Ever wondered why is there a skin smooth for some people while rough for the others? Do you take extra precautions and care for your skin to keep it flawless and glowing? Longing for a bright and subtle skin texture is not wrong. But with the amounts of pollution these days and the kind of food habits that one has, it becomes difficult to keep pace with the dream.
Our lifestyle has a direct effect on the nature of our skin. When we are happy, our skin glows; when sad, the skin looks dull and lifeless. This also includes intake habits. More junk is considered harmful for the skin as it results in unnecessary fats. Added to this is the polluted environment with dust and toxic pollutants that stick to the surface. These sediments the dust particles, thus affecting the skin texture.
Also, to treat damaged and unstable skin, it is essential first to know the anatomy of the skin. But before that, here are some fun facts about the skin:
- The area that a person’s skin can cover is 2sq meters.
- It weighs about 15% of your body weight.
- The thickest skin is in feet and the thinnest on the eyelids.
- The skin has tiny organs called cells, and there are millions of them!
- Every minute, close to 30,000 – 40,000 cells shed.
Now, here’s what you need to know about the skin in biological terms:
Skin is the most significant part of the human body. It is a layer that protects us from elements like harmful microbes and also helps regulate body temperature. The skin also gives the sensations of touch and feel. The skin has three layers:
- The epidermis – This is the outermost layer of the skin and acts as a waterproof coat. This is also the reason for our skin tone.
- The dermis – This is the second layer of the skin that contains hair follicles and sweat glands. It also has the connective tissues.
- The hypodermis – This last layer of the skin has fats and connective tissues that connects and binds the organs together.
Melanocytes determine the skin tone and produce a pigment called melanin. These cells are located in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin and also safeguard us from the harmful UV rays. They decide the skin pigmentation, which in simple terms, is – skin complexion.
There are several skin tones in the world, and this depends on the region that a person hails. The most important reason is, the uneven distribution of pigment cells in the skin — also, the coordination between the melanocytes and keratinocytes.
Dark Skin
Dark skin is a significant problem for a lot of people as they don’t feel accepted by society. They lack self-confidence and self-esteem due to their skin tone. Dark skin occurs when your body is producing more melanin than the required amount. There are several reasons why one might not prefer a darker skin tone. Two major ones being:
- Racism – Some countries have lower acceptance of people with darker skin tones. They generally name them browns or blacks. This denies them from having equal treatment in society.
- Personal preferences – Some people personally don’t prefer a darker skin shade and prefer in lightening it.
For any reason, if one wants a fairer complexion than the one they have right now, the first thing that they look for is skin lightening treatment. Lightening therapy helps get the desired skin tone by altering the amount of melanin in the skin. Here’s all you need to know about skin whitening treatment:
What is it?
Skin lightening treatment is the fastest way through which one can lighten the skin complexion. It is a process by which the melanin content in the skin is altered to change the skin tone. Genetics also determine the amount of melanin in a person’s skin. Melanin is also affected by other external factors such as; exposure to sunlight, skin damage, acne spots, and exposure to extreme chemicals.
Skin lightening treatment:
It starts by scheduling an appointment with the dermatologist who will advise you on your skin issues. You can discuss with them on your desired skin tone. Depending on the requirement and the financial factors one can choose from the following treatments to lighten the skin:
- Laser Toning – In this, the excess melanin present in the skin under the top layer is taken off by treating it with the laser. The laser light beams remove the melanin content, thus giving a fairer complexion. It is long-lasting and a quicker method to achieve the desired appearance.
- Chemical Peels – A combination of various chemicals are selected as per the requirement of the skin. A cream is prepared out of it which is applied to the affected skin as a peel. It later dries off and can be removed for an exfoliated skin. This helps in retrieving the lost glow. Besides chemicals, some treatment centres also provide natural peels extracted from plants.
The most important of all is to remember that these methods are done clinically and requires good post-treatment care. For example, post-laser treatment, you have to make sure to keep yourself away from direct sunlight. This is because of the harmful sun rays. Sun’s rays have a direct impact on the growth of melanin in cells. This can damage the treated skin and also make the procedure ineffective.
There are numerous skin treatment centres in Chennai that offer best services. Besides treating dark skin cosmetically, dermatologists also suggest some natural and home remedies achieve results. However, these methods are time-consuming and require a lot of patience to reap results. Analyze and pick the right choice. Seek expert advice when needed and do not experiment by yourself.