The colour of our skin is determined by the presence of a pigment called Melanin. People with naturally abundant melanin have darker skin tone, whereas people with lesser melanin have lighter skin tone. Now, what happens when your skin produces excessive melanin in only certain spots? Well! Melanin produced disproportionately and unevenly in the skin is what’s called hyperpigmentation or what we generally recognize as dark spots on our face. Call it uneven skin tone, discoloration or dark spots; it can be a spoiler, even if you have a great skin.
There are a several reasons that cause skin discoloration or dark spots. They can appear in shades of red, black or brown and can occur in different shapes and sizes.
Few reasons as to why black spots can appear are:
- Exposure to sun
- Scars left by pimple, acne or injury
- Facial hair removal
- Pregnancy
- Too much stress
- Certain vitamin deficiencies
- Hormonal imbalance
- Lack of sleep
There are many remedies in the market to deal with the dark spots such as laser treatments and chemical peels. But these do not guarantee a long-term treatment since they have a lot of side effects and restrictions on using only certain products. Besides, these treatments are performed in a span of more than 1 sitting and each sitting costs a bomb.
But you can fight of dark spots easily by using ingredients available in your kitchen.
Method1: Lemon juice
Lemon has abundance of vitamin C in it and is citric in nature which makes a natural bleaching agent. This reduces the hyperpigmentation and lightens the scars and dark spots on your skin.
Thing you’ll need:
- Lemon – 1
- Mixing bowl
Lemon juice remedy #1
Step 1. Squeeze 1 fresh lemon in a bowl.
Step 2. Dab a cotton ball in the juice and apply it on the dark spots.
Step 3. Let it sit until it’s dry and rinse off with cold water.
- Repeat this every night before going to sleep, till you see a visible reduction in dark spots
Note:
- After performing this remedy if you feel itchiness on your skin, use a drop of olive oil to moisturize the skin.
Lemon juice remedy #2
Things you’ll need:
- Sandalwood powder – 1 tablespoon
- Lemon juice – enough to make a paste
- Vitamin E oil capsule – 1
Step 1. Take 1 tablespoon of sandalwood powder in a mixing bowl and add freshly squeezed lemon juice, enough to make a paste
Step 2. Squeeze 1 vitamin E oil capsule into the mixture and whip it well
Step 3. Apply on your face and let it sit for 20 minutes
Step 4. Wash off with water
- Do not go out in the sun immediately after using any face pack with lemon juice in it as it may cause sunburn.
Method 2: Vitamin E oil
Vitamin E oil is a fat-soluble vitamin and has extremely potent anti-oxidant properties; this helps in tissue repair. Vitamin E oil curtails the formation of dark spots once you start using it.
Things you’ll need:
- Vitamin E oil capsule – 1
Single step method. Puncture a vitamin E capsule and apply it directly onto the affected area
Tip:
- Apply this before going to bed every night
- Continue using this at least for a month to see visible reduction in dark spots and pigmentation.
Method 3: Potato
Potato consists of an enzyme called catecholase which promotes healthy skin whereas the starch present in it reduces the pigmentation giving your skin the perfect glow. It consists of vitamin A,C, E & B, which slows down the aging spots and darkening of skin.
Potato remedy #1
Things you’ll need:
- Potato – 1
Step 1. Take a potato and slice it in round shape
Step 2. Place the slices onto the dark spots
Step 3. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water
- Use this everyday to see noticeable difference in the skin
Potato remedy #2
Things you’ll need:
- Potato – 1
- Turmeric powder – 1 tablespoon
- Lemon juice – enough to make a paste
Step 1. Grate a potato and squeeze the juice out of it
Step 2. Add 1 tablespoon turmeric and lemon juice to make a paste
Step 3. Apply it onto the face and allow it to dry
Step 4. Rinse off with water
- You can use this remedy everyday
- Do not use soap immediately after using the face pack
Method 4. Aloe vera
This face pack uses aloe vera which is known for its skin soothing, tightening and nourishing properties. It is anti-inflammatory which helps in reducing the formation of dark spots and keeps the skin hydrated which allows dead skin to fall out and grow new tissues. Cinnamon on the other hand has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which fight off acne and pimple formation. It cleanses out the skin pores and also rubs off dean skin. Almond oil is very light in consistency and can penetrate deep into the skin removing the dirt and clearing off the blemishes.
Things you’ll need:
- Aloe vera – 2 tablespoon
- Cinnamon – 1 tablespoon
- Almond oil – ½ tablespoon
Step 1. Take 1 tablespoon cinnamon in a mixing bowl
Step 2. Add 2 tablespoon aloe vera and ½ tablespoon almond oil and mix it well
Step 3. Apply the paste on your face and let it sit for 15 minutes
Step 4. Rinse off with water
- Repeat this for 2-3 times in a week
Method 5. Turmeric
Turmeric is herb used since the ancient times, in the Indian subcontinent. It consists of curcumin, which stalls pigmentation in skin. Yogurt on the other hand has lactic acid which, prevents pimple/acne breakouts.
Things you’ll need:
- Turmeric – 1 tablespoon
- Yogurt – 2 tablespoon
- Lemon juice – 1 teaspoon
Step 1. Take 1 tablespoon turmeric in a mixing bowl
Step 2. Add 2 tablespoon yogurt and 1 teaspoon lemon juice to make a paste
Step 3. Apply this on the face and let it sit until dry
Step 4. Wash it off with lukewarm water
- Use this pack every alternate day for better results.
