Sunday, January 29, 2012

Seven Tips on How to Lighten Your Skin Tone

It is possible to lighten your skin tone. The amount of lightening you can achieve may be limited by genetics. But you can achieve a noticeable difference by following these seven suggestions.

Wear a Hat with a Wide Brim

Let's assume you are talking about your facial tone. If you are like most people, your facial skin is a little darker than it is on parts of your body that are protected from the sun by clothing.

Many people have started to rely on sunscreen for protection against damage that can lead to skin cancer. But research has shown that sunscreens are limited in their effectiveness. Staying out of the sun is a better solution.

The same kind of damage that causes skin cancer also causes wrinkles and a darkening of the skin's cells. When you do go out in the sun, wear a hat with a wide brim. It will help to protect your face form the sun's rays.

Stay in the Shade

Another idea is to stay in the shade whenever possible. Try to avoid going out when the sun's rays are strongest. Try to do your gardening or other outdoor activities in areas that are shaded.

Don't Drink Alcohol

If you want to lighten your skin tone, you should avoid alcoholic beverages. Excessive alcohol consumption leads to a reddening of the complexion, which depending on your skin's natural melanin color may make it look darker. Moderate alcohol consumption is sometimes considered healthy, but the risks may outweigh the benefits. There is still more to learn about this subject.

Don't Smoke

Here's another good reason to quit smoking. Cigarette smoke contains free radicals that contribute to wrinkles and age spots. The skin's melanin production increases as a defense mechanism, just as it would during exposure to UV rays of sunlight.

Get More Antioxidants in Your Diet

Antioxidants like vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 are known to lighten your skin tone when they are applied directly. They are believed to work because they repair free radical damage caused by exposure to sunlight and toxins. Eating more antioxidants can also work to improve your complexion by increasing free radical damage repair. Some studies have shown that consuming certain antioxidants helps to prevent sun damage.

Use an Antioxidant-Rich Face Cream

Antioxidants will work gradually to lighten your skin tone if you use a cream containing them on a daily basis. Coenzyme Q10 for example has been shown to reverse sun damage when applied topically. While you might not think of the darkening as sun damage, that is ultimately what you are dealing with.

Use a Safe Whitening Day Cream

There are several whitening day creams on the market. They may be effective, but some of them contain hazardous ingredients that could actually make your problem worse. One of the unwanted side effects that have been seen is the appearance of dark black bumps all over the face.

A safe ingredient is cyperus rotundus root extract. It works by inhibiting melanin production. High melanin content in the skin's cells causes darkening. As the melanin content decreases, you will lighten your skin tone naturally. For more skin care information, please see the author box below.

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