Have you ever wondered how do skin lightening creams work. We have written before about how to use whitening cream and here we will discuss how they actually work. Essentially skin lightening creams work by focusing on the production of melanin. The reason our skin has colour is due to melanin. Melanin is one of the essential components of our skin. For example, the amount of melanin in our skin can increases when we tan. Also, age spots appear due to our skin making concentrated melanin in very small areas of the skin. The appearance of acne can also impact the amount of melanin our skin produces. When acne scars appear our skin tends to make more melanin to protect the areas of the skin which are damaged.
Learn more about the role of melanin in skin health and why this natural pigment is essential for protecting the skin from UV-related damage and premature ageing
Common ingredients in skin lightening creams
Skin lightening creams focus on decreasing the melanin production. Melanocytes are the cells which are responsible for producing melanin. Essentially skin lighting products work by lowering the number of melanocytes in our skin.
Many skin whitening creams contain Vitamin C. Vitamin C is good for the skin since it is a powerful skincare antioxidant which helps to reduce the melanin production and due to this it is a common ingredient in many skin whitening creams.
Another common ingredient found in many skin whitening creams is Glycolic Acid. This ingredient works as an exfoliant which is an essential part of skin whitening process. Glycolic Acid also helps to brighten the skin by removing the dead skin cells.
How melanin is produced
The melanin our skin produces are made in the deepest layers of the skin’s epidermis. We have explained before about what is the epidermis in previous articles. Melanin is also responsible for pigmentation and hyperpigmentation. The melanin produced in the deepest layers of the skin’s epidermis can take up to 4 weeks before it reaches the visible areas of our skin.
The journey of the melanin from the deepest layers of the skin up to the top layers of the skin is a fascinating one. It passes through several layers of epidermis as the top layers of the skin are exfoliated away through the natural process.
The effects of skin whitening creams are actually directly linked to the 4 weeks it takes melanin to travel from the deepest layers of the epidermis to the top visible layers. In most cases skin whitening creams focus to slow down the production of melanin. This means that it can take up to 4 weeks for them to work.
Factors that can impact how long it takes skin whitening creams to work
Persistence is key when it comes to seeing skincare products showing results and this is very true when it comes to skin whitening cream. Skin whitening creams can help with many skin problems. They help with more than only lightening the skin. They can even the skin tone and can help to fade away scars and hyperpigmentation on the skin. Several factors can impact how long it takes skin whitening creams to work. These factors that can impact how long it takes the skin whitening creams to work include:
- How persistence you are when it comes to applying them
- The active skin ingredients in the skin whitening formula
- The exfoliation rate of the skin
- How we protect our skin from the sunlight
