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Skin Lightening Treatments

Summer is almost over, and now is the time to treat the Sun’s damages (Facial and décolleté), and lighten the pigmentation spots. Which treatments are the most effective for lightening and regeneration of the skin? 

The main cause for hyper pigmentation spots is the accumulated exposure to the sun’s ultra-violet radiation, which leads to changes in the melanin, the skin pigment that determines its tone. These spots are considered as one of the complex challenges for treatment in the field of skin aesthetics. Nevertheless, the advanced cosmetic companies have developed in recent years a variety of solutions that enable to lighten the skin and effectively treat hyperpigmentation. The most effective solutions treat the root of the problem—solutions that intervene in the mechanisms by which the spots are formed. 

Ingredients that Operate on the Enzyme Tyrosinase

One of the main treatment focuses is tyrosinase— the enzyme responsible for the production of melanin. This enzyme produces melanin from the amino acid tyrosine. When we are exposed to the sun, tyrosinase accelerates the production of melanin in the melanocytes to protect the skin, and thus, the skin becomes darker. The problem is, that the dispersion of the pigment’s particles is not always even, and sometimes the color particles accumulate in a certain area. Thus, dark spots or areas of hyperpigmentation are created upon the skin. The more prolonged and accumulative the sun exposure, the more the spots and hyperpigmentation spots multiply and become more permanent, severe and salient.

By inhibiting the production of tyrosinase in the skin, it is, therefore, possible to impede the production of melanin, thus influencing the pigmentation phenomenon. Several ingredients have been proven to have the ability to inhibit the enzyme and reduce its efficiency: 

  • Arbutin— a plant derivative of hydroquinone, which inhibits the production of melanin in the skin. Arbutin is produced from the leaves of the bearberry, redcurrant, blueberry and cranberry plants, as well as other berries. Its operation mechanism is based on the inhibition of the enzyme tyrosinase, which accelerates the production of melanin during exposure to the sun.
  • Kojic Acid—an acid produced by mold fungi, such as penicillium or aspergillus, which also constitutes a by-product of the fermentation process of malting rice or in the manufacturing process of sake— the Japanese rice wine.
  • Azelaic Acid—this acid is produced from wheat, barley or rye grains.
  • Butylresorcinol— a derivative of the substance alkylresorcinol, which has also been proven in studies to be a very powerful tyrosinase inhibitor.

Retinol

Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A—a vitamin that is vital for cellular differentiation. The application of retinoic acid onto the skin accelerates the pace of the cell division and leads to a rapid renewal of the skin surface, thus creating an effect that resembles peeling. Retinol also assists in the regulation of the melanin production, and studies have proven that it can repair accumulated skin damages that appear following exposure to the sun and to dramatically lighten hyper pigmentation spots. 

Vitamin C

In addition to its great efficiency in treating age damages, clinical studies have proven that vitamin C has an important role in the inhibition of uncontrolled production of melanin and in the reduction of hyper pigmentation spots since it impedes the oxidation phase in the melanin production.

Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids

These acids operate by exfoliating the dead skin cells accumulated on the stratum corneum, thus enabling the shedding of the dead skin cells, encouraging the growth of new skin cells and the creation of new epidermis tissue, whose texture and tone are denser, evener, and healthier. In addition, it has been found that the natural alpha and beta hydroxy acids, produced from fruits and milk, instigate changes in the skin that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in the dermis layer.

Beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid) is fat-soluble and therefore manages to penetrate the pores that contain the sebum and exfoliate dead skin cells, which accumulate in them and clog them. Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory processes. 

There is evidence indicating that treatments, which combine tyrosinase inhibitors, such as arbutin and kojic acid, and alpha and beta hydroxy acids, and mainly peelings using alpha and beta hydroxy acids, lead to especially effective results in the lightening of the skin and the repairing of sun damages. 

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)

Studies have found that the use of products that contain ALA on the skin assists in the fight against hyper pigmentation. This acid facilitates the inhibition of tyrosinase. Furthermore, it improves the skin’s texture damaged by the sun. However, it is especially effective in the lightening of dark spots when combined with other ingredients. 

When considering which treatment to choose, the depth of the hyper pigmentation should be taken into account. In most cases, the accumulation of the pigment is in the epidermis, and lightening treatments with products that operate to inhibit the tyrosinase will efficiently get the job done. When the accumulation is deeper, it is important to combine these with peeling treatments based on alpha and beta hydroxy acids.

At HL Laboratories, we are aware of the need for an effective solution for the lightening and hyperpigmentation issues. Therefore, we developed highly effective products, which are based on sophisticated combinations of these active ingredients, such as DERMALIGHT, ALPHA-BETA WITH RETINOL, and C THE SUCCESS. Combined treatment with the products of these lines creates therapeutic synergy, which enables an particularly high level of efficiency, and grants an immediate and impressive change in the skin’s appearance, and at the same time, long-term results.

DERMALIGHT—a unique line based on a complex of plant extracts, kojic acid, azelaic acid, mandelic acid, vitamin C, and arbutin.

The line operates with great efficiency to blur hyper-pigmentation spots and to lighten the skin; it is based on remarkably active and high-quality raw materials that grant visible results.

The combination of the lightening substances, the acids, and the additional active ingredients significantly enhance the treatment’s efficiency and contribute to the lightening of the skin and the creation of an even skin tone.

ALPHA-BETA WITH RETINOL 

Designed for the regeneration of the facial skin reaching impressive results. The professional peeling products are based on natural alpha-hydroxy acids, produced from fruits and milk, combined with beta hydroxy acid and additional active ingredients. Their synergetic operation enables to achieve highly impressive effects, with long-term results, using a safe treatment that does not cause burns or trauma to the skin, the patient can continue a normal routine. 

C THE SUCCESS 

Designed to delay the aging process, repair and rehabilitate skin damages and premature signs of aging, caused by age-related processes and the accumulated exposure to the sun. The line’s products contain an active combination of vitamin C, mandarin oil and hamamelis, and operate to impede the skin’s aging processes, to reduce the depths of wrinkles and fine lines, and to achieve smoother and more pliable skin, with a lighter, even tone. The combination of the ingredients operates to reduce the damage caused to the skin by free radicals found in UV radiation and in additional environmental damagers, and simultaneously leads to the accelerated production and proper reorganization of the collagen and elastin fibers. In addition, it contributes to the rehabilitation of additional natural mechanisms responsible for the repairing and healing of the skin. In this manner, they operate to reduce the depths of wrinkles and fine lines, soothe the skin, lighten and improve it’s tone, texture, and appearance. The result: the reduction of the depth of the wrinkles and fine lines and the continuous improvement in their appearance; improvement in the skin’s pliability and softness; a lighter, evener skin tone; the lightening of sun and age spots.