Natural Skin Bleaching

You may have dark skin for various reasons, and may want to bleach it:

• Heredity - Dark skin is a trait that is usually passed down the generations.

• Hyper-pigmentation – You may be suffering from hyper-pigmentation, which means that your skin is producing larger quantities of melanin, the skin pigment, causing your skin to turn darker.

• Skin disorders – You might be suffering from a skin disorder called Lichen Simplex Chronicus. This can be very itchy and also makes the skin patchy and dark.

• Sun’s rays – exposure to the sun’s rays leads to darkening of the skin. This is the body’s way of producing more melanin and protecting itself from the ultra-violet rays which are harmful.

Home Remedies for Bleaching

There are many simple and effective remedies that you can try out at home as a daily routine. They will lighten the color of your skin color and any other blemishes, and make your skin bright and glowing.

• Potato has bleaching agents and can get rid of blemishes as well make your skin color lighter. Apply slices of raw potato on the face, or make a paste of it and apply it. Wash off after 15 minutes.

• Soak a few almonds overnight. Next morning grind it to a fine paste, and mix it either with honey or milk. Apply it on your face and neck. When it dries, scrub it off gently and wash your face with cold water.

• Make a paste by grinding a few fresh mint leaves. Apply on the face for 20 minutes and wash off with cold water.

• Orange peels are very effective as a skin whitener. Dry them in the sun, grind them to a powder and store in airtight containers. Take a few teaspoons of this powder and mix with either milk or curd. Keep this paste on the face for about 15 minutes, and wash off either with cold or lukewarm water. This is also good as a scrub.

• Gram flour is also good for whitening the skin. Take 2 tablespoons of gram flour. Mix it into a smooth paste with a few drops of lime juice and some milk cream. You can also add a pinch of turmeric powder. Apply this mixture evenly on the face. After 15 minutes, scrub it off gently and splash water on your face. You can apply this paste on your entire body as a toning and cleansing scrub.

• Lime juice is a very good bleaching agent. You can mix it with a pinch of turmeric powder and apply to your face.

• Tomato is a wonderful natural bleach. You can puree some tomato, mix a few drops of lime juice in it and apply the mixture to your face. Do this daily for about 15 days for visible effects.

• Sandalwood has bleaching and cooling properties. Make a paste of sandalwood powder, tomato juice, lemon juice and cucumber juice. Apply this paste on your face regularly for a lighter skin tone.

• A face pack of oatmeal, curd and tomato juice is also good for bleaching.

• Honey and lemon juice mixed with almond oil and milk powder is also a good bleaching pack.