Darker areas on the skin occur due to a condition known as hyper pigmentation. This can be an unpleasant condition for many individuals, especially if it occurs on the face. Everyone would like to have skin that is clear and smooth. Even with regular skin care routines, dark spots can still develop. They appear as areas of discoloration on the skin and persist for a long time. Hyper pigmentation can be caused by several factors that could be either internal or external.
Internal factors could include a condition known as Edison’s disease or other hepatic problems. Intake of excess iron can also cause dark areas to appear on the skin. Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy or menopause may also play a role in hyper pigmentation. Deficiencies of certain nutrients such as vitamin A, B and E as well as calcium can also result in skin discoloration. The most common cause, however, of dark spots on the skin is increased exposure to the sun. When the body is over exposed to the sun, skin cells called melanocytes begin to produce melanin in increased amounts. Melanin is the pigment which gives the skin its color. It works as a natural sunscreen and protects the body against the harmful effects of the ultra violet rays of the sun. When melanin is produced in excess, it causes the appearance of darkened areas of the skin. It is advisable to first consult a dermatologist in order to determine the cause of the dark spots.
For lightening dark areas on the skin you can take a couple of teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of orange juice. Mix the two together and apply on the dark spots using a cotton swab. You can also make a paste of sandalwood powder, oatmeal, milk and rose water and scrub the darkened areas of skin gently with this. Do this thrice a week and you will receive positive results in a short period of time. Another excellent remedy for dark spots is to take a spoonful each of sour cream and yogurt. Add to this half a cup of powdered oatmeal and a few drops of lime juice. Mix the ingredients well and apply to the dark spots. Leave the paste on for about ten minutes, before washing it off with cool water. Watermelon peel rubbed on darkened skin has a bleaching effect and will serve to gradually lighten the skin if done regularly. Fresh aloe vera gel may also be applied to the brown spots on the face. You can also apply a paste of mashed potato on the affected areas.