10 Best Natural Remedies for Hyperpigmentation

As people get older, they may notice the appearance of dark spots on their face, hands or arms. These spots, which are normally harmless, are caused by hyperpigmentation. While there are commercial products made to address this skin condition, there are many natural hyperpigmentation home remedies that will reduce its appearance as well.

What is Hyperpigmentation?

The condition occurs when the body produces too much melanin. Melanin is a polymer made from an amino acid called tyrosine. It is present in everyone’s body to some degree, and it’s responsible for hair and skin color.

The amount of melanin in your body can be increased to protect your skin and hair from sun exposure. Foods containing tyrosine can help stimulate melanin production and include:

• Soy
• Carrots
• Lima Beans
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Nuts like almonds and peanuts
• Shellfish

While age spots are forms of the skin condition, so are dark spots which appear during pregnancy, freckles, liver spots and sun spots. It isn’t just a single condition as there are many types of it affecting people’s skin to varying degrees.

Different Types of Hyperpigmentation

While most people are not bothered by darker spots or patches on their skin, others what to get rid of them. Since there are many forms of it, there isn’t just one hyperpigmentation treatment that works for all types. Here are three types of the skin condition with which many people are familiar.

Melasma

Melasma is usually found on the face and caused by hormonal changes. Although it occurs in both men and women, about 70% of pregnant women will develop this condition. This type of the skin condition is also known as chloasma or pregnancy mask.

While the exact cause of melasma isn’t known, it can occur in families, it is more common in Hispanic and Asian people, and changes in hormonal balance can trigger it as well. Along with pregnancy, women who take birth control pills can develop it since it includes changes in the balance of their hormones.

Some cosmetics, especially perfume and those containing it, can stimulate the production of melasma. There are also some studies suggesting stress triggers it, as can being out in the sun because sun exposure can worsen melasma.  

This condition usually forms in a symmetrical pattern on the face, although it can also appear on the arms and neck. It’s often seen on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip and chin, but it can also show in other areas exposed to the sun, like the lower cheeks and the jawline.

Lentigines

As you age, you may start noticing dark spots on your face or hands. These spots, commonly called liver spots, are lentigines. They are benign lesions on the skin that start appearing during middle age, and they get larger as you get older.

The most common type of lentigines is called solar lentigines, and the spots are the result of sun damage, which also causes age spots. Lentigines are caused by the development of melanocytes, which are the pigment cells that produce melanin. This skin condition is most common in people with fair skin, but it also affects people with darker skin or who easily tan.

While solar lentigines are usually harmless, you should consult with a dermatologist if the spots have more than one color, if they have irregular borders and if the spot has risen from the skin. These signs can occur if the spots are caused lentigo maligna or lentiginous melanoma, both of which are forms of skin cancer.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

If you’ve been injured and the skin has been broken, then you are more likely to have post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This condition causes the skin to become discolored after an inflammatory injury or after an injury to the skin has become inflamed. It’s more common among people with darker skin, such as Hispanics, Asians, and African-Americans, but it can affect lighter skinned people too.

This condition appears as flat areas of discolored skin, called macules. These areas can be pink, red, purple, brown or black depending on the depth of the discoloration and the person’s skin tone. A common type of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, PIH, is acne scars, but it can also occur by having used chemical peels, cosmetic procedures or anything which causes the skin to be excessively irritated.

PIH is caused by an excess amount of melanin which becomes darker and discolors the skin. The discolored appearance of the skin doesn’t go away after the wounds have completely healed, although they may fade slightly.

What Causes Hyperpigmentation?

If you want to know what is hyperpigmentation, it is an excessive amount of melanin in the skin, but it can have many other causes. There are two types of the condition: focal and diffuse.

The focal type is usually post-inflammatory and occurs after skin injuries, like cuts or burns, have healed or from inflammatory conditions like acne or lupus. Lentigines, melasma, melanomas and even freckles are included in the focal type.

The diffuse condition can be caused by using certain drugs or by medical conditions involving systemic and neoplastic causes. A dermatologist should be consulted to help diagnose this form of the skin condition. If drugs haven’t caused it, then patients need to be tested for conditions like Addison disease, primary ciliary cholangitis or hemochromatosis.

How to Treat Hyperpigmentation at Home

While there are commercial products made for treating hyperpigmentation, they are many simple treatments you can make at home. An effective hyperpigmentation treatment can be made from ingredients you may already have in your pantry or refrigerator. These 10 home remedies can teach people how to treat hyperpigmentation to get rid of it or diminish its appearance.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has many curative properties and is one of the best hyperpigmentation treatments to help lighten dark spots on your skin. As it lightens the skin, the astringent properties of the vinegar help restore the skin’s natural color. When using apple cider vinegar to treat any condition, you should use the raw, unpasteurized form.  

