Skin can darken and become discolored from moderate to severe acne breakouts, a thyroid condition, a skin injury or overexposure to sunlight. When areas of the skin appear darker, it can make the skin look uneven and blotchy. This can detract from the beauty of a complexion, and can cause the skin to look older and more sallow. To remedy discolored skin tones, a few natural treatments can be used to lighten and balance out the skin tone.
Step 1
Soften the discolored areas of skin. To help soften scar tissue and dead skin, massage oil into the skin. Only use oils that will not clog the pores, such as olive oil. Pour about 3 tbsp. oil into the hands, and massage the oil onto the skin. Massage the oil in deeply, as it will not clog the pores of the skin. Focus on areas that are the darkest. Massage the oil into the skin for 3 minutes.
Step 2
Scrub away the loosened dead skin cells. In a bowl, combine 3 tbsp. honey, 1 tbsp. baking soda, and 1 tbsp. granulated sugar. Gently rub the mixture onto the oiled skin, moving the fingers in small circles. This will scrub away the dead skin that the olive oil softened. Rub the mixture onto the skin for 2 minutes.
Step 3
Steam the skin. Fill a bowl with hot, nearly boiling water. Drape a clean towel over the head and lean over the bowl. Do not let the skin get too close to the water, keeping the head at least 12 to 18 inches above the bowl. The steam from the water will cover the face, which will open up the pores to release oils and further loosen dead and darkened skin. Steam the face for 5 minutes, then wipe away the oil with a wet washcloth.
Step 4
Tone the skin with an acidic juice. Acidic juices will dissolve the dead skin, lighten the skin and will remove any remaining oil. Soak a washcloth with an acidic juice, such as orange, lemon or lime juice, and spread the juice around the darkened skin. Allow the juice to dry on the skin.
Things You'll Need
- Granulated sugar
- Lemon juice
- Honey
- Baking soda
- Olive oil
- Bowl
- Towel
- Washcloths
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