15 Home Remedies for Skin Pigmentation

If you have those ugly patches of dark skin on your face or other body parts like neck, arms, legs etc. blame it on the excessive production of melanin in your body that leads to these dark spots on your face or body parts. This excessive production of melanin can be attributed to various factors such as hormonal issues, pregnancy, certain diseases, exposure to sun’s UV rays, injury, or even emotional stress. Sometimes when your skin comes into contacts with some harmful chemicals like those in cosmetic products or soaps etc. then also you may get hyperpigmentation. Medical treatment for skin pigmentation is a costly affair. Let’s have a look at some effective home remedies for skin pigmentation so that you may get rid of these dark or brown spots on your face right at home without spending a lot of money.

Remedies for Skin Pigmentation

1. Potatoes for Skin Pigmentation

The humble potato not only makes our food tasty but can even make our skin spotless due to its skin lightening properties. Potatoes are a treasure house of nutrients. They are packed with a range of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and phytochemicals. To name a few, potatoes contain Vitamin-C, B-complex, minerals like potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and zinc. The natural enzymes, sugars and starches present in potatoes, along with its vitamin C component, effectively exfoliate your skin and slough off the dead cells from skin’s surface. The B vitamins in potatoes help skin cell renewal. As far as pigmentation is concerned, potato’s niacinamide, a niacin derivative of the Vitamin B Complex group, proves to be an excellent skin-lightening agent. If your skin pigmentation is due to photo-aging, hormones, injury or acne, you can get the most benefit out of potatoes.

1st Way to Use Potato for Skin Pigmentation: Potato Slices

Get this:

• Potato (peeled)- 1
• Water (optional)

Do this:

• Cut thick slices out of a potato.
• Rub a slice on to your skin where you have pigmentation.
• If you feel that the potato slice is too dry, sprinkle a little water over it and then rub gently on your pigmented skin.
• Change the slice for a new one once you feel like so.
• Do this for about 8-10 minutes before washing off.
• Repeat the process 3-4 times a day for at least a month.

2nd Way to Use Potato for Skin Pigmentation: Potato Juice

Get this:

• Potato – 1
• Lemon- ½ -1

Do this:

• Peel and grate the potato.
• Extract the juice from the grated potato.
• Take the lemon and squeeze out its juice.
• Mix equal amounts of potato juice and lemon juice.
• Apply this on your skin pigmentation.
• Leave for 20-30 minutes.
• Wash off with water.
• Repeat twice a day for at least a month.

2. Lemon for Skin Pigmentation

Lemon juice is a rich source of Vitamin C, one of the best natural antioxidants. Fine quality antioxidants can reduce the amount of melanin produced by your skin though you need to use them regularly. Another reason why lemon juice reduces pigmentation is its high concentration of citric acid. Citric acid is one of the alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that are excellent exfoliating agents. This acid removes the dead skin cells to make way for fresh new skin cells giving you a glowing and lighter skin.

Make Lemon-Brown Sugar-Egg White Scrub for Pigmentation

Get this:

• Brown sugar- 2 tbsp
• Egg white- from 1 egg
• Lemon juice- 1 Tsp

Do this:

• Mix all the ingredients well.
• Take this mixture and apply this to your face.
• With your fingers, rub it in circular motions gently all over your face focusing more on the areas having pigmentation.
• Do this for about 10-15 minutes.
• Now wash off and apply some moisturizer.
• Repeat this twice a week but if you have a sensitive skin too, limit this to once a week.

Other Ways to Use Lemon for Skin Pigmentation

• take some lemon juice on a cotton ball and apply this to your pigmentation affected skin. Leave for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with plain water. Repeat this daily twice a day.
• Take equal amounts of lemon juice and honey. Mix them well and apply to your pigmentation affected skin. Leave this for 10-15 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water. Repeat this 1-2 times a week.

Precaution: Do not go out in sun after using lemon on your skin as it makes your skin photosensitive.

[Also Read: 17 Coolest Remedies for Sunburn]

3. Apple Cider Vinegar for Skin Pigmentation

One of the very useful components of Apple Cider Vinegar is the natural alpha-hydroxy acid. This acid exfoliates your skin in a gentle and effective manner. It works deep down at the cellular level and sloughs off the dead skin cells to give way to fresh new and lighter skin.

Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Pigmentation

1. Take equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water. Mix them and with the help of cotton ball, apply this to your pigment affected areas. Leave it for a couple of minutes. Wash off with warm water. Repeat twice a week.
2. You can also take apple cider vinegar internally. Take a glass of warm water and add 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar to this. You may also add a tsp of honey to this. Have this twice a day.

4. Turmeric for Skin Pigmentation

Turmeric is not only an excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant but also an excellent exfoliating agent that has proved its benefits for skin over time. The curcumin component of turmeric is responsible for almost all of its health benefits. Curcumin’s strong antioxidant properties can fight off the oxidative damage done by free radicals including those resulting from harmful sun rays.

Make Turmeric-Gramflour Mask for Pigmentation

Get this:

• Turmeric powder- ¼ – ½ Tsp
• Gram flour- 2-3 tbsp
• Any oil (almond or olive oil etc.)- ½ tsp
• Milk- ½ to 1 Tsp
• Lemon juice- ½ tsp

Do this:

• Combine turmeric powder and gram flour.
• Add oil and lemon juice to this.
• Now add enough milk to get a paste-like consistency.
• Apply this mask to your face or any other body part where you have pigmentation.
• Leave for 10-15 minutes.
• Now wet your fingers a little and rub them on your face in the circular motion over the dried mask. Give more attention to the pigment affected areas.
• Do this for about 5 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.
• Repeat this 2-3 times a week.

Other Ways to Use Turmeric for Pigmentation

1. Take equal quantities of turmeric powder and lemon juice and mix well to get a paste. Apply this to the pigmentation affected skin. Leave for 15-20 minutes and then wash off with plain water. Repeat this daily, preferably before taking bath.
2. Add 2 tbsp of turmeric powder with 4 tablespoons of milk. Apply the resultant paste on your pigmentation and leave for 5-10 minutes and then wash off with warm water.

Precaution: Take care when using turmeric as it leaves stains.

5. Aloe Vera for Skin Pigmentation

Aloe vera gel promotes regeneration of new skin cells by sloughing off the dead cells. This gives you new lighter and spotless skin. This exfoliating effect of aloe vera gel is due to the presence of mucilaginous polysaccharides in aloe gel. Aloe vera gel is also a great moisturizing and cleansing agent and thus makes your skin glow with natural radiance.

Make Aloe Vera- Seaweed Mask for Pigmentation

Get this:

• Aloe Vera Gel- ½ tbsp
• Seaweed (like kelp powder)- 1 tbsp
• Raw honey- ½ tbsp

Do this:

• You can get organic aloe vera gel or take out the fresh gel from an aloe vera leaf.
• Add aloe gel, kelp and honey and mix well.
• Apply this mixture to your face or pigmentation affected body part.
• Leave for 15-20 minutes.
• Wash off with lukewarm water.
• Repeat thrice a week.

Other ways to Use Aloe Vera Gel for Pigmentation

1. With the help of a cotton ball or fingers, apply aloe vera gel to your pigmentation affected skin. Leave it overnight and wash off in the morning. Repeat this every night before going to bed.
2. Add ½ tbsp of honey to 2 tbsp of aloe vera gel and apply to the pigmentation. Leave for 10 minutes and wash off with warm water. Repeat this once daily.

6. Avocado for Skin Pigmentation

Avocados are one of the best remedies for hyperpigmentation. Due to its beneficial nutrients like fatty acids, vitamin C and oleic acid, avocados can excellently remove hyperpigmentation. There are also a number of enzymes present in the fruit that help reduce skin pigmentation. Vitamin E and the fatty acids of avocados not only reduce pigmentation but also provide moisturization and soothing effect to your skin.

Make Avocado Mask for Pigmentation

Get this:

• Avocado (ripe)- ½ of it
• Honey- 2 Tsp
• Milk- 1 Tsp

Do this:

• Mash the ripe avocado to get its smooth pulp.
• Add honey and milk to this.
• Apply this mask to your face or another body part where you have pigmentation.
• Let it dry or at least leave it for 20 minutes.
• Wash off with warm water.
• Repeat daily for at least 4-5 weeks to see the effect.

