Excess Melanin May Benefit You

People are obessed with lighter skin tone that they even think that diet can help to reduce hyperpigmentation. I found a post at Can Foods Effect Our Skin Tone And Levels Of Melanin?

'Certain foods contain more amounts of tyrosine than others such as soy protein, Egg, Cheese, Fish and Turkey to name a few. So by reducing the intake of these foods we could in theory lower the production of melanin.'

In theory, it sounds sensible. But there is no evidence to indicate that it will work.

Don't let dark spots bring your spirit down. The good news is that if you have more melanin that usual, you are less prone to post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD). Don't believe it? Read this - study reveals high melanin individuals are more immune to ptsd.

Best Treatment For Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation can arise due to either overactive melanocytes, the melanin-producing cells or a rapid multiplication of the melanocytes. The good news is that it does not pose any health risk. However, it can lead to depression and anxiety especially if your face is adorned with pigmentation. To fade those pesky marks effectively, you need to seek the best treatment for hyperpigmentation.

Hydroquinone is the gold standard for hyperpigmentation because its application has spanned over 50 years. In addition, it is the only skin lightening ingredient with the endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Yet, one third of the population tends to react adversely with hydroquinone. Some have been reported to develop serious contact dermatitis.

When used in high concentration or for too long, it may pose serious health risk. For example, your skin will tend to be more sensitive to the sun if you use it for an extended period. Your skin may develop ochronosis which is another form of permanent skin discoloration.

According to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, hydroquinone is a potent cytotoxic agent. This means, your DNA will undergo mutations and alterations. The author advises avoiding any product that leaves hydroquinone on the skin. Rather, choose rinse-off products with concentration of not exceeding 1% as they are deemed to be safer. In reality, the concentration of most of the hyperpigmentation creams sold over-the-counter is 2%. With that said, it is not a surprise to expect the banning of hydroquinone in some countries.

Besides hydroquinone, dermatologists use ablative treatments such as laser, dermabrasion, and medium-to-deep chemical peels to treat pigmentation disorders. But these therapies can trigger hyperpigmentation and increase more brown marks on your skin if the procedure go sideways.

If you want to treat pigmentation, first you need to understand how your skin makes melanin. The melanin production or melanogenesis begins in melanocytes. One of the critical steps in producing melanin requires an enzyme called tyrosinase. Thus, you can see that most ingredients in skin lightening products are used to interrupt this step in the melanin synthesis.

To keep the pigmentation under control, applying sunscreen religiously is the best approach provided that your hyperpigmentation is caused by sun exposure.

For the existing hyperpigmentation, studies have demonstrated that it is more effective to regulate tyrosinase, which can delay the melanin production. Tyrosinase regulation can be attained by interrupting its process or taking away L-DOPA, a substance on which tyrosinase acts.

• Tyrosinase inhibitors such as alpha arbutin, mulberry extract, licorice extract, kojic acid, and emblica extract have shown promising results in the studies. These plant extracts can keep the tyrosinase activity in check and compete with tyrosinase’s substrate.
• Inflammation management is another effective way to control hyperpigmentation. Natural anti-inflammatory agents such as mulberry and licorice can reduce inflammation, which in turn fade dark spots. These agents may have antioxidating functions that retard various oxidation steps in the process of melanin.
• Niacinamide has been studied to reduce the melanin production. It can prevent the transfer of melanosomes to adjacent keratinocytes.
• For many years, vitamin C has been used to control melanogenis. It hinders the tyrosinase activity. As an antioxidant, it limits the oxidation steps during the melanin synthesis and neutralizes free radicals that are responsible for abnormal melanocyte activity.

As melanocytes are far away from the epidermis, whatever hyperpigmentation cream you use must be able to deliver the active ingredients deep into the skin. Thus, the effectiveness of a skin lightening cream depends a lot on its delivery mode.

The best hyperpigmentation cream should contain botanical extracts with the ability to control tyrosinase activity.

Meladerm is one product that fits into these criteria. It reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation with a combination of antioxidants, natural lightening agents, and potent exfoliating acids. It contains 10 natural lightening agents where most of them are mentioned earlier. Furthermore, it includes glycolic acid and lactic acid to maximize the skin's absorption of the active ingredients for best results.

