Uneven Results:
Lemon Juice
It contains vitamin C, citric acid, and acidity that actively help mask hyperpigmentation on your body and face. Lemon juice exfoliates your skin naturally, allows new cells to grow, and lightens the colour of the affected area. Apply lemon juice to your face twice or thrice a week to heal your skin.
“Treatments containing ingredients like vitamin C, licorice root, and kojic acid help reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for the formation of skin-darkening melanin," says Ni'Kita Wilson, a cosmetic chemist in New York City.
Does lemon juice remove dark spots? Yes, lemon juice can lighten dark pigmentation when applied to the face for about 20 minutes and done repeatedly. Yes, lemon juice can remove dark spots.
Lemon has a high acidic content and can be an effective solution to brighten your skin tone, lighten dark spots, treat acne, prevent premature signs of aging, among others.
Lemon juice can help fade away dark spots and scars
Applied topically, lemon juice will work to gradually reduce the appearance of blemishes and acne scars. With a cotton pad, wipe fresh lemon juice onto any healed scars or dark patches. Rinse off with lukewarm water after five minutes and pat dry.
Apply fresh lemon juice, baking soda paste, or aloe vera gel to the spots 2-3 times a day. The natural bleaching properties can help lighten spots quickly. Stay consistent, and for safety, do the patch test first.
Vitamins can be used to lighten your skin and lighten dark spots. Three of the best vitamins for lightening dark spots are vitamin C, vitamin B12, and vitamin E. Vitamin C helps your skin produce more collagen while inhibiting the formation of melanin.
CO2 Laser Resurfacing is the most effective non-surgical method to improve the appearance of your skin overall and hyperpigmentation specifically. It uses highly specialized lasers to remove dead and damaged skin cells and stimulate collagen production.
The oxidizing process chemically attacks and reduces the melanin (a.k.a. your hair's color pigment). Therefore, the color visibly lightens. Once this happens and the hair is lightened, the results are permanent. Hair will not fade or darken unless it's color treated, or in my case, naturally darker roots grow out.
Does Hyperpigmentation Get Darker Before It Fades? Yes, sometimes, the body speeds up pigment production before the cells break down and fade. But sometimes, the dark spots can also fade without getting darker first.
The hyperpigmentation related to vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in darker-skinned patients. Few other cases of skin hyperpigmentation due to vitamin B12 deficiency have been reported in the literature. The mechanism of hyperpigmentation is due to increased melanin synthesis rather than a defect in melanin.
For dark circles and dark spots: Use a peach color corrector if you have fair skin, or a deeper orange shade if you have medium to dark skin. For sallowness: Balance out unwanted warmth with a lavender color corrector.
Lemon Juice: Lemon juice contains natural acids (alpha hydroxy acids) that can help exfoliate the skin and lighten dark spots. How to use it? Apply fresh lemon juice directly to the dark spots using a cotton ball. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with water.
If you want to get rid of dark spots fast, a procedure that removes layers of discolored skin may work better than a lightening cream. These techniques include laser treatments, freezing (cryotherapy), dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels.
Dr. Zainab Laftah, Consultant Dermatologist, GetHarley Clinician concurs: “Toothpaste might sound like a simple solution to treat spots but it's likely to cause more harm than good. Toothpaste contains ingredients that can result in skin redness, itching, inflammation and burning," so approach with caution.
Delayed Results: Even if lemon juice has some lightening effects, it may take a long time to see noticeable improvements in dark spots. Consistent and long-term use would be required, which increases the risk of skin irritation and other adverse effects.
Combine 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of milk in a glass bowl. Dip cotton pad or Q-tip in the bowl and apply to dark spots. Leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.
The flavonoids and vitamin C in lemon give it a natural antioxidant property. (7) Vitamin C stimulates collagen production, rejuvenating the skin and repairing damaged skin cells. Moreover, lemon is an excellent antiaging and antioxidant ingredient that gives you an instant boost of rejuvenation.