Skin Lightening For Ethnic Women

Skin lightening product sales make 35 percent of the total ethnic skin care market and they have grown in demand as the answer to hyperpigmentation, melasma, age spots, freckles, dark underarms, and dark skin on knees, elbows or inner thighs. Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin caused by increased Melanin. Melanin is the colour of our skin.

A successful skin lightening regimen relies on the choice of products you use. Products with ingredients such as hydroquinone, mercury and steroids may work but these are harmful products banned in some countries in Europe and Asia. There is some inconclusive evidence that hydrooquinone may act as a carcinogen or cancer causing chemical and FDA tried to ban it in 2006, but currently in the US products containing hydroquinone must be FDA approved and those that contain up to 2% hydroquinone may be sold without a prescription. Prescription skin lightening products may contain up to 4% hydroquinone and some examples are Lustra,Tri-Luma and EpiQuin Micro.

Products containing the following ingredients are considered to be safe:

Glycolic Acid * Kojic Acid * Lactic Acid * Emblica Powder * Lemon Juice Extract * Bearberry Extract * Mulberry Extract * Vitamin B3 * Alpha Arbutin* Tretinum(Retinol) *Licorice Extract *Hydroxy Acids *Azelaic acid.

These ingredients work by inhibiting the production of melanin and are safer alternatives to Hydroquinone, mercury and steroids. Some of the top rated methods of evening out our skin tone are as follows and they range from expensive skin treatments to homemade regimens

Micro-Dermabrasion. This is a light abrasion that removes the dead outer layer of skin t reveal a more even skin tone after a series of about six treatments. Its usually combined with peels for faster results.

Hydrafacial. It is billed as the latest advance in skin resurfacing. This facial cleanses and exfoliates. It even removes blackheads. It is done by a single instrument which is a vacuum -based abrasion tip to reveal clear and more beautiful skin. Unlike other resurfacing treatments,this one is serum - infused so it does not leave skin tight and irritated.

Fade Creams. These make the bulk of the total skin lightening market in sales. Try over the counter creams such as Olay pro-x discoloration fighting concetrate or Black Opal advanced dual complex fade gel.

Sunscreen. All treatments fail if affected area is exposed to the sun with inadequate UVA/UVB. Our skin has a built in SPF of about 13,compared with SPF3 for white skin.we should use a SPF of 30 or higher to protect skin and to keep dark spots under treatment from getting darker.

The author writes on beauty and fashion for ethnic women.You can learn more by visiting her blog,my ethnic woman at http://myethnicwoman.blogspot.com

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By Maureen Gitonga