Skin Lightening Home Remedies

Skin darkening is usually a harmless condition that occurs quite frequently. Melanin is the pigment which is responsible for giving the skin its color. The cells which produce melanin are called melanocytes and are found in the topmost layer of the skin or the epidermis.


Melanin serves to protect the skin from the ultraviolet radiation present in the sun’s rays. The color of the skin is determined by the amount of melanin that is produced by the melanocytes.

Excessive sun exposure is perhaps the most common factor involved in darkening of the skin. The melanocytes begin to produce an increased amount of melanin when the skin is exposed to sunlight. This is done in order to protect the skin from the adverse effects of the ultraviolet radiation. There are also many medications such as blood pressure medication and other antibiotics that serve to increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. The darkening of the skin with sun exposure is likely to increase when an individual is on these medications. Another cause of darkened skin is hyperpigmentation which occurs when an excessive amount of melanin is deposited in the epidermis of the skin. An increase in the number of melanocytes may also contribute to hyperpigmentation. This usually takes place due to hemochromatosis, a condition in which there is excess iron in the body.
It is important to protect your skin when you step outdoors. Apply a sufficient amount of sunscreen on the hands and other parts of the body that may be exposed to the sun. Covering the hands by wearing long sleeved shirts will also help to prevent further darkening of the skin. There are a few home remedies why which you can lighten your skin by a few degrees.  Tomato is known to have a lightening effect on the skin. Mix some oatmeal in tomato juice to form a paste. Apply this to the darkened areas and leave it on for 20 minutes, before rinsing with cool water.

You may also apply a paste of turmeric powder and milk to reduce skin darkening. A paste of ground almonds also works well in getting rid of darkened areas on the skin. Another beneficial remedy for lightening the skin is to combine lemon juice, honey, milk powder and almond oil. This can then be applied over the affected areas for 15 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water. Applying lime juice and honey to the hands is also known to have natural bleaching effect on the skin.