And about why skin whitening has become so popular in Africa, read the longread by historian Alexey Tselunov.
The data presented by the author does not fully prove the harm or benefit of certain drugs, but represents an overview of medical hypotheses, clinical trial results and individual cases.
There are many ways to lighten skin. Some of them relate to medical procedures for the treatment of pigmentation disorders, others are used only in cosmetology, and others are homemade “grandmother’s” recipes or fantasies of beauty bloggers. The first and second can be classified according to the type of impact. Physical ones include laser correction and cryotherapy, and chemical ones include treatment with various reagents or their mixtures that act directly on the molecular mechanisms of pigmentation formation (hydroquinone, tretinoin, glutathione, etc.) or whiten only the surface of the skin due to the oxidation of pigments (hydrogen peroxide , sodium hypochlorite) or leaching (various acids). Here we will focus on chemical approaches, since, unlike physical manipulations, many of the substances used not only act during the procedure, but are also able to penetrate through the skin deep into the body, enter the circulatory system and enter the internal organs, causing long-term consequences.
How to speed up the removal of tanning
How to quickly whiten your face after sunbathing?
You can try homemade or store-bought scrubs that contain whitening elements. This method is only suitable if there are no signs of sunburn. Once the swelling, redness and flaking of the skin has been relieved, you can begin the skin whitening process.
There is also a wide range of cosmetics with a whitening effect on the market. These are basically creams that moisturize cells and even out the tone. You need to select the optimal whitening product, taking into account the type and characteristics of your skin.
Juice
Another common home remedy for natural skin lightening is freshly squeezed juices. They are rich in vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial for the skin. However, some fruits and vegetables, on the contrary, stimulate melanin synthesis and enhance the skin's absorption of sunlight. If you want to lighten your skin, avoid drinking orange, carrot, and celery juice, especially before going out.
When to do whitening
The skin can change color under the influence of ultraviolet rays or diseases of the internal organs. In the first case, you can make your skin white using home or store-bought remedies. In the second, you need to find the cause of the change in skin color and begin treatment with medications.
So, skin whitening is recommended in the following cases:
- Too strong or uneven tan.
- The appearance of age spots or freckles after sunbathing.
- Skin rejuvenation after relaxing on the beach.
- Unsuccessful use of self-tanning products.
In these cases, you can try to even out skin tone and eliminate imperfections using homemade masks and scrubs.
Nutrition
A combination of a teaspoon of honey, the same amount of potato starch and a couple of teaspoons of salt can whiten and remove dead skin particles. All ingredients must be mixed together until smooth.
Honey has a nutritional function. It contains many beneficial elements for the skin. Thanks to it, the skin tone quickly evens out.
Potato starch is designed to brighten the face. In addition, it is often called a substitute for Botox, because it can have a similar effect, only not chemical, but natural.
In this case, it is best to choose sea salt. It is this that has excellent peeling properties. Before combining all the components of the mixture, it must be crushed in a blender.
For those with dry and overly sensitive skin, it is best to add a teaspoon of milk here. Apply the finished mask in a thin layer over the entire face, including the areas around the eyes and lips. As soon as the first layer dries a little, you need to immediately apply the second. In one session it is necessary to use up the entire prepared mixture. Keep the mask on for up to 25 minutes. The lightening course consists of 12 procedures, which should be carried out every other day.
Benefits of home face whitening
Homemade face whitening has the following advantages:
- First of all, the procedure can be performed at any time and you do not need to leave your home.
- Homemade whitening products are several times cheaper than store-bought ones.
- Homemade masks are prepared from simple and affordable ingredients that are absolutely safe for human health.
- You can try several whitening methods at the same time and choose the best option for yourself.
Also interesting: What to do if a child is sunburned, symptoms, first aid, treatment
Expert opinion
- Cosmetologist
- Surgeon
Anna Avaliani
practicing cosmetologist
The armpit area is an ideal environment where bacteria can easily multiply. They are the ones that cause the smell and darkening. I advise you not to forget to scrub this area as well, which will improve exfoliation and brighten the skin surface. This procedure needs to be done regularly!
Aisha Baron
plastic surgeon
If you have darkened skin in the armpit area, you should visit a dermatologist.
Perhaps there are health problems. The doctor will determine the cause and help with treatment. All the proposed methods for lightening the armpits are easy to implement and do not require any special financial costs, with the exception of the use of ready-made cosmetics.
If you follow the instructions, you can get rid of the problem in a couple of weeks. This is provided that the cause is not any disease. Then the pigmentation will appear again.
Ways to whiten your face at home
How to whiten your face from tanning at home? There are several methods of whitening, which allows everyone to choose the best option. The most popular are scrubs, masks and lotions with whitening elements. At the same time, you need to take a responsible approach to the selection of ingredients for preparing home remedies. Some substances may irritate the skin and cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, it is recommended to test a home or store-bought product on a small area of skin before use.