This hydroquinone-free skin lightening cream targets various types of hyperpigmentation. They can be sun damage, age spots (liver or sun spots), dark spots, melasma, acne marks, uneven skin tone and freckles. It works on all skin types.

It is imperative that you always wear a high SPF sunscreen whenever your skin is exposed to the sun. 

The key to treating hyperpigmentation with Meladerm is the consistency and the duration. Before you can see any result, you must apply it on your hyperpigmented skin every day for a minimum of 2 months. Even when the tyrosinase activity has been confined altogether, the existing melanin will still require approximately 45 days to clear.

Read the following Meladerm reviews by Amazon customer.

For a clearer, brighter, spotless complexion, then click here to find out more about Meladerm, the best treatment for hyperpigmentation.

Best Cream For Age Spots

Which signs of aging really trouble you the most? Maybe you would say wrinkles. It is true however, research shows that age spots can top up actual age by 10 years. No wonder, the market is flooded with wildly-claimed best age spot creams.

Age spots or liver spots are a form of hyperpigmentation. They usually appear on your face and hand as small dark marks. You can blame these patches on the years lying on the beach. They are triggered by prolonged sun exposure which throws melanocytes, melanin-producing cells into overdrive. When the excess brown pigments cannot distribute evenly over the skin, they gather together to form clusters, which look like brown spots.

Many people believe that there is nothing they can do about the marks. So they do not seek remedies.

Yet, you can find treatments today. Consult your dermatologist and you will be offered a few options. Among them are high strength hydroquinone (limited to 3 months usage) and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy which requires several sessions, proving to be expensive. Unfortunately, sun spot is not easily treated, and there are potential side effects that may worsen those marks.

Although hydroquinone is the gold standard for hyperpigmentation treatment, but you may have to deal with irritation. The FDA has restricted the continuous use of hydroquinone by imposing a 3 month safety limit. Studies also reveal that hydroquinone is linked to toxicity. Thus, some countries have already banned skin care products that use this chemical.

With the advanced technology in natural skin care, you can opt for botanical extracts that are as effective as hydroquinone, and more gentle to your skin. Kojic acid, mulberry extract, alpha-arbutin, emblica extract, licorice extract, vitamin C, and vitamin B3 (niacinamide) are some non-irritating ingredients commonly found in skin lightening products.

For best results on fading liver spots, don't focus on a single ingredient. Rather, choose a combination of two or more as each ingredient has its own way to stopping the pigmentation.

The best cream for age spots is Meladerm. It contains clinical proven ingredients that reduce age spots. It is not meant to make your overall complexion look fairer. You should only use it on the spots, and not the whole face or body.

Meladerm can tackle all kinds of hyperpigmentation. Apart of reducing the appearance of age spots, this dark spot corrector can work on melasma, freckles, acne marks, sun damage skin, birthmarks, and uneven skin tone. If you have dark elbows, knees, underarms, or knuckles, it can help as well.

Combining 3 powerhouse ingredients, Alpha Arbutin, Gigawhite, and Tego Cosmo C, along with 7 other high-strength lightening agents, Meladerm can block melanocytes from producing melanin, treating existing spots and prevent new ones too.

The Civant Skincare also includes glycolic acid and lactic acid to target pigmentation disorders. These natural acids speed up cell turnover by shedding the topmost layer of the skin that holds dead cell. This helps brighten your skin. They also stop the spots from becoming mature.

Another plus point of exfoliating is to prepare your skin to better absorb the active ingredients. This way, Meladerm can give you better results.

After using Meladerm, make sure you use broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Failing to do so will increase the chances for the age spots to return. It makes no difference which treatment you use. Continuous rigorous use of sunblock is mandatory.

Find out what other reviewers say about Meladerm in removing their age spots.

If you want to fade age spots, click here to check out Meladerm yourself.

Hyperpigmentation Cream

What comes to your mind when you think of hyperpigmentation? It is also known as liver or age spots. It is a form of skin defect that make your skin tone uneven. Usually it appears as brown patches.

Usually when a friend asks me about treating hyperpigmentation, I would like to know what type is it. Is it melasma where mostly occur during pregnancy? My wife had melasma on her cheek when she was pregnant. Looking for a safe remedy is not easy as the options are limited. So, my wife use a very good sunscreen and use concealer to hide those pesky spots.