If you don’t want to make a mask, just mash a ripe avocado and apply this to your pigmented skin and wash off with warm water after 15-20 minutes.

7. Banana for Skin Pigmentation

Banana, the tasty and healthy fruit also comes to your help when it’s about getting rid of pigmentation. Banana has this reputation of being a natural exfoliating agent along with providing essential nutrients to the skin to keep it moist, supple and young.

Make Banana-Milk Mask for Pigmentation

• Banana (peeled)- ¼
• Honey- ¼ Tsp
• Milk- 1 Tsp

Do this:

• Mash the banana.
• Add honey and milk to the banana mash.
• Apply this to your face or the skin with pigmentation
• Leave for 20-30 minutes.
• Wash off with warm water.
• Repeat this daily.

8. Milk for Skin Pigmentation

You may have noticed that many remedies for pigmentation above uses milk. This is for a reason. Lactic acid is one of the major components of milk. This acid has the ability to reduce pigmentation along with reducing the signs of aging. If your pigmentation is related to aging, use this easy remedy with milk and honey.

Make a Mask with Milk and Honey for Pigmentation

Get this:

• Milk- 1-2 tbsp
• Honey- 1-2 tbsp

Do this:

• Add milk and honey.
• Mix them well and apply this to your face or other pigmentation.
• Leave for 15-20 minutes.
• Wash off with warm water.
• Repeat daily.

9. Sandalwood for Skin Pigmentation

Sandalwood has long been used in India and other Asian countries as well as Egypt due to its skin cleansing properties. Sandalwood oil has cicatrisant properties. Essential oils having cicatrisant properties can heal wounded skin and can also make scar tissue, as well as other marks on skin, disappear. Sandalwood essential oil is also rich in sesquiterpenes which is a chemical component that stimulates the pineal gland in your brain. This gland is responsible for producing melatonin and for releasing it into your bloodstream. Melatonin regulation is essential not only for skin pigmentation but also for regulating your sleep cycle and immune system. You can use both, sandalwood oil as well as sandalwood powder to get the benefits of this aromatic wood.

Ways to Use Sandalwood for Pigmentation

1. Take 4 teaspoons of sandalwood powder and add lemon juice from ½ a lemon. Mix well to make a paste. Apply this paste to an affected area and leave for 10-15 minutes and then wash off.
2. Add 3 tsp of gram flour with 2 tsp of sandalwood powder. Make a paste using enough rosewater or plain water. Apply this to your pigmentation affected the skin and wait for 10-15 minutes before washing off.
3. Mix sandalwood powder with milk to make a paste and apply to your face. Wash off after 15-20 minutes.
4. Add 2-4 drops of sandalwood essential oil with 1-2 tsp of a carrier oil like almond or olive oil and apply to your pigmented skin.
5. Take 2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder, 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder and 3-4 tablespoons of milk. Mix well to make a paste and apply this to pigment affected skin. Let it dry on its own and then wash off with lukewarm water.

10. Papaya for Skin Pigmentation

Papaya has an enzyme called ‘Papain’. This Papain is an excellent exfoliating agent that breaks down dead skin cells effectively and makes way for new cells to give you fresh spotless skin. It also helps in combating dry skin so that you get a soft and supple skin. Papaya also contains anti-oxidants and phytonutrients that give you younger glowing skin.

Make Papaya Aloe Vera mask for Pigmentation

Get this:

• Papaya pulp- 2 tbsp
• Aloe vera gel- 1 tbsp
• Honey- 1 tbsp
• Milk- 1 tbsp

Do this:

• Take the papaya pulp and add all the other ingredients.
• Mix well to get a paste.
• Apply this to your skin with pigmentation.
• Leave for 20-30 minutes.
• Wash off with lukewarm water.
• Repeat daily.

