People with light skin color have little eumelanin pigmentation and which has been adapted to environments of low UV radiation. Light skin is most commonly found amongst the native populations of Europe and Asia as measured through skin reflectance.
People with light skin pigmentation have skin with low amounts of eumelanin and possess fewer melanosomes than those with dark skin pigmentation. Light skin provides better absorption qualities of ultraviolet radiation. This helps the body to synthesize higher amounts of vitamin D for bodily processes such as calcium development. Light-skinned people who live near the equator with high sunlight are at an increased risk of folate depletion. As a consequence of folate depletion, they are at a higher risk of DNA damage, birth defects, and numerous types of cancers, especially skin cancer.
Types of Fair Skin
Each individual is distinct and there are 3 different types of light or fair skin they are:
Oily Fair Skin
The skin secretes natural oils to keep itself moisturized, but for people with oily skin, this process can go into overdrive, especially if they have larger pores. The bigger the pore, the more active the oil glands, and the more active the oil glands, the more they’ll secrete. This can translate to an oily film on your face throughout the day, as well as frequent breakouts. You’re prone to oily skin if you notice that when you apply moisturizer, and almost anything you apply, you break out. People with oily skin may also have trouble finding a sunscreen that does not feel sticky and heavy.
Dry Fair Skin
The number one sign that you have dry skin is if it appears dull and lifeless. Dry skin looks dull because it’s often covered in a layer of dead skin cells. Light reflects off these rough skin cells in all different directions, whereas if your skin is hydrated, it has a smooth surface that reflects light evenly, and so appears more radiant. Many factors can lead to dry skin, including sun exposure, hot showers, and over-exfoliating with products like salicylic or glycolic acid.
Combination Fair Skin
There’s not a universal definition for combination skin and some dermatologists, think it’s not a true skin type like oily or dry. Combination means you are dry in winter (cold season) and oily in summer. Some people incorrectly use it to mean oily in the T-zone but this is classified as an oily skin type. Other dermatologists argue that combination skin is a distinct skin type characterized by varying amounts of oil production on the face. Combination skin tends to be oilier on the forehead and nose where you have more oil glands and drier on the cheeks. Sometimes around the mouth can be both dry and oily and more sensitive in general.
Skin Whitening vs Lightening
Skin whitening also known as skin bleaching, is a treatment designed to give you a skin tone lighter than the one you were born with. This is generally achieved by the use of chemicals. These chemicals are often dangerous and the treatments are often painful.
The goal of skin whitening is to lighten or fade your complexion beyond the natural skin tone. To see your natural skin tone, just look at your underarms. Skin whitening is controversial and could have potentially dangerous side effects. Unless you actually want to involve a medical professional in your skincare treatment, then “skin whitening” is probably not what you’re looking for. We do not recommend “skin whitening”, so we’re going to move on to “lightening & brightening”. In contrast to skin whitening, “skin lightening” has a positive function other than achieving a lighter complexion. In order to understand what skin lightening actually is we first need to understand what hyperpigmentation is. Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition that refers to any darkening of the skin. Dark patches form usually on the face and hands or other areas that are commonly exposed to the sun. This darkening of the skin occurs when an excess of melanin, which is a brown pigment that gives our skin its color, forms deposits in our skin. Although hyperpigmentation is harmless many people are uncomfortable with the way it makes them look.
Hyperpigmentation spots are often caused by repeated exposure to the sun. Freckles and other darkened skin areas can become darker from sun exposure. This happens by melanin absorbing the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays in order to protect the skin from overexposure. READ: Best Cream For Chocolate Skin
Another form of hyperpigmentation is Melasma. Melasma spots are larger than the spots caused by sun damage. They appear as symmetric blotchy hyperpigmented patches on the face, usually the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead, chin, and upper lip. They are most often caused by hormonal changes. Pregnancy and the use of birth control pills can also bring about the overproduction of melanin, due to hormonal changes.
Acne and other skin diseases may cause hyperpigmentation, leaving dark spots after the condition clears. To deal with hyperpigmentation, skin lightening products are formulated to even out skin tone and restore the skin’s natural color before the hyperpigmentation sets in. If you want to see your natural skin color, look at the inner part of your upper arm.
