People often turn to skin whitening methods to get a fairer, more even skin tone. Most of the time, these methods are effective in dealing with freckles, scars, moles, acne, birthmarks, age spots, and other dark patches in the skin. This may be why skin brightening is appealing to those with darker skin tones and discoloration.
Despite this, keeping your skin healthy should be your topmost priority. In this article, you will learn how skin whitening works and what you need to do to maximize the results of skin brightening procedures while minimizing their potential side effects.
Table of Contents
Understanding Skin Whitening
When you undergo skin whitening, you intentionally reduce the amount of melanin in your skin. Melanin is the substance responsible for skin pigmentation. The higher melanin levels are, the darker the skin is.
This naturally occurring substance is produced by a specific type of cells called melanocytes. The capability of melanocytes to produce melanin is affected by several factors, including a person’s genes, exposure to UV rays, and contact with chemicals. Skin brightening products work by disrupting the tyrosinase enzyme that aids in melanin production.
10 Dos and Don’ts of Skin Whitening
After understanding how skin whitening treatments work, it is time for you to know what you must and mustn’t do when undergoing procedures to achieve fairer skin.
Below is a list of ten dos and don’ts you should remember:
Do:
Protect your skin against the sun.
In almost any skincare advice out there, you’ll find that protecting your skin against the harsh rays of the sun takes the top spot.
Sun protection becomes even more crucial when you undergo procedures and home treatments to achieve a brighter skin complexion. This is because, when melanin levels are reduced, you are more at risk of skin damage caused by UV rays. Plus, some ingredients in skin brightening products tend to make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.
On top of that, melanin production is triggered when the skin is exposed to sunlight. This means that all your skin whitening efforts would be moot if you walk under the sun anyway.
For these reasons, be sure to pack a good sunscreen wherever you go. Apply it to your neck, hands, arms, face, and all other parts of the body that will potentially be exposed to the sun. Even better, try to avoid walking under direct sunlight as much as you can.
Read skin whitening product labels.
“Knowledge is power.” Cliché as it may be, this age-old adage still holds true, especially in skin whitening. That said, you must always enrich yourself with knowledge about the different products you use by reading product labels.
This way, you would know the different substances that you’re putting into your body and learn what to expect once you use them. Doing so will also help you avoid those with ingredients that may harm your skin and/or interact with other products you currently use, like creams for treating skin conditions. It will also help you prepare for any necessary changes in your lifestyle (e.g., not walking under direct sunlight).
Use downtime to care for your skin.
Getting a fairer complexion and caring for your skin go hand-in-hand. This means that whenever you set aside some extra time to keep your skin healthy, you’re also doing something to give it a healthy glow.
One great way to do this is to bring extra beauty treatments with you should downtime arise. Serums and eye masks can be packed with other essentials in a small bag that’s within arm’s reach whenever you’re stuck in traffic or on a flight.
Understand that skin brightening is a continuous process.
Skin brightening is not a one-shot deal – it is a continuous process that may require maintenance. It isn’t an overnight process either. If you fully understand this, you would be able to prepare and invest time, effort, and money in whatever skin whitening regimen you choose to do.
Have any skin conditions treated first.
As mentioned earlier, skin brightening procedures and products may interact with treatments you may be undergoing to manage certain skin conditions. To be sure, you have to put treatments for acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin irritations first before starting any whitening regimen. This will help you avoid making the irritation worse.
Don’t:
Forget to take precautions after bleaching.
One of the most popular brightening procedures out there is bleaching. If you decide to undergo this procedure, it is imperative that you take the necessary precautions afterward.
It is ideal to do skin bleaching in the evening since it is rare that you have to put anything on your skin during this time. Some skin bleaching agents may interact with certain ingredients, so be sure to avoid putting anything on your skin right after bleaching.
Using hot water to wash your skin is also not recommended six to eight hours following the treatment. Direct sunlight should also be avoided within 12 to 15 hours.
Be impatient.
Patience isn’t our strongest suit when it comes to beauty, but you have to be sure that you have lots of it when it comes to using skin whitening products.
Keep in mind that a single application of your favorite skin brightening cream may not make much of a difference right away. This is because almost every brightening treatment available offers a cumulative lightening effect, which basically means you’ll get better results over time.
Forgo skin hydration.
Although you need to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated, it is still better to also keep your skin moisturized from the outside at the same time. This is particularly crucial when you perform a skin whitening regimen with products that may cause dryness.
Take hot showers too often.
Warm showers may offer relaxation, but bathing with hot water can be detrimental to your skin health. This is because hot water tends to dry out the skin and can even make skin irritations worse.
Forget to follow instructions.
It is very easy to forgo reading the labels and instructions at the back of the package when using skin whitening products. However, this habit should be changed.
After all, the instructions and labels are placed there for a good reason: to help you get the best results and avoid unpleasant side effects.
If in case you encounter products with unclear instructions, it is best just to pick something else.
Care for Your Skin to Keep it Glowing
Many people who want a fairer complexion often forget the fact that the health of their skin can affect the results of the treatment and home-made regimens they follow. Don’t make the same mistake.
Remember that optimal skin care should always be incorporated in your skin whitening regimen. Make sure that you know how to get healthy and glowing skin by using this article as a guide.
AUTHOR BIO
Vandana Luthra founded VLCC in New Delhi, India as a beauty and slimming services centre in 1989. Today, it is widely recognized for its comprehensive portfolio of beauty and wellness products and services and also enjoys a high level of consumer trust. The VLCC Group’s operations currently span 330 locations in over 150 cities and 14 countries across Asia and Africa.
