne dries up, causing the affected area to darken.
Scars are also a cause of dark spots. When the skin experience injuries, blackheads, or post-inflammation effects, they turn to scars. Other causes of spots are pregnancy and hormonal changes which affect the level of our hormones and also the production of melanin in the skin.
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How do I prevent spots on my dark skin?
The best defense is an offense. To avoid removing spots on your dark skin, you have to protect them beforehand. The first thing you must do is protect your skin with the best sunscreen. Using sunscreen every day before you go out protects your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun. The film will act as a shield to your skin. And once your skin is protected, spots will be reduced.
As mentioned before, knowing what your skin type is will help inform you on how to protect your skin. Oily and combination skins easily break out. This is why you need to constantly exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells and bacteria building in the pores. Exfoliation is for all skin types but oily and combination need to do be more cautious of their skin.
Sensitive skins get inflamed easily. These inflammations could turn to spots, which is why sensitive skin should use mild products that would not harm their skin. And for scars, use a scar removing treatment so that they wouldn’t turn to a dark spot on the skin.
Conclusion
Spots are self-esteeming botching discolorations. They are caused by several things, including acne and breakouts. Also, spots appear when the skin overproduces melanin which is called hyperpigmentation. Due to the spots being on the sensitive face, we have to effectively remove them with easy methods.
There are several ways to remove spots from dark skin. But home remedies are the most organic way. They are slow treatments that have long-lasting results on the skin. Also, these remedies exfoliate the skin, keeping it smooth and soft. You don’t have to spend too much on them because they are readily available in your kitchen.
You will be getting a lot out of the home remedies to remove spots on dark skin because they are safe and edible. Also, concocting mixtures in your kitchen is a great pass-time routine you should try.
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