Uneven skin tone pertains to any area of the skin that’s darker than the skin surrounding it.
It is also often called ‘hyperpigmentation’ since the primary cause of this condition is the skin overproducing melanin, the pigment that gives the skin and hair a dark color.
When your body produces too much melanin, dark spots and patches will appear, making your skin look older, dull, and unappealing.
Other Causes of Uneven Skin Tone
Aside from the overproduction of melanin, uneven skin tone can also be caused by:
● Skin inflammation
Various issues, such as acne and eczema flare-ups, and injuries like cuts and burns, can also form dark spots, patches, or scars called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or PIH on your skin.
These patches then become darker than the surrounding skin.
● Constant sun exposure
Unprotected sun exposure causes sunspots, which is another common cause of uneven skin tone.
Without sunscreen or sunblock, your skin produces more melanin to protect itself from the sun’s UV rays.
However, melanin can’t fight the damaging effects of UV rays on its own. As such, sunspots and sunburns will appear on your skin, affecting your complexion.
If you want to avoid sunspots and other blemishes on your face caused by UV rays and the overproduction of melanin, ensure you include wearing sunscreen in your facial care regimen in Dubai and other hot places.
● Air pollution
Dust, chemicals, smoke, smog, carbon dioxide, and other pollutants that float in the air wreak havoc on your skin. These particles generate free radicals on your skin, causing the loss of collagen and elastin.
Melanin also helps keep the free radicals on your skin in check. In the process, your body can also start over-secreting melanin, causing your complexion to become uneven.
● Hormonal fluctuations
Melasma is a hormonal issue that causes hyperpigmentation. This condition usually affects women who are pregnant, on birth control, or undergoing hormone therapy.
Melasma appears as blotchy spots, giving you a patchy complexion.
If you have a hormonal imbalance, your dermatologist and general practitioner will have to work together to treat this condition.
Improving Uneven Skin Tone
Below are six tips for fixing and improving uneven skin tone:
1. Exfoliate regularly
Using a gentle exfoliating scrub regularly is one of the best ways of maintaining a healthy, even skin tone. This is because exfoliation takes off the debris and dead skin cells from your face.
It is best to use chemical exfoliants with retinoids, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid since these are absorbed and work at a deeper level. Because of this, you can guarantee more even exfoliation, since you are spreading the serum over your face.
However, make sure you don’t exfoliate too aggressively, since this can disturb your skin’s natural balance, which can cause additional problems.
If you are bothered by the uneven skin tone in other areas of your body other than your face, try exfoliating these parts gently with a buffer or exfoliating gloves.
2. Moisturize
Excessive dryness can aggravate and speed up the development of uneven skin tone. As such, make it a habit to moisturize twice a day to avoid this skin issue.
Using a good moisturizer will help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Also, the product will provide a protective barrier for your skin to reduce the harm caused by environmental pollutants.
When you consistently moisturize, you will notice that your dark spots blend more easily and won’t be too obvious.
If your skin is extremely dry and looking dull, you may need a heavy-duty moisturizing treatment.
3. Wear sunscreen
Prevention is always the most effective strategy when you want to get rid of uneven skin tone.
Wearing sunscreen daily minimizes sun damage to your skin. This will prevent immediate redness and peeling from sunburns and the formation of sunspots.
Make it a habit to apply sunscreen every morning, even if you’re staying in and whether it is visibly sunny or overcast. Do this even during winter.
Also, reapply sunscreen at least every hour if you will stay outdoors for long periods.
4. Use a serum
If you have sensitive skin, choose a serum with gentle forms of vitamin C, such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.
However, if you have mature and acne-prone skin, serums with retinol are your best options since they can smoothen and eliminate skin complexion and texture irregularities.
Glycolic acid is another ingredient you should look for in a serum if you are shopping for one. It works with other natural brighteners to stimulate gentle chemical exfoliation, which can counteract fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.
5. Add a toner to your daily skincare routine
If you are currently not using a toner, you will do well to include it in your daily skincare regimen now.
Using a soothing toner on your face after cleansing can help clean and brighten your skin, leaving it looking hydrated, healthy, and even.
Toners work to unclog and tighten your pores to reveal smooth and clean skin. Additionally, these products help remove traces of debris, makeup, and other impurities, helping you maintain healthy and glowing skin.
If you are shopping for a toner, make sure you avoid products with parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, and other artificial ingredients, since these can irritate your skin and aggravate skin redness if you have this issue.
6. Make some key skincare and lifestyle changes
Changing some habits and routines can also help even out your uneven skin tone and prevent it from the beginning. You can also follow Seint color match system for radiant skin tone.
Some of the important changes you should make are:
- Limiting sun exposure. Even if you are wearing sunscreen, avoid staying outdoors for long periods. Stay under shaded areas whenever possible. Also, always wear a hat and sunglasses when you are out and the sun is hot.
- Avoid smoking. Smoking causes various health issues, including accelerating signs of aging. If you don’t smoke, minimize your exposure to third hand smoke.
- Drinking plenty of water. Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your skin and body. As such, follow the 8×8 rule and drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day.
If you have taken these steps and you’re still not satisfied with the tone of your skin, it would be best to consult your dermatologist for alternative treatment options.