Smoothing tone from redness
Redness of the skin is the first sign of a sunburn. In this case, you cannot use bleaching products. First you need to relieve swelling and redness. It is better to use pharmaceutical products with panthenol, which will stop the inflammatory process and eliminate the symptoms of sunburn.
At home, you can apply fermented milk products without preservatives to reddened skin. Cold compresses based on decoctions of medicinal herbs are also effective. You can make masks based on cucumber or raw potatoes. Only after removing the redness can you begin to whiten the skin.
Home whitening scrubs
You can try the following scrubs at home to whiten your skin:
- You need to take aspirin tablets and baking soda in equal quantities. Mix everything thoroughly with water until a thick mass is formed. Apply to the skin with massage movements, leave for a few minutes and rinse with warm water. This scrub will remove the top layer of dead cells and even out your skin tone. Soda can be mixed with hydrogen peroxide and sour cream for better effect.
- Sugar based scrub. In order not to injure the skin, you need to mix sugar with cleansing foam or sour cream. Gently apply the resulting mixture to cleansed skin and rinse with cool water.
- Mix coffee grounds with fermented milk products or washing gel. Apply to the skin, leave for a few minutes and rinse with warm water.
- Steam finely ground oatmeal and mix with milk until smooth. Apply to cleansed skin with massaging movements and rinse with cool water.
- You need to take dry yeast and hydrogen peroxide in equal quantities. Mix everything until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. Before applying the scrub, you need to steam the skin for a better effect. This method perfectly cleanses pores of dirt and subcutaneous fat and removes the top layer of dead cells.
Also interesting: Methods for effective and harmless tanning in the sun, folk remedies, cosmetics
Lightening infusions and lotions
, a soft lotion with cucumber is ideal.
. To prepare it, add 5 to 10 cucumber slides and a few drops of lemon juice to a glass of mineral water. This composition does not contain preservatives and its shelf life is only a day. 250 ml is just enough for two times use. Rub your face with lotion morning and evening. During the day you can use it as a spray by pouring it into a container with a spray bottle.
Ideal for problem and oily skin lotion with parsley
. To prepare it, you need to mix half a glass of finely chopped herbs, 100 grams of alcohol and about 50 grams of any suitable oil to normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands. The tincture is placed in a cool, dark place for 14 days. It needs to be shaken periodically. After two weeks it is ready for use. Wipe your face with this solution morning and evening.
Some essential oils
also have a strong whitening effect. For example, a lotion with lavender, lemon and chamomile esters will help reduce age spots, wrinkles and inflammation. To prepare the product you need to take 300 ml of mineral water, 6 drops of chamomile and lavender and 10 citrus. Mix the solution thoroughly and leave to brew for 10 minutes. Shake the mixture lightly before use.
Oil face masks
, salt and any lightening decoction will help to cleanse the epidermis of blackheads and pimples, whiten it and give it elasticity and smoothness.
(green or chamomile tea, herbal tea with bearberry, water after boiling bay leaves). For 200 ml of liquid, take no more than a spoon of each of the mineral components. Wash your face with this water twice a day before and after removing makeup.
Whitening products for face
You need to be as careful as possible when bleaching your face from tanning. First you need to relieve swelling and redness, select safe ingredients for preparing masks so as not to injure the delicate skin of the face. Below we offer several effective means for evening out your complexion.
Herbal decoction
Medicinal herbs, especially chamomile or linden, have healing properties. They soothe the skin, relieve swelling, and accelerate cell regeneration. In addition, chamomile or linden decoctions also perfectly lighten the skin. Prepare decoctions according to the instructions on the package. We wipe the face with the prepared solution several times a day. You can also take baths with infusions to even out your skin tone.
Dairy recipe
Fermented milk products perfectly relieve swelling and redness and have a whitening effect. In this case, you should choose only natural milk, sour cream or kefir without preservatives. For the best effect, you need to add oatmeal to the yogurt. Mix everything thoroughly and apply to cleansed skin for a few minutes. This mask can be done daily until the desired effect is achieved. Suitable for all skin types.
Lemon-protein mask
If pigment spots or freckles appear on your face after sunbathing, you can try lemon juice. It whitens the skin perfectly. In order to fix the juice on the skin, it is recommended to mix it with egg white. Apply to the face and wait until the protein dries completely, rinse with cool water. This mask not only whitens age spots, but also tightens the skin. Recommended for combination or oily skin.
Clay composition
Cosmetic clay perfectly whitens and tones the skin, cleanses pores of subcutaneous fat. In order to whiten your nose and cheeks, it is recommended to choose white or blue clay. For the best effect, dissolve the clay in milk until thick. Apply to the skin and wait until it dries completely, rinse with cool water.
