Hyperpigmentation is the name known for patches of skin that become darker than surrounding areas of skin. Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition. All skin types’ people are affected by it.
Hyperpigmentation causes
The cause of hyperpigmentation depends on the type. The most common causes of hyperpigmentation are:
Sun exposure
Our body produces more melanin to protect the skin from protracted exposure to the sun. This can cause dark spots or patches on the skin called age spots or sun spots.
Skin irritation
Areas of skin can darken after people have had irritation of the skin. This can include acne, eczema, lupus, or an injury to the skin. People with darker skin are more possibly to develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Melasma
Darker patches of skin can also form when individual experience hormonal changes. During pregnancy this type of hyperpigmentation is common.
Reactions to drug use
Certain medications, such as ant malarial drugs and tricycle antidepressants drugs, may sometime cause hyperpigmentation. In that case, skin patches may become gray.
Aloe Vera & Hyperpigmentation
Aloe vera has lots of benefits and uses for skin, from helping to heal wounds to moisturizing.
Aloe vera is not just good for inflammation and rashes and dry skin but also for hyperpigmentation. It is a therapy for it all. If anyone have small black spots on their skin then it is due to extreme amounts of melanin.
According to a 2012 study, a natural depigmenting compound called aloin in aloe vera may lighten skin and work as a nontoxic hyperpigmentation treatment.
If so, you have hyperpigmentation, a common skin condition that’s generally not harmful. Hyperpigmentation can happen when extra pigment — called melanin — place in your skin.
There’s a small amount of scientific facts that applying aloe vera to your skin may help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmented areas, though it won’t completely get rid of these darker spots.
People can also try the some of the following home remedies to lighten dark patches of skin and remove hyperpigmentation:
Home remedies for hyperpigmentation
To lighten areas of hyperpigmentation using natural remedies it may also be possible. However, there are no studies is found to confirm that any of these remedies are so effective.
If any one wishes to try a natural remedy, they should always try the mask on a small patch of skin first and stop using it if it irritates the skin.
Aloe Vera Masks for Hyperpigmentation
1. Aloe vera rose water toner for hyperpigmentation
Vitamin C present in rose water may help lighten pigmentation.
This toner can prevent pigmentation form extreme UV rays.
Preparation
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon rose water
How to
- Combine aloe vera gel and rose water in a smal bowl.
- Apply on face at night and early morning wash face with fresh water.
2. Aloe vera and seaweed mask
Aloe vera is known as one of the best remedy for sun burn as it heals sun burn on the skin. It restarts new cells on the skin. The new cells have effect on scars, dark spot and dark circles lighten away the pigmentation color.
Preparation
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon seaweed
How to
- Mix aloe vera gel seaweed and honey in a small bowl.
- Apply the mixture your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm.
3. Aloe vera, honey and rose water mask
Honey in this mask helps in renewing and moisturizing damaged and dead skin.
Preparation
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon rose water
Method
- Mix aloe vera rose water and honey in a bowl.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
4. Aloe vera, turmeric and honey mask for hyperpigmentation
Turmeric is an effective and quite powerful remedy to treat hyperpigmentation. Curcumin in it is an anti-inflammatory agent and potent antioxidant, which helps in reducing age spots and blemishes.
Preparation
- aloe vera gel
- honey
- turmeric powder
Method
- In a bowl, mix 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel, 1 teaspoon honey and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and make a paste of it.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes
- Wash off with lukewarm water
- Repeat the process for 2-3 weeks for good result.
5. Aloe vera with lemon
Vitamin C in lemon can help neutralize free radicals and prevent damage to skin. Lemons are antiseptic, which prevents infection, acne and skin irritation. High citric acid present in lemon can slough off dead skin cells, encourage cell turnover and support healthy new skin growth. Over time, adding lemons in DIY skin care routine can even out skin tone and lighten the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
Preparation
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Method
- Combine 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel and 1 teaspoon lemon juice in a small bowl.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes
- Wash it off with lukewarm water
- Repeat the process until you get good result.
6. Aloe vera with tomato and orange lentil
Tomato bleaches and whitening the skin and orange lentil clear excess oil in skin.
Preparation
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon tomato juice
- 1 teaspoon paste of orange lentil
Method
- Mix aloe vera gel, tomato juice and orange lentil in a small bowl and make a paste of it.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
- Repeat the process until you get a better result.
7. Aloe vera and cucumber mask
Aloe vera hydrates the skin and cucumber has bleaching properties whiten the skin.
Preparation
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon cucumber juice
Method
- In a small bowl, combine aloe vera gel and cucumber juice.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
- Repeat the process until you get a better result.
8. Aloe vera, yogurt and oatmeal mask
Lactic acid in yogurt helps in shedding the dead cells and diminish the pigmentation spots from the skin.
Oatmeal acts as effective natural exfoliating agent.
Preparation
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon yogurt
- 1 teaspoon oatmeal
Method
- Place aloe vera gel, yogurt and oatmeal in a bowl.
- Mix them to make a paste of it.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes
- Wash off with lukewarm water
- Repeat the process until you get a better result.
9. Aloe vera, and shea butter mask
Preparation
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon shea butter
Method
- Combine shea butter and aloe vera in a small bowl and make a paste of it.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes
- Wash off with lukewarm water
- Repeat the process until you get a better result.
10. Aloe vera with milk
According to some studies, lactic acid in milk, buttermilk, and even sour milk may effectively lighten skin discoloration.
Preparation
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1/2 cup of milk
Method
- Mix aloe vera and milk.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes
- Wash off with lukewarm water
- Repeat the process until you get a better result.
11. Aloe vera and honey face mask
Preparation
- 1 honey
- 1 aloe vera gel
Method
- Blend 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon honey in a bowl.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
- Repeat the process until you get a better result.
12. Papaya and aloe vera mask for hyperpigmentation
Papaya has superb exfoliating properties. It helps in remove the dead skin cells and promotes the growth of new cells by curing hyperpigmentation.
Preparation
- 2 tablespoon mash papaya
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
- 4-5 tablespoon milk
Method
- Mix mash papaya, milk and aloe vera gel in a bowl and make a smooth paste.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash off with cold water.
- Repeat the process until you get a better result.
13. Aloe vera with vitamin E
Aloe vera hydrates the skin and the vitamin E makes the skin more brighten and soft.
Preparation
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
- ½ teaspoon vitamin E
Method
- Simply mix aloe vera and vitamin E.
- Apply the mixture on your affected skin.
- Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash off with cold water.
- Repeat the process until you get a better result
Tips to Reduce Hyperpigmentation at Home
Apart from the above batural home remedies, you may try and reduce hyperpigmentation by the following methods:
- Avoid for long time exposing yourself to the UV rays of the sun. When you go out, apply a sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF and re-apply it every 3 hours.
- Before going to bed at night, make sure you clean your face from all the makeup and dirt. Then apply a night cream.
- You should drink at least 10-12 glasses of water daily to get rid of toxins from the body and avoiding too oily food if you want to have a mark free skin.
- Eat green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, which are rich in vitamin A. This is important to keep good skin health.
- Moisturizing the skin is very essential and should be done as a daily routine.