Rather than covering up your problems, its always better to solve them. The same applies to problems related to your skin. The environmental conditions today and our lifestyle calls for occurrence of problems like uneven skin tone. What do we do about it? Most of us resort to covering it up using makeup. But why cover it when you can make it vanish? In order to do so, its important to first understand the in and out of why this problem arises in the first place.

Going undercover

An uneven skin tone is irregular darkening of the skin. It can occur when there is increased production of your natural skin pigment called melanin. It can be temporary or permanent and can make you look older than you are. The condition usually arises because of the following reasons-

• Sun exposure: When your skin is repeatedly exposed to UV light, sun damage occurs resulting in brown spots and uneven skin tone because of increased melanin production.
•  The imbalance in hormones may cause high melanin production which can produce an uneven skin tone. Melasma is hormone-related hyperpigmentation caused by increased hormone stimulation. It’s most commonly experienced by women who are pregnant or taking contraceptives.
• Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: It means darkening of the skin as a result of

Inflammation which can be caused by acne lesions, skin injury or as a result of reaction to certain cosmetics.

• Life style factors- Stress, pollution and lack of proper sleep and rest also aggravates the dullness of skin and may result into the appearance of an uneven skin tone.

The issue makes us feel conscious when we step out with our bare skin. But, worry not as there are a vast number of ways in which you can treat the problem and get your natural glow back.

Solving the problem

Not everything requires a doctor, isn’t it? Sometimes, the problems of our skin may seem a lot, but they can be treated by being careful on your end. With that in mind, a few solutions to treat uneven skin tone include-

• Apply sunscreen daily- Applying a sunscreen with a Broad Spectrum SPF of at least 30 is the most important step in maintaining even skin tone and preventing its further aggravation.

•  Cleansing the skin one to two times weekly with a gentle exfoliating cleanser to remove dead skin cells helps in getting a much even complexion. Also, this clears the path for the ingredients in your serums and moisturizers to better penetrate into the skin.

• Healthy diet- Eating a clean diet helps beautify any complexion, not only uneven ones. Avoid processed foods such as white bread, chips, soda, and candy. The preservatives and additives found within these ingredients cause your blood sugar levels to spike, thereby increasing pigmentation. Try to incorporate more foods into your diet that have been proven to improve the quality of your skin, such as: Green tea, Green vegetables, Citrus Foods such as oranges and tomatoes. These eatables are rich in antioxidants and can improve the quality of your skin while minimizing visible aging effects.

• Use the right ingredients. Choose products that contain Activated Charcoal to help remove pollutants; certain skin lightening substances like niacinamide to decrease melanin production; and certain exfoliating agents like Retinol to rejuvenate the skin.

• Be patient. There's no immediate correction available for an uneven skin tone. It takes at least 1-2 months of regular skin care treatment before you see any improvement.

If the condition of your skin is really bad, then seeking expert help seems like the right choice to make. Some procedures done in the treatment room can solve your stubborn problem. These include-

1. Certain agents that help you to achieve an even skin tone are-

• : This is the most common depigmenting agent used to remove pigmentation and correct uneven tone.
• Kojic acid: This ingredient suppresses the tyrosinase enzyme responsible for production of melanin.
• : Commonly found in soaps, lotions, ointments and even pills, glutathione is a peptide whose strong antioxidant powers have a whitening effect on your skin.
• Arbutin, niacinamide, retinol, beta white are other ingredients found in certain topical medications which can be used to reduce pigmentation.

1. Chemical peels

A chemical peel removes the dead outer layers of your skin and in turn exposing new, fresh skin underneath. It has been proven very efficient in rejuvenating your skin and producing an even skin tone.

There are several different options for chemical peels- Glycolic acid, Salicylic acid, yellow peels and phenol which can reduce acne spots, sun spots, age spots, and wrinkles. It works by penetrating the top layers of the skin with a chemical solution and causes it to exfoliate, revealing healthier new skin underneath.

3.       Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion can treat a number of skin conditions, including light scarring, sun damage, and discoloration. It works by rejuvenating the skin while removing the thicker, damaged outer layer, creating a more youthful appearance.

4.       Laser treatment

Laser treatments, with the ability to lighten scars or age and sun spots are being used to help improve skin tones in refractory cases. Q switched ndyag laser works on degrading melanin (colour producing element) in the skin resulting in reduction in pigmentation and providing an even skin tone.

Since its always nicer to solve problems from their roots, it is advised to first understand the root cause of pigmentation and then work on it. Even if you seek expert help, working towards betterment of your skin from your side goes a long way.