Uneven skin tone is among the top three beauty concerns for women, according to a 2009 report by the Mintel market research group, as reported in the "New York Times." Whether it's blotchy skin, age spots and freckles or dark patches, uneven skin tone can be treated with a variety of methods.
Causes
Any number of things can cause spots, splotches and patches of color on your skin. According to the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Resource, common causes of discoloration include acne, broken capillaries and stress. Smaller dark spots on your skin are usually a result of sun damage, while bigger areas of skin tone irregularity are typically caused by hormonal shifts, according to "Allure" magazine.
Function
Treatments for uneven skin tone work in three ways, according to the "New York Times." Some treatments prevent skin from producing melanin by blocking the enzyme your skin needs to produce dark pigment, causing the skin in that area to turn paler. Other products work by limiting the spread of darker pigment so that dark patches don't get bigger. Finally, some products simply bleach skin, fading areas of darker pigment so that they blend with the rest of your skin.
Prevention/Solution
If your discoloration is mild, over-the-counter treatments may be all you need to even out your skin tone. Look for creams and lotions that contain ingredients like licorice extract, mulberry, vitamin C and soy, which can have a lightening effect on darker patches of skin, recommends Debra Wattenberg, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, in "Good Housekeeping." A combination of prescription treatments is the most effective option for evening out more obvious skin tone issues, according to Dr. Hirsch.
"Allure" magazine recommends combining a cream that contains hydroquinone, a chemical that lightens skin by preventing your skin from producing melanin, with a retinoid or alpha hydroxy acid, which helps speed up cellular turnover so that discolored skin cells are replaced by undamaged cells more quickly. If topical treatments don't work, ask your dermatologist about ruby, Nd:YAG or Alexandrite laser treatments if you have specific spots you need to lighten, or about Fraxel laser treatments if your overall skin tone needs evening, recommends Paul M. Friedman, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Texas at Houston, in "Good Housekeeping." Chemical peels and microdermabrasion may be used in conjunction with laser treatments or on their own to speed up cell turnover.
Protection
The single most important way to protect your skin tone is to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day and avoid sun exposure during the hottest parts of the day, says Fredric Brandt, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City and Miami, in "Allure" magazine. No matter what treatment you use to even out your skin tone, exposing your unprotected skin to the sun will likely cause new pigmentation and may revive faded spots and patches.
Warning
In most cases, skin discoloration is harmless, but it's a good idea to see a dermatologist to rule out the possibility of skin cancer, especially if your discoloration shows up in the form of moles or dark spots on your skin. Remedies for treating uneven skin tone are generally safe, but hydroquinone has a controversial safety record--the Food and Drug Administration considered banning it in 2006 because of potential cancer risks, according to the "New York Times." Friedman says in "Good Housekeeping" that hydroquinone is as safe as any other drug as long as you follow your doctor's recommendations--usually limiting application to twice a day for six months.
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