11. Strawberry for Skin Pigmentation

Many studies have proved the health benefits of strawberries. Strawberry has anti-oxidants along with astringent and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce signs of aging including skin pigmentation. It is also rich in alpha-hydroxylic acid that makes it a good exfoliating agent to get rid of dead skin cells. While vitamin C in strawberries boost collagen production to give you younger skin without wrinkles, its omega- 3 fatty acids help lighten your skin tone so that you get rid of dark circles as well as dark spots. Include strawberries in your daily diet and also crush them and apply their pulp on your pigment affected areas. Here are some more ways to use strawberries along with other ingredients to make face masks for skin pigmentation.

Strawberry Masks for Skin Pigmentation

• Take 2-3 tablespoons of strawberries pulp and add a tablespoon of lime juice to this. Apply this mask on pigment affected skin for 15 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.
• Take some strawberries and mash them to get a smooth paste. Add 1 tablespoon of honey to this and apply on face or other affected areas. Leave for 15 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.
• Take ¼ cup of ripe banana and mashed strawberries. Add ¼ cup of sour cream or yogurt to this with 1 tablespoon of honey. Apply this to your pigmentation for about 15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.
• Take slices of strawberry and rub gently over your pigmentation affected skin. Do this for about 5 minutes and then wash off.

12. Almonds for Skin Pigmentation

Almonds are high on vitamin E which is a very fine antioxidant. Vitamin E effectively neutralizes the harmful effects of UV rays and helps repair damaged skin. This is also one of the oldest remedies for hyper-pigmentation. Not only does almond has mild bleaching properties, it also makes a good scrubbing agent when used as a coarse paste. Have a few almonds every day and make the following almond mask to get rid of pigmentation.

Almond mask for Pigmentation

Get this:

• Almonds- handful
• Water- to soak almonds
• Milk (optional)- 1-2 tbsp or as per need
• Honey (optional)- 1-2 Tsp

Do this:

• Soak the almond overnight.
• In the morning, grind the almonds using milk or water to get its paste.
• Add honey, if using.
• Apply this mask on the skin with pigmentation.
• Leave for 30 minutes.
• Wash off
• Repeat daily.

13. Orange Peel for Skin Pigmentation

We all know that orange is a rich source of Vitamin C, which is a natural skin bleach. The same properties are found in orange peel too. So next time when you eat oranges don’t trash them and just dry them in shade to get its powder. This peel can lighten your skin as well as reduce dark blemishes including pigmentation. They also protect your skin from harmful UV rays that are also one of the causes of hyperpigmentation.

Make Orange Peel Mask for Pigmentation

Get this:

• Orange peel powder- 2-3 tbsp
• Milk- 1-2 tbsp
• Honey-1-2 Tsp

Do this:

• Add milk and honey to orange peel powder to get a paste.
• Apply this to your pigmentation affected skin.
• Leave for half an hour.
• Wash off.
• Repeat daily.

14. Tomato-Oatmeal for Skin Pigmentation

Tomato is a very good natural skin lightening agent due to its bleaching properties. Oatmeal, on the other hand, makes a good exfoliating agent along with providing nutrients to your skin. Using these two ingredients along with yogurt can give you an effective mask for skin pigmentation.

Make a Tomato-Oatmeal-Yogurt mask for Pigmentation

Get this:

• Tomato- 1-2
• Oatmeal- 2 Tsp
• Yogurt- ½ Tsp

Do this:

• Grate or grind the tomatoes and then extract their juice.
• Add oatmeal and yogurt with tomato juice.
• Apply this to affected areas.
• Leave for 15-20 minutes.
• Wash off with warm water.
• Repeat 3-4 times a week.

15. Olive Oil for Skin Pigmentation

Olive oil with its excellent anti-inflammatory properties and good fats is an effective remedy for hyperpigmentation of the skin. Olive oil not only hydrates your skin well but also even out your skin tone by reducing pigmentation.

Give Olive Oil massage to Reduce Skin Pigmentation

• Take some olive oil and massage your pigmentation affected skin for 3-4 minutes with this.
• Now take a cloth and soak it in hot water.
• Drain off the excess water and place the cloth over the massaged skin. Take care that the cloth is not too hot. Keep it hot at a temperature that you can tolerate.
• Let it be there for a couple of minutes.
• Now wipe off the excess oil with this cloth.
• The dead skin will slough off with it giving way to the newer spotless skin.
• Repeat this daily.