Recipe 1:

• Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar with water and apply it to your face as a rinse.
• Leave it on your skin for two to three minutes, then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
• Use this remedy twice a day for several weeks, and you should notice an improvement in your skin.

Recipe 2:

• Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with half a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of honey.
• Drink the solution twice a day, in the morning and at night, for about two weeks or until you start noticing improvements.

Milk and Honey

Cleopatra, who was considered one of the world’s most beautiful women, famously bathed in milk and honey to cleanse and nourish her skin. Milk contains lactic acid which can help remove dead skin cells and honey is well-known for its curative properties.

• Make a paste by mixing some honey and milk together and apply to the dark areas of skin on your face.
• Leave it set for four or five minutes and wipe it off with a warm, damp washcloth.
• This recipe will act to reduce the amount of pigmentation you have in your skin, and it can be applied daily.

Turmeric

Turmeric is the main spice used in Indian cooking to make curries. It has many healing and bleaching properties which make for the best treatment for hyperpigmentation. Use one of these recipes to make a mask to use on your face if you want to know how to get rid of hyperpigmentation.

Recipe 1:

• Mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder with one teaspoon of lemon juice to form a paste.
• Apply it to the affected areas of your skin, let it set for about 20 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water.
• Avoid sun exposure for at least an hour after using this treatment.
• This treatment can be used every day to maximize its result.

Recipe 2:

• Mix five tablespoons of turmeric powder with 10 tablespoons of milk until it forms a paste.
• Massage it into the affected areas of your skin for about five minutes. L
• et it set for 20 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water.

Vitamin E

Often called the “skin vitamin” for its ability to heal scars, Vitamin E is a naturally the best treatment for hyperpigmentation. As it is an antioxidant, it protects the skin from damage by the sun’s UV rays, and it can also repair damaged skin. There are several methods for using Vitamin E if you want to know how to treat hyperpigmentation.

Recipe 1:

• Puncture two to three Vitamin E capsules and squeeze the liquid into a small bowl.
• Mix it with three to four drops of castor oil.
• Rub it onto the affected skin before going to bed.
• When you get up the next morning, rinse it off.
• Use this remedy each night for about two to three weeks.

Recipe 2:

• Puncture Vitamin E capsules and directly rub the liquid onto the affected areas of your skin for about 10 minutes.
• Use this recipe twice a day for several weeks until you start seeing reductions in dark areas.

Aloe Vera

The liquid from this plant is well-known for its skin healing abilities, especially on sun damaged skin. The gel-like liquid has antiseptic properties from the mucilaginous polysaccharides it contains. Aloe Vera treats conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and it’s a good hyperpigmentation treatment. It also promotes skin regeneration.

Recipe 1:

• Use the liquid directly from the plant to apply onto the affected areas of skin before going to bed.
• Rinse it off the next morning.
• Use this remedy every day for a few weeks to get the results you want.

Recipe 2:

• Mix two tablespoons of Aloe Vera liquid with one-half teaspoon of honey and set it aside for about 10 minutes. Apply it to the affected areas of your skin and let it dry for about 20 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water. Do this every day for two weeks and then every other day afterward for the best results.

Orange Peel

Most citrus fruits act as a good astringent for the skin kills bacteria, and they can also lighten skin. Oranges are packed with Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that can repair and heal skin.

• Dry the peel from an orange.
• Put it in a spice or coffee grinder to form a powder.
• Mix the powder with cold whole milk to form a paste.
• Gently massage the paste onto the affected areas of your skin.
• Leave it on for about half-an-hour before washing the mask off.
• You can use this treatment twice a day for a few months to get the results you want.

Avocado

This heart healthy fruit contains many of the same properties as citrus fruits, including Vitamins C & E which are antioxidants that help repair and heal skin. Along with their fatty acids, oleic acid and enzymes, avocados can be the best treatment for pigmentation on face.

Recipe 1:

• Mash a ripe avocado until it is smooth and apply it to your affected skin.
• Allow it to dry for about half an hour.
• Wash it off with lukewarm water.
• Repeat this remedy twice a day for a month to achieve noticeable results.

Recipe 2:

• Mash half a ripe avocado until it is smooth.
• Mix with two teaspoons honey and a teaspoon of milk.
• Rub the mixture onto the affected skin and let it completely dry.
• Wash it off with lukewarm water.
• Do this once a day for a month to see results.

Almond

If you want the best treatment for the face, try this home remedy using almonds. You can also eat almonds to achieve positive results because they are loaded with the antioxidant Vitamin E.