If your pigmentation problem is caused by sun damage or skin aging, you have better luck as you have a wider choice of treatment to choose from.

I admit that some of my wife's friends have seen improvement after a laser therapy. But this is not something you want to do if you have melasma.

The bad news is that laser is not for everybody. Sometimes it work. However, most people can't afford to fork out so much money for repeated sessions of laser treatment.

On the other hand, the over-the-counter hyperpigmentation creams have proved to be effective in recent years. The rule is to use the cream consistently. The improvement will not be noticed until you have used it for at least two months. Thus, many people stop using it after a few weeks and complain that the cream does not work.

Even after applying the cream, you should not forget to use sunscreen. Otherwise, the hyperpigmentation will return even it has already faded in the first place.

Here are some OTC age spot removal creams that may work for you. Apply it on your spots twice a day. Do this every day for 3 months. But these following creams are not cheap.

1. Elizabeth Arden Prevage Clarity Targeted Skin Tone Corrector. The most expensive of all. But you can see significant improvement with sun spots.
2. StriVectin EV Get Even Brightening Serum. The price tag is second to  Elizabeth Arden serum. However, the price is worth it as it repairs scar tissue so your skin will look better.
3. Philosophy Miracle Worker Dark Spot Corrector. Beside fading dark spots, it works on acne scars as well.
4. Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. It is claimed to even your skin by up to 53% in 12 weeks.
5. Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective. Not only it reduces the appearance of age spots, but it also leaves your skin soft and bright.
6. Indeed Labs Peptabright. More for moderate dark spots. Make your skin brighter, softer and more even.

Best Cream For Dark Spots

Perhaps you are not fortunate enough to be born with flawless skin. I guess at some point in your life you are struggling with dark spots, age spots, liver spots, freckles, melasma, or sun spots. Whatever its name is, they are all under the same class. They are the result of accumulation of excess melanin that distributes over your skin. Usually it happens after your skin is exposed to UV rays.

It is a pain for anyone to deal with dark spots. You may need dermatological procedures for more serious pigmentation problems. But not every skin discoloration is serious enough for conventional therapies.

Why do you want to get rid of dark spots? If you have these marks, your age will be added by 10 years. So, probably, they make you look older. Besides, they also make less attractive, damaging your self-esteem.

Now if you are looking for the best cream for dark spots, it is the ingredient that matters. Find the right ingredients that work effectively for your skin type and your dark spots.

Let's look at the ingredients found in the best dark spot correctors and see how they can reverse all the damage that caused by your sun worshiping.

Basically there are 3 categories of ingredients used in skin lightening creams.

1. Antioxidants
2. Exfoliating acids
3. Lightening agents

Antioxidants 

Vitamin C, an antioxidant, is a classic ingredient that can lighten existing brown spots. Furthermore, it can prevent new spots. It also protects your skin against harmful free radicals and improves the production of collagen for a more younger looking skin. 

Exfoliating Acids 

Although exfoliating acids like alpha hydroxy and glycolic don't target pigments directly, but they can give your skin even tone by sloughing off pigmented cells found on the surface of your skin. They can accelerate the removal of dead cells, making your skin more receptive. This increases the absorption of lightening ingredients so you should see better improvements. Natural acids also help achieve smoother skin.

Many studies demonstrate the effectiveness of glycolic acid in removing superficial pigmented cells and boosting penetration when used in conjunction with lightening agents. 

Lightening Agents 

If you're looking to banish dark spots, your dermatologist may recommend hydroquinone based products. You probably have heard about the controversy about it. A few developed countries have banned it. Users reported side effects such as burning sensation, excessive redness, and dryness when using hydroquinone.

Just like hydroquinone, natural lightening agents can stop hyperpigmentation before it starts. Powerhouse lighteners such as mulberry, bearberry, licorice, vitamin B3 (niacinamide), vitamin C, emblica extract, mulberry extract, bearberry extract, and kojic acid are believed to fade dark marks that have accumulated over the years and prevent new ones from appearing. Alpha Arbutin, Gigawhite, and Tego Cosmo C can give hydroquinone some serious competition. They inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme that turns on the melanin-production switch. This prevents further spots from developing. Also, they shut down melanocytes, the cells that make melanin.

