10 natural remedies to combat pigmentation

Many of us women are plagued with pigmentation issues at some point in our adult lives. Also known as ‘uneven skin tone,’ pigmentation occurs when our bodies produce extra melanin — the substance that gives our skin its colour.

The result: dark patches that appear mostly on our faces. There are certain factors that increase pigmentation like sun exposure, the use of contraceptive pills and even pregnancy.

Pigmentation that occurs during pregnancy is commonly referred to as ‘pregnancy mask.’ The good news is this ‘mask’ usually fades away months after giving birth.

There are many remedies in the market that address pigmentation. However, Mother Nature also has some great natural remedies that are proven to reduce pigmentation.

Why go to a spa when you can find all these remedies in your pantry and fridge?

A word of caution — before you apply anything on your face, it is best to try applying a bit of it on the inside of your wrist to check for allergies and reactions.

Lemon

Lemon is high in vitamin C which is also known as citric acid. It naturally bleaches dark spots and evens out uneven skin tone.

Just slice up a lemon and dab it on your face daily. You could also make a face pack with lemon and honey for a purifying and moisturizing DIY facial.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is nature’s best skin remedy for almost all skin problems. From burns and bruises to eczema and sunburn, aloe vera seems to heal and soothe them all.

So it is no surprise that aloe vera reduces pigmentation marks as well. If you are lucky enough to have a plant at home, just cut it open and apply the jelly-like substance within directly on your face.

If you do not have an aloe plant, most pharmacies carry many brands of natural aloe vera in gel form.

Potato

Potatoes are good for much more than just chips! They are a well-known remedy for all pigmentation-related issues such as melasma and dark circles.

Grate a raw potato into a bowl and squeeze out the juice. Apply this juice onto your face and leave on for half an hour.

Do this regularly and you will see pigmentation marks fade away.

Cucumber

We are quite accustomed to seeing women in magazines with slices of cucumber on their eyes — and with good reason. Cucumber is pretty good for our bodies, both internally and externally.

Cucumber’s anti-inflammatory and mild bleaching properties make for a great remedy for puffy and dark-circled eyes.

These properties help with pigmentation as well. Slice a cool cucumber and lay the slices all over your face and take a nap — you will wake up rejuvenated for sure!

Honey

Raw honey has antibacterial properties that cleanse and moisturize the skin.

Honey is also mildly acidic. It contains gluconic acid — a mild alpha hydroxy acid that helps with lightening pigmentation marks.

Honey can be added to almost any home-made face pack. Try honey and oat, honey and ground almond, or honey, lemon and chickpea flour for a revitalizing at-home spa experience!

Almond

Many creams and lotions we use contain almond in some form. Almonds contain natural fatty acids that help retain the skin's moisture and prevent it from drying out.

Leave a handful of almonds to soak overnight in a quarter cup of milk. This is best kept in the refrigerator.

In the morning, skin the almonds and grind it with the milk to form a paste.

You can use this paste on your face alone or combined with honey and lemon for a purifying facial.

Papaya

Papaya is a super-fruit! We all know what a healthy fruit it is to eat.

It is low in sugar and high in fibre — a perfect diet food. It is also pretty yummy!

But papaya is not only good for you to eat — it’s good for your body externally as well. It is actually an age-old remedy that is used in Balinese spas to soothe sunburn and to exfoliate the skin.

Papain is the main component that helps reduce pigmentation marks. Just mash up a slice of papaya and apply on your face.

Add a little honey and yogurt into the mix, and you’ve got a pretty great (and delicious!) face pack.

Avocado

Yet another super fruit, avocado is packed with vitamin E, natural fatty acids and vitamin C. It is as nutritious to slather on your face as it is to eat.

The vitamins E and C present in avocado are especially great in treating pigmentation problems.

Mash up a ripe avocado and apply it on your face by itself or mixed with some yogurt, lemon and honey.

Milk and yogurt

Milk and yogurt contain lactic acid which brightens and evens out the complexion, and clears blemishes and pigmentation.

This is such an inexpensive ingredient and is gentle enough for daily use. Use unsweetened, unflavoured milk or yogurt to make a nourishing face mask.

The right diet

Eating right and healthfully is very important for a healthy body — and skin. All the earlier mentioned ingredients are as great to eat as they are to apply on your face.

In addition to these, sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, olive oil and mangoes are great food to promote healthy and vibrant skin.

Written by

Minoli Almeida

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