Fruit masks
Fruit acid has the ability to whiten skin.
We offer several masks based on fruit acids to even out skin tone:
- Cut the papaya into two parts and begin to wipe your face with massage movements. After a few minutes, wash off with warm water. Can be used after sunbathing on the beach or in the solarium.
- Prepare a mask based on banana and milk. Mix everything thoroughly until thick and apply to cleansed skin for a few minutes.
- Dissolve turmeric in orange juice and heat in a water bath. Apply the mixture to the skin of the face. The exposure time ranges from 10 to 20 minutes.
- Rub fresh lemon juice over cleansed face and rinse with cool water.
Also interesting: How to get a beautiful and even tan, preparation, skin care
Whitening freckles and age spots
You can whiten your facial skin from age spots and freckles using both folk and store-bought remedies. Today there are cosmetics with whitening elements that allow you to eliminate all side effects after tanning in a short period of time.
At home, you can prepare masks and scrubs based on products with a whitening effect, for example, potatoes, cucumber, lemon, fermented milk products and hydrogen peroxide.
Useful tips
A clay mask perfectly helps to nourish the skin and remove dead cells. After dissolving the powder purchased at the pharmacy with warm water and applying the resulting paste to your face and neck, you should let it dry. After washing off the layer of clay, the skin will become smooth and silky, and the complexion will be more fresh.
The mask is well suited for girls going on vacation to the sea. After it, the tan will lie evenly, but you still shouldn’t neglect protective equipment.
Particular attention should be paid to the quality of cosmetics and creams. If you experience even a mild allergic reaction or unpleasant tingling sensation during use, you will have to discard this product. The skin of the face is very delicate and should be as comfortable as possible.
The cause of pigmentation can be metabolic and hormonal imbalance in the body. Pregnancy and childbirth, taking certain medications and even severe stress contribute to the appearance of brown spots on the skin. Sometimes they disappear on their own after the body’s condition normalizes, but more often they have to be countered using the above methods.
How to whiten body skin
Traditional methods can even out skin tone after tanning. In this case, you need to choose safe ingredients that do not irritate the skin and do not cause allergic reactions. Below we offer several effective methods for whitening body skin.
Potato recipe
Daily preparation of masks based on raw potatoes will help to quickly whiten your skin. In this case, you can take both pulp and juice. For the best effect, add a small amount of lemon juice to grated raw potatoes. Mix everything thoroughly and apply to cleansed skin for a few minutes. After just a few treatments, the skin will become noticeably whiter.
Cucumber mask
Cucumber contains whitening and toning elements, which is why it is often used in cosmetology and for preparing store-bought products. You can use both pulp and juice. So, grind the cucumber to a paste. Apply the resulting product to cleansed skin for a few minutes, rinse with warm water. Recommended for all skin types.
Reviews
To verify the effectiveness of the methods disclosed in the article on how to whiten your armpits, you can additionally look at the reviews available on the Internet.
ANGELIKA, 29 YEARS OLD:
“I have heard repeatedly about the effectiveness of lemon juice as a skin whitener.
One day I decided to apply it after epilating my armpits. Indeed, my skin has brightened significantly. I started doing this every time and now after hair removal my skin tone doesn’t stand out. Now I recommend this method to all my friends.”
OLGA, 28 YEARS OLD:
“I use A'PIEU Deo Armpit Brightener.
The first time I misunderstood the instructions and simply applied the cream and washed it off after it dried. But the effect was not particularly impressive. It turned out that after application it should be rubbed into the skin for several minutes. The result was more pleasing. The skin also becomes silkier after the cream.”
ANNA, 28 YEARS OLD:
“Since my youth, I have suffered from increased sweating, which is associated with gastrointestinal disorders.
I was advised to order a roll-on crystal deodorant with turmeric from an online store. One tube lasts me for several days. I apply it constantly and there is absolutely no sweat smell. He is my salvation!
Causes of pigmentation
The problem may be hidden in external or internal factors. As a rule, pigmentation develops gradually. The reasons are:
- Hormonal changes with age or pregnancy.
- Intoxication.
- Action of ultraviolet light.
- Certain medications.
- Lack of vitamins.
- Consequences of skin diseases.
- Diseases of the nervous system, liver and stomach.
Sometimes you can first try to improve the health of the body, and then take on skin whitening.
Infusion
A remedy that can be prepared even in a village does not need popularity. It is very effective and reliable, as every person who tries it on himself can quickly see. To prepare the infusion you will need:
- parsley - a bunch;
- boiling water - a glass.
The ingredients must be combined in a separate container and closed with a lid. The product needs to be infused until it cools down. Then they are allowed to wash or wipe their face with cotton swabs soaked in it.
You can use the infusion 2-3 times a day. The first noticeable results can be seen after about a week of daily rubbing.
