Dark Spots & Hyperpigmentation? Body Scrubs can help
Dark spots and hyperpigmentation are common sources of frustration for millions of people. They can appear on the skin due to sun damage; trauma from acne, ingrown hairs, or other injuries; allergic reactions; side-effects of medication; and even changes in hormones. Genetics can play a huge part in how susceptible to hyperpigmentation you are.
There are a few different methods for tackling these issues, but today we are talking about how body scrubs and physical exfoliation can help with dark spot removal.
WHAT ARE DARK SPOTS & HYPERPIGMENTATION?
As mentioned before, dark spots and hyperpigmentation are generally the results of another influence on the skin, whether internal or external.
Dark spots are caused by a concentrated area of overactive pigment cells in the skin. UV rays from the sun speed up melanin production (the skin pigment that gives different skin tones and creates freckles and moles). In a way, it’s like having a small area that is very tanned.
Dark spots can also form from PIH (Post Inflammation Hyperpigmentation), which is why a pimple or ingrown hair may leave a dark spot behind. It’s a defence mechanism from the skin to keep out foreign substances in response to a hole in the armour - acne or other trauma.
Hyperpigmentation is the overall term for discolouration of the skin. So, dark spots are a type of hyperpigmentation. But dark spots are not the only type of hyperpigmentation that can be remedied with body scrubs!
Many people also deal with darkened areas of the skin like armpits, elbows, and knees. The reason for darkened knees and elbows is typically a buildup of thicker skin, especially if you lean on these areas of the body frequently, as that prompts the skin to grow thicker for protection. Dryness can also cause the skin to become or appear darker.
Dark underarms are usually the result of a combination of frequent irritation and dead skin, in addition to all of the previous factors mentioned. The armpits naturally chafe slightly whenever your arms are down. This causes some mild, ongoing “trauma” to the skin. So, it may hyperpigment as a defence.
Shaving and wearing deodorants or antiperspirants may also cause mild, repeated trauma to the underarm skin.
HOW TO TREAT DARK SPOTS WITH BODY SCRUBS
Not all hyperpigmentation can be remedied by a physical exfoliant. Some dark spots, like the kind caused by hormones and as side effects, can occur in the deeper layers of the skin that a body scrub cannot reach.
If you are unsure, talk to your doctor or dermatologist.
For hyperpigmentation caused by PIH, sun damage, and thick or dry skin, body scrubs are an easy, accessible way to treat it! Here is a step-by-step for the best method of using body scrubs for dark spots:
Determine your skin type: You need to make sure that whichever product you use won’t irritate your skin. As we know, irritated skin may become even darker due to PIH!
Research your remedies: There are many different ingredients that can help reduce dark spots. Make sure you research to verify that you are not allergic. You may want to have an allergy test or check to see if any of the ingredients are similar to other things you already know you are allergic to. If you don’t have any known allergies, test out a small patch of skin when trying a new ingredient just to be safe.
Create a routine: Using body scrubs for dark spots takes patience and regularity. Every time you scrub, the dead skin is removed and the new skin underneath is encouraged to grow a little faster and more resilient. Do it too often, and you’ll only be scratching at skin cells that aren’t ready to be scraped off, causing even more trauma to the skin. You need to scrub regularly, not too often, and trust that your diligence will pay off over time.
When using a body scrub, simply use gentle, circular motions. Scrub for only a few seconds to avoid overdoing it and causing more harm than good.
You can also pair the scrub with other products like oils, serums, or lotions to encourage faster cell turnover and stronger skin to grow.
INGREDIENTS TO LOOK FOR
Many naturally-occurring ingredients can help reduce hyperpigmentation. There are extremely strong prescription drugs you could use, but the ingredients certainly won’t be found in a body scrub, and they may have negative side effects.
The ingredients here are generally milder and may be found in readily-available body scrubs.
Azelaic acid (produced by Malassezia fur fur yeast from wheat, rye, and barley)
Cysteamine (may be from animal sources, microbes, or synthetic)
Vitamin C (from fruits, grains, and some green leafy vegetables)
Kojic acid (produced by the fungi from fermented sake and soy sauce)
Arbutin (bearberry)
Glycolic acid (AHA from sugarcane)
Niacinamide / vitamin B3 (found in coffee, jojoba oil)
Chlorogenic acid (found in coffee)
N-acetyl glucosamine (glucose derivative)
Isoflavones (found in soy)
Glabridin (liquorice extracts)
Salicin / salicylic acid (willow bark extract)
Vitamin A & E (such as mulberry extract, walnut)
ALA (avocado oil, walnut oil)
Lactic acid (produced by bacteria in fermented sugar)
Antioxidants (green tea extract)
Ubiquinone / Q10 / CoQ10 (yeast from rice)
PREVENT DARK SPOTS AND HYPERPIGMENTATION WITH BODY SCRUBS
Prevention is the best way to keep yourself from having dark spots. It’s much easier and faster to prevent them in the first place than it is to treat them afterwards!
Firstly, ensure you always use sunscreen, especially on areas of the body that see the sun most often, like the face, ears, neck, shoulders, chest, and arms (and tops of the feet in good weather!).
Now, using body scrubs with these listed ingredients can help prevent dark spots naturally. Scrub areas of the body that are showing signs of developing hyperpigmentation to slow it down and maybe even stop it from spreading or getting darker. If you have razor bumps or acne, scrub it gently to work the nutrients into the skin.
Of course, you must take care to avoid using too much pressure or scrubbing for too long so you don’t harm the skin, especially in its fragile state!
With routine use, you can lessen the appearance of a lot of different dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Use scrubs preventatively, regularly, and for a long period of time for best results.
Happy scrubbing!
