Article by: Sheetal Rawal. Scientist and founder of Apsara Skin Care, Inc.
Pigmentation of skin is a concern that many people face. While it can be an issue for both women and men, women tend to be more susceptible to it during pregnancy, after childbirth and or during menopause. It is the instability of the female hormones that appear to be the culprit behind this type of hyperpigmentation (called melasma). Injury to the skin (burns, scratches, and friction), post-inflammatory spots etc. are all forms of hyperpigmentation. So is the skin's response to overexposure to sunlight; this response is externally indicated by a tan or a sunburn that overtime turns from red to brown. Whatever the reason, we can adopt the following methods to help fade this pigmentation naturally.
Eventually, a balance in hormones leads to the internal factors of pigmentation to cease causing the skin to come back to normal. When the reason behind pigmentation is more external, these methods can help accelerate the process of reduction and recovery.
1. Polish Your Skin
Like other cells in the body, skin cells also go through a regular cycle of division and death. Dead skin cells build up on the surface, making the skin look dull and discolored. This can make any degree of pigmentation look worse. So the first step to deal with overly pigmented skin is to help speed up the natural shedding of dead skin cells.
Mixing a tablespoon of whole wheat flour with enough rosewater to make a thick paste and adding 3 drops of almond oil makes for a very good homemade exfoliating recipe. Apply this mix on your skin and when about 80% dry, roll it off your skin with gentle upward strokes. If the mix becomes too stiff, wet it a bit to avoid being too harsh on the skin. The dough lifts off dead cells and debris on its way out. Apsara's Nutshell Facial Scrub is an excellent product that incorporates natural ingredients like citric oils, turmeric, holy basil etc for many more added benefits. It has fine grains of walnut shell to polish your skin to a glow!
2. Bring Younger Skin Cells to Surface Quickly
The rate at which cells divide and new cells are brought to the surface is called cell turnover. Increasing cell turnover can have some very significant results for increasing skin’s clarity and reducing pigmentation. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) can help increase skin cell turnover.
Add 6 drops of vegetable glycerin to 2 tsp. of fresh lemon juice. With a cotton ball apply this mixture evenly over your skin. Massage it gently into the skin and let it dry for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with
Apsara's Citrus Nighttime Facial Serum is a potent source of natural citrus oils and antioxidants. Use it regularly, and you should experience a reduction in skin pigmentation. It is also enriched with some choice essential oils (rose, sandalwood etc.) to soothe and balance your skin. Always follow a serum (especially one for pigmented skin) with a lotion for added hydration and balance.
"It [ROOP] is a great product and I feel like it has helped me a lot with my skin. I have noticed that the patches have started to fading away."
3. Feed Your Skin Fruit!
There are many fruits that can work wonders for your skin, particularly in their ability to decrease pigmentation and increase clarity. Papaya is a great example. It is a rich source of papain–an enzyme that breaks down protein, and releases dead skin cells (top layer of skin) that can be bound to each other. These dislodged dead skin cells can then simply be washed off.
Mash up a green papaya and apply all over your skin. It is best to massage it in for 3-5 minutes. Leave it on your skin for 10-15 minutes as you would a face mask, and wash with
Apsara's Papaya and Sugar Facial Mask is a very good choice. Filled with the goodness of papaya, neem, and turmeric, this mask is exfoliating in nature. It is free of harsh chemicals and synthetic preservatives.
4. Vitamin E is Great!
Vitamin E is an antioxidant and can prevent free radical damage to the skin. Externally, free radical damage can be seen as premature wrinkling and hyperpigmentation of the skin. Regularly massage your face with wheat germ oil, which is a rich source of natural vitamin E. Pure Vitamin E oil bought at the drug store can also be used but tends to be very thick and harder to apply on the skin. 6 drops of it can be mixed in with 1 tsp. of olive oil prior to massaging it into the skin. Wheat germ oil is a better alternative since it is 100% natural and easier to apply on the skin.
5. Limit Sun Exposure
The UVA and UVB rays in sunlight can have some profound negative effects on the skin (if the skin gets a prolonged and direct exposure to sunlight). They cause the formation of very unstable free radicals, break down collagen, crosslink DNA molecules, and cause hyperpigmentation of the skin. Sun damage can very readily be seen as dark patches all over the areas that are most exposed to excessive sunlight.
To prevent further damage, limit exposure to direct sunlight, and if you are in sun protect your skin by using a daily skin care routine that has ingredients like almond oil, sandalwood, turmeric etc. They are well known in the natural system for their natural color balancing and protection properties (they are not classified as SPFs). They are not only nourishing and balancing but are also well known for their skin cooling and antioxidant properties.
Watch this video to learn how to have a complete daily and weekly skin care routine.
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Go natural. It is good karma!