• Soak five almonds overnight.
• Drain the water and grind the almonds.
• Form a paste by adding milk to the ground almonds.
• A few drops of lemon juice.
• Add one teaspoon of honey and mix until well blended.
• Apply the paste to your damaged skin before going to bed. Wash it off with cold water the next morning.
• This paste can be used every night for two weeks and then twice a week.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood oil, which is derived from fine-grained aromatic trees, has been used for centuries for religious and medicinal purposes. Its properties are well-known as a blood purifier, a stimulant, it can heal skin blemishes and for hyperpigmentation removal.

• Two tablespoons of sandalwood powder.

• One tablespoon of turmeric power.
• Four to five tablespoons of milk.
• Mix until well blended.
• Apply the mask to your affected skin and let it completely dry.
• After it has dried, wash it off with lukewarm water.
• Apply this mask daily to reduce discoloration of your skin.

Mint Leaves

Using mint leaves for caring for skin conditions is easy and effective. Mint leaves have skin cleansing properties and can lighten dark spots.

• Crush a few mint leaves.
• Mix with a small amount of milk to form a paste.
• Apply the paste to the affected skin and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
• Wash it off with cool water afterward

Fresh Raw Potatoes

Ingredients: Raw potatoes and water

You need a raw potato.
Wash clean the potato and peel it
wash peeled potato
Cut the potato in half.
soak in water for 2 minutes
wipe the wet piece of potato on the hyperpigmented skin in a circular motion
for ten minutes then wash off the area with lukewarm water
Repeat this for 3-4 times in a day for a month.

Red Onion

Slice a red onion
rub the darkened areas of your skin with it
Keep onion juice on your skin for about ten minutes.
Wipe off with warm water.
Repeat twice daily until the darkness on your skin slowly fades away.

Sandalwood powder

Ingredients: Sandalwood powder and Rosewater15 Natural Remedies to Cure Hyperpigmentation of Skin

2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder
2 tablespoons of rosewater mix till it forms a paste.
Put the paste on the dark spots of your skin
leave on for 30 minutes
Rinse the paste off your surface with warm water.
you can do this 2 times a day

Oatmeal paste

Ingredients: Yogurt, Oatmeal, and Tomato

Combine 1/2 teaspoon of yogurt
2 teaspoons of oatmeal
2 teaspoons of tomato juice in a bowl
Stir the mixture to form a coarse skin mask.
Leave the paste on the skin for 20 minutes.

Rinse off the paste from the skin with warm water.
once a day for 2-3 weeks improvements will be noticed

Wash your skin with water and pat dry
Massage the hyperpigmented parts of your skin with natural oil
Massage for about 2 to 3 minutes and keep the skin oily for about 30 minutes
Rinse your face with a cleanser or soft soap and wipe it dry.

Castor oil is highly effective in fighting dark patches and hyperpigmentation of skin besides giving your skin a much-needed boost of nutrition.

Preventing Hyperpigmentation

Although there are ways to treat this skin condition, there are is no hyperpigmentation cure as it is caused by so many factors. However, in some cases, it can be prevented or kept from getting worse.

Limit Sun

Sun exposure can make many types of hyperpigmented skin worse, so you should limit the time spent in the sun. Always wear sunscreen with a high SPF factor to protect your skin from direct exposure and wear a wide brim hat to keep the sun’s UVA and UVB rays from shining on your face and neck.

Avoid Certain Medications

There are some prescription medications and metals that stimulate the production of melanin, which can make the appearance of dark spots and blemishes worse. Some of the most common drugs that affect this condition are:

• Cancer chemotherapy drugs including busulfan, cyclophosphamide, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, and 5-fluororuacil.
• Drugs used to prevent malaria.
• Hydroquinone, which is used in hyperpigmentation removal cream.
• Minocycline, which is a tetracycline antibiotic.
• Substances containing gold, mercury or silver can also cause it to worsen.

If you’ve been prescribed any of these drugs and notice dark spots, dark patches or blemishes getting worse, speak to your doctor about prescribing another drug, if possible.

Avoid Abrasive Skin Treatments

Sometimes skin treatments can be a hyperpigmentation cause or make the condition worse. If a skin treatment is too abrasive, like microdermabrasion, and damages skin, it can turn darker as it heals. Any botched skin treatments, such as IPL treatments, laser or chemical peels can also worsen the appearance of dark spots, patches, and blemishes.

When to See a Dermatologist

If you’ve tried commercial or home remedies to reduce the appearance of scars, blemishes, dark patches or dark spots, but they haven’t been effective, consult a dermatologist about more effective treatments. Also, since some lentigines are related to melanoma, contact a dermatologist if they any spots have multiple colors or irregular shapes.