Here are some top over-the-counter dark spot creams on the market today.

• Priori Even Tones, $125 (licorice extract, mulberry extract, vitamin C, lactic acid, and retinol). If you are pregnant, you should stay away from retinol as it may cause birth defects.
• SkinCeuticals Pigment Regulator, $85 (emblica extract, kojic acid, and glycolic acid).
• First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Serum, $44 (licorice root and vitamin C)
• L'Oréal Paris Youth Code Dark Spot Correcting & Illuminating Serum Corrector, $24.99 (niacinamide and vitamin C).

But they are still not the best when it comes to cost effectiveness and contents. Meladerm is packed with a cocktail of all the lightening ingredients mentioned above. Instead of getting a few dark spot correctors to enjoy the best results, why not get all the ingredients in one bottle? Not only you save the hassle of applying different lotions and serums, which takes more time, but you also save money. Imagine taking advantage of all the lightening agents, antioxidants, and exfoliating acids in one tube which does not cost you arms and legs. In other words, Meladerm is the best product for dark spots.

Meladerm slows melanin production so you can achieve even skin tone and flawless complexion. It is even gentle on sensitive skin. If your dark spot is severe, you probably need a few bottles before you see significant results. But it is worth waiting without worrying about the side effects.

Just don't forget to adopt broad-spectrum sun protection. Even if the hyperpigmentation is cleared, the UV rays can trigger melanin production, undoing Meladerm's results.

Find out what other reviewers say about Meladerm in fading their dark spots.

If you want to banish dark spots, click here to learn more about Meladerm.

Best Treatment For Melasma

Melasma or "mask of pregnancy" is common among women of child bearing age or using birth control pills. If your origin is of an ethnic, your chances of having melasma are higher. Usually, it appears on the face, arms, and neck in the form of large brownish patches. This can hurt your self-esteem. You are here because you want the best treatment for melasma.

Though you can't cure melasma with medications but there are remedies that you can consult your dermatologist to fade its appearances. 

Common Treatments For Melasma

If you visit a dermatologist, usually a triple topical therapy will be recommended. It consists of hydroquinone, tretinoin, and steroid cream. The strength of hydroquinone in this therapy can be as high as 8%. However, hydroquinone when used in higher concentration (above 4%) or too long may increase the risk of ochronosis, an irreversible skin discoloration.

Sometimes, after being treated with triple topical therapy, you don't see any improvement. Your dermatologist may recommend non-ablative fractional lasers (such as Fraxel), which is an FDA approved treatment for melasma. Unfortunately, the relapse of melasma is very high. And sometimes, your mask can get worse. Furthermore, you need a series of 5 or more sessions as the result takes time. And it is not a suitable choice if your skin tone is dark.

You may even want to consider chemical peels which uses alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid. Some believe it can remove the excess pigments from the skin. But most dermatologists would recommend it as a maintenance therapy as the recurrence rate of melasma is high. 

What Is The Best Melasma Treatment

The standard remedies may not be effective. Treating melasma for best results require a combination approach. A single approach may not sustain the result for long. Here is a three-fold strategy to get rid of melasma.

1. Check the hormonal factors.
2. Practice good UV protection to lower the relapse of melanin and to prevent it from getting worse.
3. Reduce the melanin production.

For hormonal factors, it would be ideal to stop using estrogen based products or birth control pills. The mask of pregnancy can be resistant to treatment if you continue using birth control pills.

As far as sun protection is concerned, always wear a wide brimmed hat, UV protective clothing, and sunglasses. Don't skip applying sunscreen whenever you go out. Even the weather is cloudy, you must wear sunscreen as the UV factor is present.

Choose a broad spectrum sunblock that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. This offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays. The SPF should be at least 30. So, this is what you should look for when shopping for the best sunscreen for melasma. Just remember that UV light can trigger melanocytes to produce excess melanin even if it has been treated.

To treat melasma at home, you can use these topical lightening agents. Melasma creams should contain active ingredients such as kojic acid, arbutin, and gigawhite which can interfere the melanin production, fading the marks. Tina Alster, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center advises not to use hydroquinone based skin lightening creams. One product that can stop the melanocytes from going hyperdrive is Meladerm. It has more than 10 lightening ingredients. All of them are plant extracts. It is the best cream for melasma

Check out what other users say about Meladerm in treating their melasma.

