How To Lighten The Dark Skin Discoloration on Your Face

If you have a darker skin tone, each and every time your skin breaks out, you'll find yourself left with a dark mark on your skin. Overtime if your skin keeps breaking out you will likely find yourself with very uneven skin tone and an increased self conscious as you wear more foundation in an attempt to even out your skin. As much as I love makeup myself, its always nice to know that makeup and especially foundation can be worn as an option as opposed to having it be a major requirement in your daily life. So to cut to the chase, I'm going to share which products have worked for me in terms of how I have managed to significantly lighten the dark skin discoloration on my face. I hope I can be of help to you if you have oily, acne prone skin and are looking for products to use in order to fade any dark mark you might have on your skin.

Skin Type: Oily, prone to the occasional breakouts

Cleaning My Face

=>To clean my face everyday, I use plain ol Dove Beauty Bar for Sensitive skin (yep my skin's so super sensitive I can't even bare to use any of those foaming cleansers, more on that at a later post). When I'm wearing makeup, I use the Dove Beauty Bar and scrub my face every so gently with a simple face brush. I gently work in the lather, then rinse using luke-warm water.

  Spot Treatment

 In order to get rid of the dark marks on my face, I use Nadinola Extra Strength Discoloration Fade Cream and I must say that I have seen very significant and impressive results and I have tried many creams in the past which never worked. So if you haven't tried the Nadinola Cream, all I have to say is THIS STUFF REALLY WORKS! 

I am not trying to lighten my skin, just fade the dark spots. I would advise that you it only to fade the dark spots because if you use it all over your face, then it might just lighten your skin, however your dark spots will become more noticeable since they won't lighten at the same color  of your skin. 

I use the following products for Spot treatment

1. Nadinola Extra Strength Fade Cream

Moisturize

=> To moisturize my face during the day, I use the Garnier Fructis Gel Cream and finish off with the Avon MagiX Face Perfector SPF 20 as part of my everyday sunscreen and shine control gel. It also works to keep dark marks from re-appearing and also protects my skin from the damaging UV rays.

I NEVER leave the house without putting on some SPF 20 and I absolutely LOVE the Avon Magix Face Perfector because it work on ALL skin tones, from light to dark!

 

At nigh and before bed I simply moisturize my face using Bio Oil which has worked wonders for my face and its the one oil that has never broken me out and it also helps to even out my skin!

Toning

=> I use a toner on my face every other week and especially if I'm wearing foundation I use the toner after cleansing my face. The only toner I use is the Thayer Witch Hazel Toner (Rose Petal) simply because its alcohol free, it works very well and it doesn't dry out my face like some of the toners I've used in the past. Whenever I apply a chemical peel to my face, I also use some toner beforehand and I find that doing so really helps to open up my pores and allows the peel to work on more deeper layers of the skin.  

 Skin Resurfacing & Preventing Breakouts

=> The very first thing I did when I started the process to try and lighten the dark skin discoloration on my face was a chemical peel (I did one all by myself at home). The peel I started using 1 year ago and still use to this day, is the Salicylic Acid 20% Professional Gel Peel from Amazon. I recommend that if you've never used any chemical peel to start with the 20% concentration, and only leave it on for 2 minutes the first time. I leave it on my face now for just 7 minutes maximum. 
- I have never gone higher in concentration because the Salicylic Acid 20% concentration works perfectly for me and my skin has adjusted very well to it from the start and up to now. 
- I always use a neutralizer every time I finish a peel and before I rinse of the peel with luke-warm water as this helps to balance the ph levels on my skin.

•  To make the neutralizer, I just mix regular baking soda with luke-warm water in a spray bottle and use it after 7 minutes with the peel on my face, I rinse my face with plain water and also spray the neutralizer on my face once more. I find this really calms my skin after a peel.

