Friday, February 21

Melasma natural treatment - Melasma home remedies

› › › Melasma natural treatment and home remedies for melasma
Melasma natural treatments aim to inhibit tyrosinase enzyme activity, to aid excessive skin turnover or to block transfer of melanosomes to the keratinocytes.
A number of organic compounds present in plant sources have these melanogenesis inhibitive or desquamation properties. Natural treatment for melasma can be tried out with many of these ingredients at home.

Traditional natural melasma treatments

All over the world there are continuous efforts to find ways to lighten melasma hyperpigmentation. Traditionally many home ingredients such as lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, turmeric paste, onion juice, oatmeal, honey, papaya paste, horseradish juice and yogurt are applied separately or in the combination of two or more as natural treatment for melasma.

Lemon juice for melasma
Lemon juice application is a well known traditional natural melasma treatment. Lemon juice is about 5% to 6% citric acid. Citric acid is an alpha hydroxy acid and is an excellent peel. Lemon juice promotes epidermal turnover and also skin desquamation. Fresh lemon juice can be applied directly on the brown discoloration patches once a day. Lemon juice removes excess oil on the skin. Frequent use may cause dry skin. Moisturizer may be applied later to hydrate the skin.

melasma hyperpigmentation on the face
melasma on the face
Papaya paste or juice for melasma
Papaya paste contains papain, a protease, which breaks down the top layer of epidermis and helps in exfoliation. The dead cells and skin debris are removed by the paste. The paste may be removed and the face washed after ten minutes. In this melasma natural treatment care must taken not add any latex from the fruit skin, as it may irritate the skin.

Oatmeal and honey scrub
Oatmeal is a natural skin scrub and helps in exfoliation. Apply the mix on the face with gentle circular motion. Remove the mask after ten minutes by washing with tepid water. Honey is a natural moisturizer.

Apple cider vinegar for melasma
Apple cider vinegar application is the traditional natural melasma treatment. Apple cider vinegar contains dilute acetic acid and malic acid. These acids stimulate skin turnover and also have bleaching effect. Apple cider vinegar is diluted with equal quantity of water and the solution is applied on the brown patches once a day.

Turmeric paste
Turmeric powder is made from the processed rhizomes of Curcuma longa (aka turmeric plant). The natural active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant and help in the skin desquamation. Turmeric paste is made by mixing the turmeric powder with milk. Turmeric paste is applied daily for melasma treatment.

Horseradish juice
Horseradish juice is extracted from the horseradish roots. The juice is directly applied on the melasma spots. It promotes exfoliation of the skin and natural lightening of the melasma patches.

Plant sources with tyrosinase inhibiting compounds

Tyrosinase is a copper-containing mono-oxygenase enzyme responsible for the conversion of tyrosene amino acid into dopa (3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl-ananine) and synthesis of melanin pigment in the skin. The excessive pigment production is the main cause of melasma. A number of organic compounds from plant origin such as aloesin, linoleic acid, arbutin, ellagic acid and epigallocatechin gallate have been found to be tyrosinase inhibitors. These compounds can be effectively used in natural melasma treatment.

Aloe vera gel melasma treatment
Aloe plant gel contains an natural organic compound known as aloesin, (2-acetonyl-8-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-7-hydroxy-5-methylchromone). Aloesin inhibits tyrosinase enzyme activity. Aloe vera gel penetrates skin slowly and tyrosine hydroxylase and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) oxidase activities of tyrosinase are inhibited in the melanocytes.

Grape seed oil treatment
Grape seed oil is extracted from the seeds of grape seeds. Grape seed oil is widely used in the cosmetic preparations and is the preferred carrier oil. Grape seed oil is a efficient moisturizer. Grape seed oil contains high concentration of linoleic acid which functions as a tyrosinase inhibitor and helps in resolving melasma.

Evening primrose oil treatment
Evening primrose oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the evening primerose plant. Evening primrose oil is a traditional treatment of skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Evening primrose oil contains high concentration of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). Linolenic acid is a proven natural melasma treatment.

Sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) berries
Hippophae rhamnoides (aka common sea-buckthorn) is found on fixed dunes and sea cliffs. Hippophae rhamnoides is a traditional herbal plant with many medicinal uses attributed to its berries. Barkat Ali Khan et al, in their study have found that applying the extract of the berries is an effective melasma natural treatment. The effect is due to catechins, gallic acid, flavonoids, quercetin, organic acids present in the extract.

Golden Shower plant (Cassia fistula) pods
Cassia fistula is a common ornamental plant in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its flower is the national flower of Thailand and the state flower of Kerala in India. It is used as a natural medicine. Barkat Ali Khan et al in their study on whitening efficacy have found that the extracts of the dried pods of the plant show melasma lightening effects. The effects are due to natural catechins, gallic acid, flavonoids, quercetin, organic acids present in the extract.

Bearberry extract treatment
Arbutin is extracted from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (aka bearberry plant). Arbutin is a glycoside and is a glycosylated hydroquinone with tyrosinase inhibiting properties. Arbutin is used in skin lightening cosmetic preparations. It is an effective natural treatment for melasma. Arbutin is also found in wheat and the pear skins.

Green tea treatment
Green tea is rich in antioxidant polyphenols including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and ellagic acid. Both EGCG and ellagic acids are known to inhibit tyrosinase and reduce skin pigment production. Concentrated extract of green tea obtained by boiling it in water can be applied directly to reduce melasma hyperpigmentation.


References:
1.Ball Arefiev KL, Hantash BM. Advances in the treatment of melasma: a review of the recent literature. Dermatol Surg. 2012 Jul;38(7 Pt 1):971-84.
2.Barkat Ali Khan, Naveed Akhtar, Irshad Hussain, Khwaja Asad Abbas, Akhtar Rasul. Whitening efficacy of plant extracts including Hippophae rhamnoides and Cassia fistula extracts on the skin of Asian patients with melasma. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2013 August; 30(4): 226–232.
Picture source: http://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/File:Melasmablemish.jpg
Picture author: Elord from Wikidocs | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
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