Best Cream for Fair Skin In Nigeria
When searching for a cream to maintain healthy fair skin or tone your skin from dark to fair, the focus should be on how healthy and not how quick. Most creams for fair skin in Nigeria contain Hydroquinone a depigmenting agent used to lighten areas of darkened skin such as freckles, age spots, chloasma, and melisma caused by pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone medicine, or injury to the skin. Hydroquinone decreases the formation of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment in skin that gives it a brown color.
When buying fairness cream in Nigeria, make sure you check the ingredients of any product before you buy it. Avoid it if hydroquinone, corticosteroids, or mercury are listed in the ingredients, or if the product does not list the ingredients. Creams that contain hydroquinone, corticosteroids, or mercury, which have not been prescribed by a doctor, are banned in many countries because they can cause serious side effects if used incorrectly. Many skin-lightening creams containing natural ingredients are also available. These are legal and unlikely to be harmful. The best creams are:
Kojic Acid Creams
Looking to effectively treat melasma? Kojic acid which comes from fermented mushrooms inhibits the overproduction of melanin in unevenly pigmented skin. This makes it a potent ally in brightening everything from freckles to melasma. Kojic acid has become revered worldwide for its skin-lightening abilities. It, therefore, makes sense that it is found in numerous skin-lightening products. This ingredient is produced after rice is malted for the making of sake. By inhibiting melanin, which is known to darken the skin, kojic acid brightens and lightens your skin instead.
Bearberry Extract Creams
Bearberry extract is a completely natural skin lightening ingredient found in the bearberry shrub which contains arbutin, a natural skin lightener, and a brightener. Arbutin is a distant cousin to hydroquinone but is completely natural. It makes the enzyme that is responsible for producing melanin inactive like hydroquinone does, providing you the benefits of hydroquinone such as lightening and brightening your skin tone while also correcting hyperpigmentation problems like age spots, freckles, melasma, and acne scars. Since it is completely natural it has no side effects. Another benefit of bearberry extract is it contains sun protection filters that can reduce the effects of sun exposure helping to slow the effects of aging.
Azelaic Acid Creams
This lightening agent is found in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. It is not only effective in lightening skin but is effective in treating numerous skin conditions too. Azelaic acid was originally used to treat acne. It also reduces inflammation and decreases the production of keratin. Keratin promotes the growth of acne bacteria.
Azelaic acid does two things:
- It inhibits melanin production.
- It combats hyper-pigmentation by suppressing the growth of melanin-producing cells.
Azelaic acid effectively targets hyperpigmentation while it has little effect on normally pigmented skin like freckles. This makes it ideal for treating hyperpigmentation disorders.
Citrus Extracts Creams
Citrus extracts are a rich source of vitamin C which destroys free radicals in your body. Free radicals are cells that cause aging. Citrus extracts give your skin a radiant glow while rejuvenating it from the inside. Lemon juice naturally whitens skin and effectively removes dark spots. It is also used to mildly exfoliate your skin due to its acidic content by safely peeling off the top layer of your skin. Researchers have also found that citric acid can be used to significantly reverse photo aging and sun damage.
Glycolic Acid Creams
Glycolic Acid is the most active and beneficial of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) in skin care. It is generally used as a natural skin exfoliant and moisturizer. Glycolic Acid not only evens out skin discoloration but also helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles. AHA’s such as Glycolic Acid can assist other ingredients in skin lighteners by allowing them to penetrate farther into the skin.
Lactic Acid
Also an AHA, Lactic Acid mimics the properties of Glycolic Acid but is typically better suited for individuals with sensitive skin. AHA’s such as Lactic Acid can assist other ingredients in skin lightening by allowing them to penetrate farther into the skin.
Glutathione Creams
Found in a wide array of ointments, lotions, pills, and soaps, this ingredient is packed with antioxidants and designed to effectively lighten the skin. Not only does this ingredient help with skin whitening, but it also contributes to tissue repair and regeneration.
Lemon Creams
Packed with Vitamin C and citric acid, lemons are made with organic bleaching agents that not only brighten your skin but also give it a healthy glow as well. Our very own Oralight Supplements are made with lemon fibers and other natural ingredients, guaranteeing fresh and healthy skin. Not only do lemons leave a refreshing scent on your skin, but they also contain citric acid which is a well-known natural bleaching ingredient. Just make sure to apply a rich moisturizer to your skin after the lemon treatment, to avoid dryness. Read 8 Major Side Effects Of Skin of Bleaching Products You Should Know