What to expect when using Salicylic acid peel:
-Stinging of the skin, your skin will sting alot especially the first few times you use it
- Again, a stinging burning sensation...
-Flaking  of the skin 1 or 2 days after you apply the peel ( not to worry, this is the peel working to help your body in shedding off the top layer of the skin, revealing new skin underneath) 
- Excessively dry skin like you won't believe!...This is where the Bio Oil comes in handy

*Very Important: Follow the directions on the insert (that comes with this peel) and never leave the peel on your face for more than 8 minutes max. Remember you're dealing with a chemical peel that has the possibility of burning your face if left on for a longer time than what's recommended. 

Lightening The Skin 

I also use the Lactic Acid 50% Professional Gel Peel with Kojic Acid & Bearberry Extract to further lighten the skin underneath what the salicylic acid has helped me shed. Its recommended that whenever you're using 2 chemical peels, you need to space them out about 2-3 weeks apart in order to avoid chemically over-
processing your skin. This is exactly what I do. I use Salicylic Acid in the first week of every month and use it for two days during that first week. Then I have two weeks of no chemical peels and on the 4th week, I use the Lactic acid  two times during that fourth week. I have a calendar to track my chemical peels and I recommend you get a separate calendar to track this process as well as it will be less confusing in the long run.  
When I first started using it 4 months ago, I wasn't seeing results as quickly as I hopped but at the present time, I really do notice a great difference especially in terms of the intensity of the dark marks and the smoothness of my skin. Most of the dark marks I had on my forehead from previous breakouts are all but faded away. 
In terms of really helping to lighten any dark skin discoloration you may have on your face, this Lactic Acid peel really helps to fade any post acne pigmentation marks, melasma or other dark spots you have on your skin. It's also thick so you can build the layers as you see fit.

What to expect when Using Lactic Acid Gel Peel
- A stinging sensation especially if its your first application
- Flaking skin ( this is the acid working to help your skin shed faster and reveal new skin underneath)
- A whiteish cast to your skin your skin may look a bit frosty during and after you use the peel, this should go away with time and as the skin sheds more.

Purging Pores & Getting Rid of Blackheads

=> I am never without my Mint Julep Masque, absolutely can't live without it! I use this mask 2 days every week to purge my pores, dry out any zits or pimples and it also works in get rid of any developing blackheads on my skin. I've heard of some people experiencing some stinging sensation when using this mask, however for me that's not the case.The only downside to this mask is with the packaging, it tends to dry out in the tube if you don't store it with the lid facing down. So to make sure it doesn't dry out and get crusty, don't store it laying sideways, but store it with the lid facing down on a flat counter surface or you can instead get the Mint Julep Masque Jar and save yourself the trouble.

That's pretty much the regular round of products I use to stay spot free and acheive a more even complexion and skin tone. I never use any products that have Hydroquinone as a lightening ingredient and I stay far away from using concentrated vitamin E oil on my face ( no other oil breaks me out like vitamin E oil!).  I also NEVER EVER use a face towel on my face! I noticed that when I used to breakout often is when I used to use a face towel to dry off my face after cleansing. Nowadays, I just wash my face and let it air dry before applying moisturizer and I rarely break out!! 

Your pillow cases can also cause breakouts, make sure that you're changing your pillow case every week, yep i said it, EVERY WEEK! Keep in mind your hair contains oils, which usually transfers onto your pillowcase at night when you're sleeping. Doing a face plant into a dirty pillow each and every night is just a recipe for breakouts on your face! Always remember, even though there are great products you can use to get rid of the dark skin discoloration on your face, prevention is always better than any treatment!

How To Naturally Lighten Dark Knees

Dark knees can limit your clothing options especially once summer comes around. Depending how dark your knees are, you might not feel very comfortable wearing knee length skirts (without nylons that is), and you certainly won't feel the most confident wearing shorts without feeling just a little bit self conscious. The good news is, you don't have to live with dark knees forever. You can actually fade and lighten dark knees as well as dark elbows by taking a few steps daily and paying special attention to these areas. Start now and by the time summer arrives, you'll be ready to wear any knee length skirt and shorts if you feel like it!

