Skin Whitening: Treatment, Procedure, Cost And Side Effects

Skin-whitening is the process by which people reduce the melanin pigment in the skin to give a whiter complexion. Those with dark complexion have more melanin and the quantity of melanin determines the color of a person’s skin. Melanin is manufactured by cells called melanocytes. The melanin quantity of a person’s skin depends upon the genetic buildup. The production of melanin is affected by exposure to the sun, the degree of damaged skin, and exposure to chemicals.

Often people take recourse to skin whitening methods to deal with problems such as freckles, age spots, scars, moles, acne, birthmarks and also by people who wish to have fair skin, especially those with a darker tone of the skin. People use whitening or lightening products such as bleaching creams, fading creams, chemical peels, and laser treatment.

These products work by disturbing the tyrosinase enzyme which is instrumental for the melanin production and thereby reducing its amount in the skin. The melanocyte cells which manufacture melanin are situated at the very bottom of the skin’s epidermal layer. Sometimes the over-production of the melanin pigment could lead to various hyperpigmentation problems.

These are the ways in which skin whitening can be done fast:

• By trying fresh lemon juice.
• Using skin lightening cream
• By applying a facial mask.
• Quit smoking
• Drink lots of water.
• By following a healthy diet.

The first step towards a skin whitening procedure would be to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist and tell him/her what kind of skin tone you have in mind. To get a clearer idea across it would be best if you carried a picture with you of the person with the desired skin tone that you have in mind. After discussing with your dermatologist, you may go and talk to the plastic surgeon. You can also show him/her the picture so that he/she knows what it is you exactly want.

After consulting with both the dermatologist and plastic surgeon you decide on the option that you want based on your health, requirements and financial position- you can go for a skin bleaching treatment or something as expensive as surgery. Aside from being extremely expensive skin whitening procedures are also very painful and you need to be prepared for both.

You need to plan out the recovery time after you complete your treatment; laser treatments and chemical peels take a few weeks and permanent skin whitening surgery takes more time. After treatment, you need to take care of your skin by using certain maintenance products. Sunscreen is very important to prevent you from getting sunburns and also lower chances of your skin getting darker.

Healthy and fair skin is an indication of good health. It is important to maintain a good diet to get good skin. Our skin is the mirror of our health and it totally depends upon the diet and other things we consume. Fruits and vegetables are essential for this. The three miraculous drinks which can do wonders to our skin include the following:

• Carrot and beetroot juice
• Green apple and pomegranate juice
• Papaya, lemon, and cucumber juice

Summary: A well-balanced diet is a key to good health as well as good skin. Hence, it is essential to maintain a nutritional intake on a regular basis. These nutritional ingredients consist of fresh fruits and vegetables including carrot, beetroot, lemon, cucumber, etc.

If you are undergoing laser whitening treatment you can expect to experience the following side effects such as bruising, skin dryness, sensitivity to sunlight, tightness, swelling, scarring, skin infections, skin texture difference, pigmentation, skin redness and irritation. Deep chemical peel treatments can cause permanent damage such as hyperpigmentation (skin darkening) or hypopigmentation (skin lightening). if you undergo very aggressive treatments to whiten your skin it may become raw and ooze forming crusts all over.

The time to recover depends on the type of treatment you undergo for skin whitening. If you go for non-ablative treatment methods then it may take only a day or two to recover. But if you go for surgery such as a laser one then it may take up to 2-3 weeks to recover, following which you will need to adhere to certain post-treatment guidelines to prevent darkening, irritation or sunburn.

Cost of laser treatment varies somewhere between Rs. 30,000-60,000 in India. The cost of skin whitening creams would range between 200 rupees to 3000 rupees.

Skin whitening creams only give you temporary results and do not have very lasting effects however, laser surgery as well as chemical peel treatment methods promise to give permanent solutions.

These are the ways in which skin can be whitened naturally:

• Milk: Raw milk is one of the most easily available products that can be used for skin whitening. It controls the production of melanin which is the pigment responsible for skin color.
• Honey: This is an antibacterial agent and prevents skin from acne and pimples. It also ensures giving a spotless complexion and glowing skin. Honey has anti-pigmentation properties which are useful for fading scars.
• Besan: Also known as gram flour, besan can do wonders if regularly applied on the skin. It works as a natural exfoliator and also helps by removing dead skin cells and makes the skin healthy and glowing. Besan also works as a skin whitening agent.
• Turmeric: it is being used for brightening, rejuvenating dull skin and improves complexion as turmeric is a good source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.
• Yogurt: It is rich in lactic acid which works as a natural bleach. Yogurt removes dark, and dead skin cells also help in exposing a fresh layer of skin.
• Potato: It is the highly used vegetable used for skin whitening as it contains Vitamin C and also has mild bleaching property. It removes dark spots from the skin which are caused by age or by getting much exposure to the sun.
• Aloe vera: It increases cell turnover and also removes dead skin cells. Aloe vera also reduces hyperpigmentation properties which leads to glowing skin.