If you want a melasma treatment that works, click here to learn more about Meladerm.

What Is Hyperpigmentation

According to dermatologists, hyperpigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin or nails. It is due to hyperactive melanocytes that produces too much melanin.

Other factors that can cause hyperpigmentation include skin trauma, inflammation, and sun damage.

Often, people with darker skin tones like the Asians, Mediterraneans or Africans are likely to have hyperpigmentation, especially if they spend a lot of time under the sun.

The increased production of melanin can lead to various forms of hyperpigmentation.

If you have hyperpigmentation, it can either be diffuse or focal. Usually the face and the back of the hands are the most affected areas.

So how does your skin produce melanin? The melanocytes are located the lower layer of the epidermis. The function of these cells is to make melanin.

Melanin is a pigment that make certain areas of your body of different colors. You can see it on your hair, eyes, and skin. When you get older, the melanin distribution becomes less diffuse. Your body will be less effective in managing its production.

When the melanocyte is exposed top UV rays, its activity increases. Thus, the concentrations of the cells are denser than surrounding areas. So you will see more darkening effect.

Some diseases are related to hyperpigmentation. Among them are:

• Melasma, also known as ''chloasma'' – patchy hyperpigmentation often found in pregnant women.
• Smoker's melanosis
• Haemochromatosis - a common but debilitating genetic disorder characterized by the chronic accumulation of iron in the body.
• Cushing's disease or other excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) production, because MSH production is a byproduct of ACTH synthesis from proopiomelanocortin (POMC).
• Tinea fungal infections such as ringworm
• Powdered jet injections
• Cronkite-Canada syndrome
• Acanthosis nigricans – hyperpigmentation of intertriginous areas associated with insulin resistance.
• Addison's disease and other sources of adrenal insufficiency, in which hormones that stimulate melanin synthesis, such as melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), are frequently elevated.
• Certain chemicals such as salicylic acid, bleomycin, and cisplatin.
• Linea nigra – a hyperpigmented line found on the abdomen during pregnancy.
• Peutz-Jeghers syndrome – an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by hyperpigmented macules on the lips and oral mucosa and gastrointestinal polyps.
• Porphyria
• Celiac disease

If you have done a laser therapy recently, you may notice pigmentation disorders on the treated area.

So what can you do about it? You can explore some treatment options. The most common one is hydroquinone. But if you don't to use it, there are some alternatives to reduce hyperpigmentation naturally. Ask your dermatologist about kojic acid, licorice extract, alpha hydroxy acids, ascorbic acid, and azelaic acid.

But remember that if you don't protect your hyperpigmented skin from the sun with sunscreen or protective clothing, whatever treatments you use will be vain.

Natural Remedies For Dark Spots

Dark spots are usually noticeable on areas exposed to the sun. For example, hands , face and shoulders. Hormonal fluctuation is another factor for causing uneven skin tone. Without doubt, many women seek cosmetic treatments to get rid of their pigmentation problems. However, there are some things in your kitchen that can lighten those spots. Let's see what are they. I hope these natural remedies that make your spots go away.

Lemon juice is rich with natural vitamin C. As it is highly acidic, it is a natural astringent. For years, people use lemon juice to treat dark spots and uneven skin tone . Apply it on the spots daily for 6 months, and probably you will see some improvements.

Papaya is a tropical fruit with skin nourishing properties. It contains papain, an enzyme that helps exfoliate the skin. It also improves skin renewal and interrupt the activity of the tyrosinase that is producing melanin. Just rub the skin raw papaya on the spots. Leave it for 15 minutes and then rinse the treated area with water.

Castor oil is extracted from kidney bean. The bean is rich with undecenoic acid, lightening the pigmentation. Apply it daily for 10 minutes. If it works, you should see visible changes within a month.

A combination of onion juice and vinegar can benefit your skin. You can use it to srub your skin naturally. Make a solution of an equal amount of vinegar and onion juice. Apply it on the skin that needs lightening. It may take up to six months before you see any lightening effect on the dark spots.

Aloe vera is a natural plant that helps the skin to generate new cells. When the new cells are revealed, the brown spots will look less noticeable. Some skin lightening cream like Meladerm use it as one of the ingredients.