Dark Skin

Melanin is a skin pigment that determines the color of the hair and skin. Fair-skinned people have less amount of melanin than dark-skinned people. Increased amount of this substance in a certain area will result to dark, uneven patches of skin in the body.

Symptoms
Patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. These small, darkened patches, also called age or “liver” spots, are usually found on the hands and face or other areas frequently exposed to the sun.

Pregnancy and skin diseases such acne may also create larger patches of dark skin.

Causes
Various factors affects the darkening of the skin:

Geography also plays an important role in getting darker skin. Those who live on regions with more exposure to sunlight acquires darker skin than those who live in the northern regions.

Overexposure to ultraviolet rays present in sunlight will cause the skin to tan itself. It’s a natural mechanism wherein the dark skin produces more melanin to shield and protect itself from the harmful rays of the sun.

Hyperpigmentation is caused by an increase in melanin. Pregnancy or Addison’s disease (decreased function of the adrenal gland), may cause a greater production of melanin and hyperpigmentation. It can also be caused by various drugs, including some antibiotics, anti-arrhythmics, and anti-malarial medication.

Skin diseases such as acne and Lichen Simplex Chronicus causes severe itching that leave the skin thick, dark and patchy.

Home Remedies
Here are some of easy-to-do whitening packs that you can do at home to help lighten your skin tone:

1.Mix 1 tsp of milk powder, 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Apply on face and rinse the remaining residue after 10-15 minutes. This will lighten tanned skin and will make skin glow.
2.Mix oatmeal, curd and tomato juice. Apply on the face for 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water.
Potato: Slice raw potato and place it on the blemished part to remove facial marks.

Lime: Mix lime juice with turmeric powder and apply it on the skin. Lime juice is a natural bleaching agent.

Orange: Mix dried orange peels with curd. Rinse with cold water after 15 minutes. It will help reduce the appearance of blemishes and scars.

Orange: Soak 4 almonds overnight. Grind into a fine paste using milk. Apply on face and neck and leave it overnight. Wash with cold water in the morning. Do this daily for 15 days, then twice a week.

Gram: Mix 1 tablespoon of gram flour, 2 teaspoon of fresh milk, and 2-3 drops of lime juice. Apply mixture on the skin and leave it for 15 minutes. Rinse well. Do it for 4 weeks and follow up with once a week.

Mint: Make a paste out of grounded mint leaves. Apply on the skin and leave it for 20 minutes before rinsing off with cold water. Do it for 15 consecutively.

Tomato: Grate fresh tomatoes and mix it with 2-3 drops of juice. Apply on the face and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse well. Do it twice a day for 15-20 days.

Diets
A healthy, well-balanced diet will help make your skin glow. Incorporate whole cereals, pulses, fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Drink lots of water, about 4-5 liters a day. It flushes out the toxins inside the body.

Avoid eating oily foods.

Other Treatments
Apply sunscreen with the appropriate amount of SPF before going out to protect your skin from getting excessive amount of ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Follow a regular skin whitening regiment to help achieve results.

Dandruff

Dandruff is the common name for the mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. It is a skin disorder wherein there is an accumulation of dead skin cells in the scalp followed by rapid peeling or flaking.

Symptoms
Although it is not considered a form of disease, everyone commonly experiences dandruff. The exact causes of flaking are not yet identified. However, there are experts who deduce that a certain type of fungus, called as Malassezia globosa, which specifically targets the scalp, could be the main suspect.

Redness and irritation may also appear for chronic conditions.

Causes
Food allergies, physical or emotional stress, nutritional deficiencies, chemical reaction due to usage of hair products, and the weather could aggravate dandruff.

Home Remedies
Fenugreek: Soak 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Make it into a paste the next morning. Apply it all over the scalp area and leave it for half an hour. Rinse the hair thoroughly with soap-nut solution (ritha) of shikakai.

Lime: Use a teaspoon of lime juice when rinsing. It will help prevent dandruff and at the same time, makes the hair shinier.

Green gram: Mix 2 tablespoons of green gram powder with half a cup of curd. Use the mixture to wash the hair twice a week.

Beet: Boil white beet tops and roots in water. Massage the scalp with the boiled water using your fingers every night.

Snake gourd: Rub snake gourd juice in the scalp deliberately.

Curd: Massage the hair with curd that has been left open for 3 days for half an hour. You can also mix it with a few drops of lime and amla juice. Do this every night before going to bed.

Cider vinegar: Mix cider vinegar with equal parts of water. Dab this to the hair using a cotton wool while shampooing. Mix another cider vinegar into the water for rinsing to achieve optimum results.

Diets
Undergo a fruit diet for 5 days along with taking 3 meals a day consisting of fresh, juicy fruits. Follow it by eating fruits and vegetables except bananas, citrus fruits, and dried fruits. Repeat the fruit diet again the next 3 days or every other month until the condition improved.

Carefully avoid meats, sugar, white flour, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and all processed foods.

Other Treatments
Always wash the hair and scalp regularly to minimize the accumulation of dead cells.

Brush hair daily to improve blood circulation. It will also remove any visible flakes. It is more effective to remove dandruff by brushing from the nape of the neck to the top of the head. This should be done while in a bowing position so as to let the flakes fall freely to the ground.

Massage the scalp everyday after brushing. Use the tip of your fingertips to stimulate blood circulation, encourage hair growth, and remove any remaining traces of dandruff.

Allow the hair and scalp to have some exposure to the sun from time to time.

Administer a warm water enema to the patient during the first 5 days of taking the fruit diet.