Method 6. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar speeds up the process of dead skin shedding and growth of new layer of skin sans the dark spot. Onions have sulphur-rich phytochemicals that protect our skin from the harmful UV rays and evens out the skin tone.
Things you’ll need:
- Onion juice – 1 tablespoon
- Apple cider vinegar – 1 tablespoon
Step 1. Combine 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon onion juice into a mixing bowl
Step 2. Dab the mix onto your skin with a cotton ball and let it sit until dry
Step 3. Rinse off with water
- Repeat this ritual every night before going to bed for 4-6 weeks to see a lightened skin tone
Method 7. Tomato
Tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, B and C that improves the production of collagen, and reduces pigmentation.
Things you’ll need:
- Tomato juice – 2 tablespoon
- Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon
Step 1. Mix 2 tablespoon tomato juice with 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a mixing bowl
Step 2. Dab the mix onto the dark spots using a cotton ball
Step 3. Allow it to dry and wash off with water
- Apply this everyday.
Method 8. Baking soda
Step 1. Mix baking soda and water in a bowl to make a thick paste
Step 2. Apply the paste to the affected area and let it sit for 2-3 minutes
Step 3. Rinse the paste off with water
Method 9. Honey
Pure unadulterated honey have anti-microbial qualities which heals inflamed skin, thus reducing dark spots.
Things you’ll need:
- Honey – 2 tablespoon
- Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon
Step 1. Take 2 tablespoon honey in a bowl and add 1 tablespoon lemon juice to it. Mix well.
Step 2. Apply a thick layer of this paste onto the face and let it sit for 30 minutes
Step 3. Rinse off with water
- Use this everyday.
Method 10. Coconut water
Tender coconut water is a skin elixir and consists of nutrients which hydrates and makes the skin supple. It enhances blood circulation to the skin, this allows the skin to get required amount of nutrients which releases the otherwise stagnated toxins under the skin. This is rich in vitamin C, helps in reduction of dark spots.
Things you’ll need:
- Fuller’s earth – 1 tablespoon
- Coconut water – 1 ½ tablespoon
Step 1. Mix 1 ½ tablespoon tender coconut water with 1 tablespoon fuller’s earth to make a paste
Step 2. Apply to the face and neck and let it sit until dry
Step 3. Rinse off with water
- Apply this pack everyday to see visible results
Method 11. Red sandalwood powder
The major cause of dark spot formation is exposure to the sun. Red sandalwood helps in removal of suntan and sunburn effectively. This also fades the existing dark spots, since it has cooling and soothing properties.
Red sandalwood powder remedy #1
Things you’ll need:
- Red sandalwood powder – 2 tablespoon
- Milk – 2 tablespoon
Step 1. Mix 2 tablespoon of red sandalwood powder with 2 tablespoon of milk to make a paste
Step 2. Apply it onto the face and leave it on until dry
Step 3. Wash off with water
- Apply this paste every day.
Red sandalwood powder remedy #2
Things you’ll need:
- Red sandalwood powder – 1 tablespoon
- Turmeric – ½ tablespoon
- Milk – 1 tablespoon
- Yogurt – 1 tablespoon
Step 1. Mix 1 tablespoon red sandalwood powder with ½ tablespoon turmeric in a mixing bowl
Step 2. Add 1 tablespoon yogurt and 1 tablespoon milk to make a paste and apply to the face
Step 3. When the pack dries up, wash off with water
- Apply this paste every day.
Red sandalwood powder remedy #3
Things you’ll need:
- Red sandalwood powder – 1 tablespoon
- Aloe vera – 1 tablespoon
Step 1. Take 1 tablespoon red sandalwood powder in a bowl
Step 2. Scoop 1 tablespoon of aloe vera out of fresh leaves by cutting it and add it to the powder
Step 3. Mix both to make a paste and apply it to your face
Step 4. Allow the paste to sit for 20 minutes and rinse off with water
- Apply the paste every day.
Method 12. Margosa leaves
Margosa leaves have antiseptic qualities which fights off bacteria and fungus and purifies the layer of the skin off oil formation. This is a great element in reducing skin pigmentation.
Things you’ll need:
- Margosa leaf powder – 1 tablespoon
- Fuller’s earth/sandalwood/red sandalwood powder – 1 tablespoon
- Rose water – enough to make a paste
Step 1. Take 1 tablespoon margosa leaf powder and 1 tablespoon fuller’s earth or red/plain sandalwood
Step 2. Add rose water to the mix and make a paste
Step 3. Apply this to your face and allow it to dry
Step 4. Rinse off with water.
- Apply this every day.
Method 13. Basil leaves
Basil and mint both belong to the mint family and are both blood purifiers. They can be consumed orally. The basil herb can wade of staph infection in skin whereby the bacteria become resistant to any remedy and keep growing. It can put a permanent full stop to acne and pimple popping up every now and then.
Things you’ll need:
- Basil leaves powder – 1 tablespoon
- Mint leaves powder – 1 tablespoon
- Water – to make a paste
Step 1. Grind 1 tablespoon basil leaves and 1 tablespoon mint leaves together
Step 2. Apply this paste onto the affected area and let it sit for 20 minutes
Step 3. Wash off with water
- Do this every day for better results.
Method 14. Gram flour/chickpea flour
Chickpea flour is a natural facial cleanser which removes dirt right from its root on the skin.
Things you’ll need:
- Chickpea flour – 1 tablespoon
- Raw milk – to make a paste
Step 1. Mix raw milk with 1 tablespoon gram flour to make a paste
Step 2. Apply this onto the face and allow it to dry
Step 3. Wash off with water
- Use this face pack everyday to see visible reduction in dark spots
