How To Deal With Skin Darkening

Photo Credit: Shopcrazy

Skin darkening is a really broad term. It goes hand in hand with Rebound Hyperpgimentation, but a lot of times skin darkening can occur from a particular product or lack of sun protection. Moreover it can be disappointing and confusing to the person experiencing it. I am going to try to give some tips and pointers to anyone who has experienced darkening or is currently experiencing skin darkening, on how to react and deal with it.

First of all, having your skin not only lose the results that you worked so hard to obtain, but actually go a couple of shades darker than your original skin tone is a pretty big emotional blow. I can imagine, for all of us who are on a skin lightening regimen. It's important for people to realize that rebound hyperpigmentation andskin darkening are different. Rebound hyperpigmentation is referring to localized legions, and is usually the result of stopping usage of a particular skin lightener or skin brightener, or not using adequate sunscreen protection (decent PPD levels of 8 or higher, applyng 1/4 teaspoon amount). Rebound hyperpigmentation is also very common with cytotoxic skin bleachers like hydroquinone and monobenzone.

Skin darkening can be many things. Generally it is described as the entire skin color going a shade or two darker after stopping usage of a particular skin lightener. Lack of sunscreen protection (daily - refer to Sunscreen Etiquette) plays a huge role as well. Skin darkening can occur from certain products as well.

Melanin is a defense mechanism for the skin. It protects the skin from UVB/UVA radiation and oxidative stress. When you apply skin lighteners, and topical antioxidants - they break down the process of melanin production. Sometimes (and this is usually rare) when skin lightening is done very rapdily (through potent products), melanin production can spike up in response to drastic change. Basically, what I am trying to get across is that skin lightening does work against the natural process of the skin. Even if the skin is heavily sun damaged and has irregular melanin production to begin with. Also, when rapidly lightening the skin, the skin can darken through inflammation as well. The inflammation sometimes doesn't even show up in the epidermal layers, but most of the time you can feel when your skin is irritated or inflammed (texture, appearence).

I've stated this several times, but I will always say it again. Sunscreen usage is incredibly vital for maintaining results and preventing skin darkening. A lot of times, people who are very sensitive and prone to darkening (meaning their skin actually goes darker than their original shade prior to lightening) can benefit from antioxidant + sunscreen usage during the day. So layering a Vitamin C or green tea extract product underneath your sunscreen can really even things out.

I wanted to also mention that skin darkening can be a direct result of skin lightening. I know that sounds weird, and this is very rare if you are using proper sunscreen usage and are maintaining usage of the skin lightener that gave you the results. When our skin goes several shades lighter, the defense of the skin is compromised. It is more sensitive to sun damage. The composition of the melanin load in the skin cells is different than what it was prior to getting 3 or 4 shades lighter. Practicing sun avoidance (when I say this, I mean limit the amount of sun exposure the best you can), using a sunscreen with good PPD (UVA protection) levels and continuing to use the skin lightener that gave you the results will prevent darkening.

I understand that the intial discovery of skin darkening can be really discouraging. I have never personally experienced it. I have at times returned to my original skin tone (albeit more even in tone, since acne marks and various sun damaged legions were permanentley treated) from stopping skin lightening.  Skin darkening can be prevented, it takes time, and understanding that maintenance products (sunscreen, possibly topical antioxidants if you are very prone to getting pigmentation) and using the skin lightener that gave you the results (if you are maintaing a particular skin shade, using it 3 times a week can be sufficient) are very important.

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