Tips on Lightening Skin

Some people wish to lighten entire patches of skin, like their entire face. Other people may want to spot-treat a blemished area, like freckles or liver spots, for a more even skin tone. Whatever reason you have for wishing to correct and brighten your skin tone, several tips and strategies can help ensure a successful and effective skin-lightening procedure.

Use a Skin Bleach

For the fastest and most effective lightening of your skin, use a prescription or over-the-counter cream containing hydroquinone, suggests skin care expert Paula Begoun in her book, "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me." The University of Cincinnati reports that it works by injuring your skin's pigment-creating cells so they don't make pigment.

Alternatives to hydroquinone that also lighten your skin include retinoids and kojic acid, reports the University of Connecticut Health Center. Because skin may react differently to these skin-bleaching chemicals, consult a dermatologist to make sure the topical treatments don't pose a risk to your health.

Wear Sunscreen

The sun prompts your skin to darken, which undoes any lightening effects you may achieve with your various skin-brightening treatments. Avoid going into the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., suggests the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you do go outdoors, UMMC recommends wearing protective clothes—suggestions include hats and long-sleeved shirts—and applying a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher.

Scrub Off Dead Skin

Use an exfoliating treatment to get rid of the top layer of your skin to expose the less-blemished, lighter skin cells under it. Options include physical scrubs, made with ground up physical substances like apricot kernels or pumice stone, or chemical exfoliants. The University of Connecticut Health Center recommends alpha hydroxy acids as a great way to exfoliate. Additionally, Begoun reports that products with an AHA concentration of 4 to 10 percent can help reduce your skin's production of pigment.

Moisturize

The various treatments for lightening the skin can have drying, irritating effects on the skin. This weakens the skin's natural moisture barrier and makes it more susceptible to damage. For the best results, pair your lightening treatment with a moisturizing cream containing effective ingredients like shea butter, fatty alcohols or petrolatum, recommends Begoun.