The Discoloration Dilemma

Many Black women are chanting, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the clearest of them all?” LovetoKnow.com  reports that thirty percent of us with a deeper hue have hyperpigmentation. Are you disillusioned with discoloration? Speckled skin is not a spell that cannot be broken. The cure for the curse can be found. Let’s connect the dots to banishing those spots.

Damaged skin equals hyperpigmentation. Physical damage can occur from aggressive actions like vigorous scrubbing or picking pimples. Chemical damage can occur from photosensitizing agents such as citrus essences. Environmental damage can occur from inadequate sun protection. Always treat skin with the gentlest touch, calmest ingredients, and wear sunscreen daily. DailyGlow.com recommends a calming combination of sensitive skin care products combined with daily UVA/UVB defense. Look for aloe, chamomile, honey, and an SPF of 20 or higher.

Dark marks can be lightened with routine exfoliation and the targeted application of active ingredients. Retin-A is the top skin sloughing pick prescribed by doctors. Dermatologist Joel L. Cohen told The New York Times, “There is so much historical evidence that this ingredient works better than anything else, it actually works to remodel skin on a cellular level.” MulticulturalBeauty.com lists hydroquinone, botanical extracts ( from licorice, mulberry, bearberry, and burdock ), and acids ( salicylic, glycolic, azelaic, and kojic ) as the best solutions to break up the blotches.

No need to feel destined to a life of dullness and dots. Recite the incantation “prevent, protect, and be proactive.” The fate of your flawless face is in your hands.

Image courtesy Cosmetic-Hospital.ch.