These are the best fruits for skin whitening:

• Lemon:

  It is a citrus fruit and works as a natural bleach. Lemons are one of the safest ways to lighten or whiten your skin. It also helps in making the skin tone better and lighter and also helps in removing the blemishes and acne marks. For getting the best results you can drink lemon water with honey every morning.

• Papaya:

  It is one of the best food that can be used for having healthy skin. Papaya is used for the treatment of the skin and is used in the form of lotion, soaps or facial peels. Papaya can also be eaten regularly or it can be massed and applied on the skin. The fruit helps in cell regeneration and is also an antioxidant.

• Apple:

  It is rich in malic acid which is useful for the skin and makes it healthier, youthful and firmer. Apple helps in renewing the skin cells by not damaging any layer of your skin. Rich in fiber apple also helps in promoting skin development and clean the colons and make the skin pimple free.

• Avocado:

  They are a rich source of Biotin which helps in skin regeneration and cell growth. Avocado is also a rich source of Vitamin E which is a natural skin protector and makes skin youthful and glowing.

• Bananas:

  They are a rich source of potassium which is useful for making the skin hydrated and moisturized. Bananas also help keep the elasticity of the skin and lower the chances of pimples. It also rejuvenates the skin, softens it and fades out the blemishes and spots.

• Kiwi:

  It is a rich source of Vitamin C which helps in keeping the skin more youthful and fresh and also improves the immunity of the skin.

These are the food that helps in whitening your skin:

• Eggs: They are a rich source of amino acids and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. All these things help in protecting the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays and also helps in the production of new skin cells.
• Tomato: Makes your skin light and bright. Tomato makes skin glow as it contains collagen and it works as a skin whitener.
• Garlic: Works as a natural cleanser as it removes all the impurities from the blood and also helps in getting rid of acne. Garlic also slows down the aging process as it contains antioxidant properties.
• Walnut: It is rich in fatty acid which is the main constituent of the cell membrane. A healthy cell membrane keeps your skin moist, supple and plump.
• Spinach: Helps in giving smoother and radiant looking complexion and also gives relief from dry and itchy skin.

These are the ways in which papaya can be used for skin whitening:

Papaya and honey face mask for dry skin:

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoon whole milk
• ½ cup papaya (ripen)
• 1 tablespoon honey

Make a facemask by mixing all these substances together and apply it on your skin. Papaya has hydrating properties thus it works by providing moisture to the skin, reduces dark spots and blemishes and makes skin soft and smooth.

Papaya, honey and lemon pack for acne:

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon sandalwood
• ½ cup papaya (ripen)

Mix all these ingredients together and make a face pack. Apply it evenly on the face and neck. This helps in unclogging the pores of the skin, and kill acne-causing microbes. This also controls and regulates oil production.

Papaya, cucumber, and banana pack for soothing skin:

Ingredients:

• ½ cup cucumber
• ¼ cup ripe banana
• ¼ cup ripe papaya

Mix all the ingredients together and grind them. Apply on the face and neck and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then rinse it off. This helps in hydrating and soothing the skin, evens the skin tone, also helps in keeping skin moisturized and smooth. It also makes skin wrinkle-free.

Papaya and lemon for skin whitening:

• 1 teaspoon of lemon
• Half cup papaya

Mix them together and apply on face and neck. You can apply this pack 2-3 times a week as it works as a natural bleach. It also contains antioxidants and anti-aging properties.

You must be cautious before using hydrogen peroxide else it may cause irritation. The main purpose of using hydrogen peroxide is for skin whitening and it also helps as an antiseptic. When you apply Hydrogen peroxide on the skin it releases oxygen thus removes dead skin cells and clean the area. It also removes scars and acne from the skin, age spots, discoloration.

Alternatives to skin whitening creams and surgery comprise of home remedies such as application of face packs made at home from sandalwood, turmeric, milk or tomato, yoghurt, oatmeal or milk, lemon juice, honey or dried orange peels and yoghurt, etc.