Discover ways to get an even skin tone for black skin.
The skin is a very delicate part of our bodies, and it is important to take the best care of it possible. It is important to hydrate and provide your skin with the supplements it regularly needs to keep it healthy. However, even with the best skincare routines, there are still some conditions that can occur.
Uneven skin tone is irregular darkening on the skin, which is a natural process of the body. The severity varies from person to person, and the cause of your skin discolouration can differ, but for darker skin tones, it can be much more noticeable.
There are ways to treat uneven skin tones and help make them less prominent, but it is also essential to understand what it is and why it is caused. So, how to get an even skin tone for black skin?
To combat discolouration and get a much more even skin tone, you need to use anti-inflammatory benefits, such as products containing vitamin C or ferulic acid. There are other ways of helping discolouration like chemical peels and using SPF, but the ingredients in these products help to get an even skin tone.
In this post, we’ll be looking at why skin discolouration is caused and the different ways to get an even skin tone for black skin.
What is skin discolouration?
Discolouration
Skin discolouration is the dark spots that create an uneven skin tone caused by the melanin pigment. Melanin pigment is produced to protect the skin from the sun rays and UV light; darker skin tones have more melanin pigment as natural protection from the sun as it is very damaging to the skin.
When there are darker areas, known as sunspots, on the face, it is a natural skin defence, where more melanin is produced to specific areas that need more protection. Even though the skin has its own natural defence, it is important to remember that it is not strong enough on its own, and we need to help protect it as much as we can.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation also causes skin discolouration; it is pigmentation that follows an injury or inflammation of the skin. After having spots, injuries to your skin or health condition such as acne, the skin overcompensates during the healing process and produces more melanin. The higher level of melanin in specific areas creates darker spots and what most call scarring, which is the reason behind the uneven skin tone.
How to get an even skin tone for black skin
Creating a more even, brighter and smoother skin tone is the goal for many people, but doing it safely and effectively can be difficult. There are a few ways you can achieve a much more even skin tone; the ways discussed below are external ways to help; however it is just as important to treat your skin internally to ensure an even skin tone that is healthy and restored.
Dermatologist treatments
For severe cases or professional help rather than home treatments, you can try going to a dermatologist for targeted treatments. It is vital to point out that it is best to avoid laser treatments if you have darker skin.
Laser treatments are aimed to target darker spots; if you have a higher level of melanin pigment in your skin, the laser treatments may not be as accurate in targeting your darker spots. The distinction between your natural skin tone and the darker spots is harder for the laser to detect than it would in lighter skin tones; due to this, it can make your discolouration worse.
A better dermatology option for darker skin tones would be chemical peels. There are different types of chemical peels, and they will vary depending on the dermatologists you go to, but salicylic acid peels are great for discolouration. Salicylic acid is a gentle acid that exfoliates the top layer of the skin and reveals a brighter and fresher complexion.
At-home treatments
If you want to achieve an even skin tone from home, then having a skincare routine with products that aim to brighten the skin and have anti-inflammatory benefits is the way forward. You need to look out for specific ingredients in the products to use; there are vitamin C and ferulic acid.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that has powerful skin-lightening benefits and protects skin cells from UV exposure. Ferulic acid is a plant-based antioxidant that enhances the benefits other vitamins provide and, like vitamin C, protects the skin from sun damage. If the products you are using contain these ingredients, there’s a much more concentrated chance of combating hyperpigmentation.
The basis of a skincare routine should include a cleanser, toner, exfoliator, serums, moisturisers and SPF.
The cleanser you use should be AHA or BHA as they are both exfoliants and will help remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. A cleanser with salicylic acid or lactic acid will also be very beneficial in helping combat hyperpigmentation.
Toners are great for brightening the skin and will minimise the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Alongside a toner, you should use an exfoliator once a week to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells. You only want to exfoliate once a week as it can be harsh on the skin and cause further damage if done too often.
Applying serums to your skin is great for rejuvenating and replenishing your skin. As mentioned earlier, vitamin C and ferulic acid are key ingredients to help even out your skin tone; applying a serum with these in is a good way to get a healthy amount into your skin.
Keeping your skin hydrated is vital in treating hyper-pigmentation, so using a good moisturiser right for your skin is important. Depending on the type of skin you have, finding a moisturiser that helps hydrate and brighten your complexion is what you’re looking for.
Finally, you need to use suncream every day to protect your skin from the sun and prevent further sunspots from appearing, and it’ll also protect your existing ones from getting darker.
Use SPF
As we said earlier, melanin is produced to protect the skin from sun rays and UV light, but this alone is not enough to fully protect your skin. It’s often a misconception that darker skin tones don’t need to use SPF, but this is not the case.
Even if you have darker skin, you need to use an SPF of at least 30, no matter your skin tone. Although darker skin tones may not get sunburnt easily, they are still susceptible to sun-induced damage like; sunspots, burns, and skin cancer in much more severe cases.
Get regular facials
Getting facials regularly is not only an excellent way for you to relax; it is a great way to treat your skin and help keep your face in good condition. Having regular facials has so many benefits for the skin; it will lift dead skin cells, refine your skin texture, balance and brighten your skin.
If you don’t take proper care of your skin, then a dull appearance caused by clogged up pores will make hyper-pigmentation worse, so the facials will help unclog your pores and prevent this from happening. If you can get facials on a regular basis, then ideally, you should have them every six to eight weeks for the best results.
Summary
These are key ways to help combat skin discolouration and achieve a much more even skin tone. It is important to remember that your skin is very delicate, and you need to take good care of it; make sure to do your best to get in the best routine you can with beneficial products.
Try not to use too many products and chemicals on your face at once; this can be difficult with the different products advised to use but once you find what works for you, try to keep the number of products to a minimum. If you have sensitive skin, then be aware of the products you are using, as if you use products that are too harsh for your skin, it can cause your discolouration to worsen.