Its disheartening to have to skip over a dress because you're afraid of how your knees will look in it and you know its the perfect length but you just have to go with something that covers your legs more but is also less flattering. There are natural cures and treatments for dark spots and in order to get to the treatment, you first need to know what causes the darkening of the knees

The following are some possible causes of dark spots on knees:

Your Childhood

This particular skin condition is actually not that uncommon especially in young people of a darker complexion such as East Indians, African Americans, Filipinos, Middle Eastern and people with darker complexions. Most young people develop dark knees from early childhood and due to a variety of reasons. The knees and elbows are constantly bending, standing and coming across friction at all times and even more so in early age. Next time you're out and near small children watch how much time they spend contantly hitting the floor with their knees (try not to be creepy about it lol), this could bring an image of what you were probably like as a child. The constant friction on the knees is what results in the darkening of the skin around the knees which is also what most people struggle with later on in life after their childhood.

Genetics

 Another contributing factor to this skin condition is genetics, yep, good old mom and dad's and your ancestor's genes. If most people in your family also have darkened knees, then chances are very high that you will also develop the same skin condition.  

Skin Care Routine

Poor skin care is also to blame for any dark spots you have on your knees. Even though you might be on a strict beauty regimen, chances are you're not paying attention to your knees as you do with the rest of your face. Keep in mind the skin on your knees is of a different texture and thickness (just touch it and you'll know what I mean). Your  knees are more at risk for developing dry, flaky skin that is also more pigmented that the rest of your body.

Mr. Sun

The sun is the ultimate friend to my happiness. I love the sun and can't live anywhere where the sun doesn't shine! However if you have dark knees, the sun can actually worsen them. Without any sunscreen to protect your knees, they will turn darker and will definitely be that much more noticeable. So to keep your knees from further darkening, slather on some sunscreen whenever you're wearing shorts or an above knee skirt or dress in the summertime.

Disease and Hormones
Some medical conditions and diseases can actually result in excessive pigmentation on the face as well as other parts of the body such as the knees and elbows. Ovarian cysts, Addison's disease is one of those medical conditions that usually cause skin pigment change and the production of excess melanin in most women. Hormonal changes and imbalances may also lead to the darkening of the knees.

Medication
Medication can also cause your skin's melanocytes (the skin cells that produce melanin ) to become more active and as a result produce more melanin which results in darker knees. You will need to treat the darkened spots with the home remedies supplied here and if that fails to fade the dark spots, you may need to consult with a qualified estetician or a medical doctor such as a dermatologist.

How to Get Rid of These Dark Marks

Our knees and elbows are the areas in our body that are vulnerable the most to skin damage since they undergo regular friction on most days of the week. This kind of friction results in the collection of dead skin cells which can then become dry, flaky and dark in color. Let's take a look at how you can treat these areas using natural home remedies that work to lighten dark knees and elbows. 

The first golden rule to fading dark marks is to regularly moisturize and exfoliate your knees and elbows as well as to always apply sunscreen whenever you leave the house wearing shorts or an above the knee skirt/dress especially if you live in a sunny-all-year around area ( in that case, i'm extremely jealous) or whenever you're going out in the summer or while on vacation.

Now onto the first home made remedy to lighten those pesky dark knees...

Sugar Scrub: 

If you want to eventually get rid of your dark knees, the first step you need to take is to ensure that you properly exfoliate the skin on your elbows. Sugar works best. I personally prefer to use brown sugar but you can use either brown or white sugar depending on your preferences.

1. Take one full lemon and cut it in half, squeeze out the lemon juice from both lemon halves into the brown sugar using a lemon squeezer

2. Take a spoon and scoop out a bit of the mixture and gently scrub your knees with it, leave it on for 15-20 minutes

3. Shower off with lukewarm water

*Do this twice a week and follow up with a good moisturizer

If you have very dark skin discolorations. I would recommend that you try using a pumice stone to gently scrub and exfoliate your skin. Please do not apply an acid peel until 2 weeks after you have exfoliated your knees! You may end up hurting yourself and causing permanent scarring to your skin. 

 

You can find the brown sugar here 

If your knees are very dark, use a pumice stone. Find it here. 

