What You Need to Know About Skin Brighteners

Most of us have some part of our skin that we are unhappy with. We get embarrassed by hyperpigmentation , sun damage, freckles, acne scars, or birth marks. Some of us only want the tone and color of our skin to be more even or lighter. We do live in a world where appearances matter and our skin is usually the first thing people see and often the last thing they remember.

The color of your skin comes from a natural pigment called melanin. Melanin pigment is synthesized in specialized cytoplasmic organelles called melanosomes Within the melanosome, the enzymatic conversion of the amino acid tyrosine to melanin is catalyzed by the enzyme tyrosinase. The melanosomes in darker portions of the skin are more active than those found in normal areas of the body. Ideally, it is best to target this process in multiple ways by dealing with not only the melanosomes, but also the enzyme tyrosinase. And with the help of exfoliation agents, the initial effects of the complex can often be seen within 2 weeks.

If you want to lighten you skin-tone or even out heavily pigmented areas, a natural skin lightener may be what you need. Many of the skin lighteners on the market are bad for your skin's health and can adversely affect the way it looks. Hydroquinone is a common ingredient for lightening made in the United States that should be avoided. The U.K. and France have banned its use in cosmetics due to increased cancer risk and allergic reactions. Dr. Jacobs of the F.D.A. has concluded that Hydroquinone is mutagenic, clastogenic, and immunotoxic. After learning of this new research, we suggest that you should avoid any product which contains Hydroquinone. The best natural skin lightening creams like Meladerm and Skin Bright are completely hydroquinone free.