The Truth About Melanin Inhibitors
This scared me to death! There are only a few effective melanin inhibitors and there is evidence to believe that many of them may be harmful to your skins health. Here, you can learn about the safest melanin production inhibitors, as well as those that are not safe.
A combination approach is the most effective means of lightening your skin. The first step is to limit your exposure to the sun, using clothing, hats, shade or effective sun-blocks. Now, many of the popular sunscreens are apparently not that safe. Recently, researchers reported an increased incidence of malignant melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, among regular sunscreen users.
It is not yet known if the cause was over-reliance on the sunscreen, failure to reapply regularly or the carcinogen activity of some of the ingredients used to scatter UV rays. Sunscreens and sun-block are not melanin inhibitors, per se; they simply protect the skins cells from UV rays that stimulate the production of melanin, the compound that causes the skin to have color.
The choice ingredients for sunscreens are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Those to avoid include oxybenzone, avobenzone and benzophenone. As derivatives of cancer-causing benzene, they may increase your cancer risk.
The most well-known melanin production inhibitors are hydroquinone and a hydroquinone-like substance called arbutin, which is derived from a variety of plants. Hydroquinone is also believed to increase your cancer risk and even though arbutin is a naturally occurring substance, it could have similar activity. Of course, the increased cancer risk could simply be caused by decreased melanin production. Since the tinted cells do protect the deeper layers from UV damage, a cause of skin cancer.
The latest melanin production inhibitors are derived from a different plant that goes by various names, depending on where it grows. It may be called purple or red nut sedge or simply nut grass. It is native to areas of Europe, Africa, India and Southern Asia. It is a medicinal plant, with roots that have been used for centuries to treat wounds, bruises and other skin problems.
When modern-day researchers began to evaluate the roots, they werent looking for melanin inhibitors, but for an ingredient to relieve skin irritation. It was only learned later that extracts from the root were effective melanin production inhibitors.
You will see the quickest results with creams that contain melanin inhibitors and ingredients that increase the turn-over rate of new skin cells. Most companies recommend exfoliation for that purpose, but they often cause redness and irritation.
An ingredient called SYNERGY TK has been shown to stimulate skin cell production, without causing irritation. Its actually good for your skins health, because protein is the primary component. Of the melanin production inhibitors derived from nut-grass roots, a .5% concentration has been shown to be the most effective, inhibiting melanin-production by more than 40%.
Make no mistake about it. The better companies recommend that you alternate the use of melanin inhibitors with a standard day cream, on a monthly basis, depending on the time that you spend in the sun.
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Laurel is a long time user and passionate advocate of natural skin care products. Visit her site now to discover cutting edge, anti-aging skin care products she recommends after extensive research: http://www.beautiful-skin-site.com.