 2. If your knees are  really Dark...(Most Effective Method)

If you suffer from really dark knees the chances are using just sugar to exfoliate will take slower to get you the results you want, in such cases its better to  be more aggressive with your treatment, you can use Professional Grade 50% Lactic Acid to chemically exfoliate the skin around your knees. Always follow the directions on the peel in order not to burn/damage your skin.

 

Professional Grade 50% Lactic Acid Peel 

1.Use a cotton to apply the lactic acid to your knee area, wait for 7-8 minutes
2. Neutralize the peel with 3 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with 2 cups of water and then rinse the area using cold water, pat dry

After you apply the lactic acid, follow up by applying Xtreme Brite Brightening Gel 1oz to both knees. Roll up your pants and allow the skin lightening gel to soak in and not be wiped away by your clothing. Do this for 3 months and you should start to see results as the Xtreme Brite Skin Lightening Gel is very effective in lightening dark marks on skin. 

Buy Xtreme Brite Gel at Amazon.com

After you have seen the results you desire in 3 months or so, you can maintain your results by doing the following:



Moisturizer

 Moisturizing is also just as important for your knees and should be done every single day. Your elbows and knees are the  the areas on your body that can get very dry very quick (hence why people call it 'ashy'). What do you do when you get ashy? You MOISTURIZE of course! The best moisturizer for your knees and elbows is really cocoa butter, you can use Palmer's Cocoa Butter, or make your own mixture with raw shea butter. Make sure that you moisturize your skin everyday and especially after you scrub.

Oil Massage: 

 Since the skin on your knees and elbows does not have any oil glands, you can massage in some oil every other day. Both olive oil, jojoba oil and coconut oil are excellent options. In order to create a lightening oil: 

 1. Mix some coconut oil with some lemon or lime juice and apply it to your knees and elbows

2. Leave it on for 25-30 minutes, then wipe it off with a towel. 

You don't want to rinse it off completely since it will not work as well, however you also don't want to make your bed sheets dirty with oils! 

*Coconut oil acts as an emollient and a moisturizer, lemon juice helps to lighten the dark knees and elbows 

Vitamin E Oil

Another natural home remedy for fading dark spots is vitamin E oil combined with equal amounts of lemon juice and vegetable glycerin:

1.Take one tablespoon of vitamin E oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice along with 1 tablespoon glycerin and mix them in a shallow bowl. 

2. Add 12 teaspoons of milk to this mixture and apply it slowly to your elbows

3. Rinse it all off after 20 minutes

*Milk is a natural skin lightener that's has been used in India for many years to lighten the skin. It contains Lactic acid, a highly effective skin lightening component.

Aloe Vera Gel
You can also use aloe vera gel in order to fade dark knees and elbows. If you don't have aloe vera juice, you can also use lemon juice and powdered milk. Just mix 1/2 cup of powdered milk with the juice of one whole lemon, warm the mixture very slightly and then apply it to both your elbows and your knees using a thin but soft cloth. Allow the mixture to stay on your skin for around 20 -15 minutes. Do this everyday because consistency is the key to remove these annoying marks.

In order to really see the results you want, you need to exfoliate as well as moisturize your skin every single day. Make sure that you use sunscreen on your knees and elbows whenever your knees and elbows are directly exposed to the sun. Drink tons of water each and everyday ( at least 5-8 glasses, I know you've heard it all before...). Avoid kneeling and leaning on your knees and elbows regularly because doing so will worsen your knees and elbows by darkening them.

 Don't be too rough when scrubbing your knees, be gentle and only exfoliate once every two or three days in order to avoid skin irritation. Following a regular skin care routine on your knees as well as your elbows is what will help you to lighten your dark knees. You need to be consistent and patient if you ever expect to see any results.

If you still don't see any results, you may need to try a more intensive skin peel such as the 50% Lactic acid peel in order to exfoliate the top layer of the skin and prepare it for treatment. You may also need to consult with a dermatologist or a qualified aestetician to find the best topical serum, cream or lotion for you.  If on the other hand you experience additional symptoms you need to get medical attention as soon as possible as it could be an indication of another problem.