11 Remedies That Will Help You Lighten Dark Skin

It’s not unusual for women to crave flawless and radiant skin. Much of this is down to the pigmentation of your skin. Skin pigmentation disorders can affect the coloring or tone of your skin – melanin, in particular, is the pigment which largely contributes to the pigmentation of your skin. If your melanin production becomes faulty, the appearance of your skin can change too. These home remedies will work best to lighten dark skin for people who are dark in complexion. If you are a light-skinned person looking to make your skin even fairer, check out our article 11 Home Remedies for Fair Skin.

Hyperpigmentation is one such pigmentation disorder which can cause your skin to darken. It can affect your entire body or just patches. Age spots are a good example of hyperpigmentation. This condition is usually harmless but it can leave people feeling self-conscious depending on how large the affected patch of skin is.

# Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can help to lighten your skin pigmentation as it contains acetic acid. Mix apple cider vinegar and water in equal parts and apply this to your patches of darker skin. Leave it on for two or three minutes before rinsing off on with lukewarm water. Repeat this method twice a day for the best results.

# Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is another natural home remedy to lighten dark skin. It works as a great, non-toxic treatment for hyperpigmentation. Simply massage a little aloe gel into your skin and leave it to sit overnight. In the morning you can rinse the area with some water and repeat daily until your happier with your skin pigmentation.

# Red Onion

Red onion extract is actually often used in commercial skin and scar lightening creams. You can get the extract onto your skin by rubbing onion skin against the darkened patches of your skin. Or you can look out for creams that contain allium cepa (the scientific name for red onion extract).

# Green Tea

Some studies have shown that green tea can help to depigment the skin, helping it to look lighter. Brew a green tea bag in some boiled water for approximately five minutes. Leave the tea bag to cool and gently rub it over your dark patches of skin. Doing this twice a day should start to have an impact on the pigmentation of your skin.

# Black Tea

Like green tea, black tea can also help to lighten your darker patches of skin. Brew some strong, black tea for two hours. If you’re using tea leaves, you should strain the leaves from the water, otherwise, you can just remove the teabag. Soak a cotton wool ball or pad in the tea and apply this to your dark patches. You can repeat this method for six days a week over a four-week period.

# Licorice Extract

Licorice extract contains a number of active ingredients that can be used to lighten your skin pigmentation. You can boil some licorice root in some water for ten minutes before straining and leaving to cool. After this, you can wipe the liquid over your skin. You can also find creams containing licorice extract in a number of stores.

# Milk

Different types of milk including, buttermilk and even sour milk, have been known to help lighten dark skin pigmentation and rectify any discoloration. This is because of its high lactic acid content. Simply soak a cotton ball or pad in some milk and rub it over your patches of darkened skin.

# Tomato Paste

A study from The British Journal of Dermatology identified tomato paste ability to protect the skin from long-term photodamage and therefore improve the pigmentation of your skin. This is because tomato paste is rich in lycopene.

# Orchid Extract

Orchid extracts are rich in vitamin C which makes them a great home remedy to lighten dark skin. It is often included in creams and scrubs, so keep an eye on the ingredients list of your cosmetics shop. Apply the extract directly to your skin each day and you should start to see your skin pigmentation brighten.

# Red Lentils

Masks made from red lentils are great as a home remedy to lighten the skin. Red lentils are also packed full of antioxidants which are great for protecting your skin.

Simply soak around fifty grams of red lentils in a bowl of water and leave them overnight. Place the lentils in a blender and blend them to a paste. You can then apply this paste to your face in a nice, even layer and let it sit for twenty minutes. You can then rinse it with some cool water and pat your skin dry with a clean towel.

# Citrus Extracts

Lemon juice and orange peels are great natural skin bleaching agents. They’re high in vitamin C which supports your collagen fibers in keeping your skin firm. It can also help to moderate melanin production which can help to lighten your skin tone. However, after using these, avoid going out into the sun for at least half an hour, or else you may become sunburned.