5 Simple Ways to Combat an Uneven Skin Tone
The Skinsmith | 7th April 2022
What is an Uneven Skin Tone?
Uneven skin tone where you have areas of darker skin is also known as hyperpigmentation. The darker areas of skin have more pigment or melanin than other areas of skin and are often commonly known as dark spots, age spots or sunspots.
The cells that produce our natural skin pigment or melanin are called melanocytes and they produce melanin when triggered by stimulants such as hormones or the sun. Melanin is produced as a protective measure especially when our skin needs protection from UV rays!
Uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation happens when the melanocytes are over stimulated and produce melanin even when we don’t need it. For example, continual exposure to the sun or sunbathing can be a significant cause or redness and uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation.
You can treat hyperpigmentation quite successfully though, so let’s look at how to get rid of uneven skin tone on the face and the body!
Hyperpigmentation/Uneven Skin Tone
What Causes an Uneven Skin Tone?
Hormonal Changes
Fluctuations in hormones can trigger melanocytes to stimulate melanin production. A common hormonal related cause of hyperpigmentation is called Melasma, this often occurs during pregnancy or in users of birth control or HRT. It is more common in women and in skin tones that tan easily. Melasma can fade away on its own, once the increased hormones become more balanced, or it can be treated with skincare for uneven skin tone or with professional treatments.
If you have melasma some things to avoid can include:
- Hormone treatments, birth control and other medications that can stimulate or worsen melasma
- Skin care products that can irritate your skin which can lead to inflammation and hyperpigmentation
- Tanning beds as UV is a main contributing factor to hyperpigmentation
Over Exposure to Sun
UV rays and sun damage are significant contributing factors to hyperpigmentation. The skin responds to the inflammation and damage caused by UV rays by stimulating extra melanin production, it is a protective response and the result of darker skin tone is what we call a tan! However, too much sunbathing or exposure to the sun that leads to a sunburn can overstimulate the melanocytes which then produce melanin even when there is no sun or protection needed.
Aging
As with most things that get older we can see the signs of aging become apparent, blemishes start to show up and stick around and the skin is no different. Exposure to the sun over the years can lead to sunspots and uneven skin tone, damage to the skin's surface can leave blemishes and hyperpigmentation, and hormonal changes may also contribute to a skin that shows a bit more wear and tear than a younger complexion would.
Another cause of hyperpigmentation that we see in older skins comes from inflammation. Inflammation in the skin and body can come from exposure over time to external factors such as UV, but also pollution and harsh chemicals in skin care and body care products. Our diet and lifestyle over the years will also contribute to inflammation, alcohol for example causes inflammation in the body and the skin and this can lead to disease and premature ageing.
Scarring
You will usually see hyperpigmentation from scarring in a skin that is darker to begin with. Not all scars will cause darker skin tone but if the area was exposed to UV during the healing process this could cause hyperpigmentation. The longer a scar takes to heal can also be a contributing factor. It might be a good idea to use a product that promotes faster healing such as Rosehip & Lemongrass Repair Balm which is not only calming and soothing but promotes faster cell regeneration to speed up the healing process.
Uneven Skin Tone: How to Combat It in 5 Simple Ways
1. Stay Hydrated
It is thought that the benefits of drinking plenty of water everyday are so extensive that even skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation can be helped with your 8 glasses per day. Hydrated skin will leave a smoother more even skin tone and texture and reduce breakouts and flakiness which could lead to hyperpigmentation. A skin that is hydrated will also look fresher and younger minimising any flaws your skin may have.
2. Utilise SPF Moisturisers
As UV damage is one of the main factors in uneven skin tone issues it makes sense to make sure you use SPF to protect your skin. Prevention is much better than cure and the use of a daily mineral SPF will help to prevent and in some cases treat uneven skin tone. Eminence’s Bright Skin SPF 40 Moisturiser is the perfect choice as it contains Natural Hydroquinone Alternative as well as Zinc Oxide to protect and treat uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation
3. Chemical Peels
Professional chemical and organic peels can be a really effective treatment for uneven skin tone. The peels are designed to remove the outermost layer of skin which can immediately reduce the depth of hyperpigmentation you see. They can also stimulate cell renewal speeding up the cell turnover rate in your skin. This can also reveal a more vibrant even complexion. You will find that organic peels also contain potent antioxidant to help fight ageing and anti-inflammatory ingredients to help reduce inflammation.
4. Rosehip Oils
High in Vitamin C, Vitamin A and antioxidants, rosehips can have many benefits when you want to treat uneven skin tone. They are calming and soothing which helps reduce inflammation, they are hydrating and anti-ageing which gives your skin a more vibrant glow and they contain high amounts of Vitamin C as you will see in point 5 which will also brighten your complexion. Eminence has a very effective product high in Rosehips in their Rosehip C+E Firming Oil.
5. Introduce Vitamin C Into Your Skincare Routine
Eminence has a collection of products for uneven skin tones called the Bright Skin Collection they are specially designed to lighten and brighten uneven skin tones and help prevent hyperpigmentation from forming in the first place. Another vital ingredient for the treatment of uneven skin tone is Vitamin C. It is very calming and soothing to the skin reducing inflammation and sensitivity but it also has to brighten benefits evening out uneven skin tone. Eminence has a selection of products that contain a stabilised Vitamin C for effective visible results.
Unsure Of What Products to Use to Tackle Your Uneven Skin Tone? Check Out Our Guide Here and Uncover 7 Effective, Must-Try Skincare Products
Looking for the right products to use to help tackle hyperpigmentation? Check out our guide and uncover seven of the most effective must-try skin care products by clicking here.
You can also take a closer look at our range of uneven skint tone skincare products below or by checking out our uneven skin tone product range here. If you have any questions or require guidance on the best skin care products to use to tackle your uneven skin tone, contact a member of our friendly Skinsmith team today on 01305 300950 or by emailing [email protected].
Alternatively, you can also get in touch with a member of our experienced team by using our quick and easy contact form below.
