Even-toned skin

A dark person has more melanin than a fair skinned person. Uneven skin tone is caused by uneven build-up of melanin.
Dark parts of the skin, or hyper-pigmentation, are the areas where too much melanin is produced while lighter parts, or hypo-pigmentation, are the areas where too little pigmentation is produced.
Causes of uneven skin tone
Sun exposure: Exc-essive sun exposure stimulates melanocyte activity, resulting in an overproduction of melanin. Age spots and freckles are also stimulated by ultraviolet rays.
Ageing: As you age, cellular turnover slows down, causing a thick build-up of dead skin cells.
Melanocyte regulation also becomes less controlled by the body.
When you are further exposed to the sun or develop scarring, the melanocytes are activated, leading to high concentrations of melanin in the affected area.
Oily skin: In oily skin, sebaceous glands produce excessive sebum (an oily matter that helps lubricate the skin).
This causes dead skin cells to solidify and stick to the skin’s surface. This thick layer of dead skin cells appear as uneven patches of skin tone.
Hormonal imbalance: Hormonal imbalances caused by pregnancy, birth control pills or thyroid imbalance can lead to a hyper pigmented skin condition called melasma.
Fortunately, melasma often fades over several months after stopping oral birth control pills or after delivering a child.
Overactive immune system: Vitiligo is a hypo-pigmented condition that creates white patches on the skin.
This happens because the immune system attacks the melanin-producing cells, resulting in a skin pigmentation disorder.
Skin inflammation: Uneven skin tone can be the result of post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation caused by acne lesions or scarring; irritation caused by shaving, ingrown hairs; harsh skin care products or chemically unbalanced cosmetics. The irritation can stimulate melanin production.
Dark skin: People with dark Asian, Mediterranean or African skin tones may become uneven through scarring or an increase in melanin production because of irritation.
Light skinned people often have an uneven skin tone if the melanin under their skin is distributed unevenly.
Vitamin deficiency: A deficiency of iron, calcium, vitamin A, E and B complex can cause skin discolouration.
How to prevent uneven skin tone
Protect yourself: The first step in dealing with uneven skin tone is to ensure proper skin protection. Even in areas that are already uneven, sunlight can still cause more damage and make it harder for creams or exfoliation to work properly.
To avoid further damage, always use sunscreen, especially in the face (many foundations and creams already contain sunscreen), plus wear hats and sunglasses at peak hours.
Eat healthily: Eat foods rich in vitamins to avoid the chance of vitamin deficiency. You also need to drink plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated. Dehydration makes an uneven skin tone appear even worse.
Treat oily skin properly: Use skin care products that are specifically developed for your skin type which help to control oils and remove the build-up of oils from the skin. This also reduces the chance of developing acne and post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation.
Exfoliate your skin regularly: this ensures there is less build-up of dead skin cells that could contribute to an uneven skin tone.
Use dermatologist tested or hypoallergenic make-up: These types of make-up products are less likely to cause allergic reactions in your skin.
Use Clarins Bright Plus Range: Clarins Bright Plus range of products is specifically for use by those concerned with an uneven skin tone or pigmentation. Its unique formula contains Vitamin C, extract of raspberry and Alchemilla, that creates the Lock Around System which puts the melanocytes into a protective bubble.
It protects against dermal and epidermal aggressions and the excessive transfer of melanin.
It also slows down the multiplication of mela-nocytes to the keratinocytes.
Ultimately, it produces a more even skin tone and brighter complexion.
Once an even skin tone has been achieved, the user can start using a product range suitable for their normal skin type and age range.
Expert Insight: More serious cases of pigmentation may require the help of a professional. Micro-dermabrasion, glycolic peels and intense pulse light can all remove dead layers of skin, clearing pigmentation and helping skin regenerate.
These treatments, however, must be undertaken by a qualified aesthetician or dermatologist.
Life is more beautiful with Clarins.

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