Addressing Melasma with Natural Compounds

Melasma, a common patchy or dark pigmentation of the skin, is traditionally treated using combination products that include the recently-banned hydroquinone; however, it can be addressed using natural ingredients, noted Vispi Kanga, writing the second in a series of articles on the topic of skin lightening for SpecialChem4Cosmetics. Among the options available are natural exfoliants (i.e., alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids) that increase skin cell turnover; compounds such as licorice extract and vitamin C that inhibit tyrosinase, the melanin-producing enzyme; and ingredients that limit the transfer of pigment into skin cells, including soy and niacinamide.