Why Indian Skin Pigments Differently Than Other Skin Types
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Have you ever wondered why a tiny pimple, a scratch, or even a walk under the sun can leave a dark trace on your skin that refuses to go away
The issue is that your skin has a different biology that makes it more susceptible to developing dark spots and uneven skin tone after being exposed to a certain irritant.
The reason why the Indian skin pigments are so different compared to lighter Caucasians or darker Africans is because of the way their bodies naturally produce melanin.
The Science Behind Indian Melanin Production
If you want to understand what makes Indian skin care needs to be so different, you need to first understand what makes Indian skin unique.
1. Fitzpatrick Skin Tone Scale III to VI
On the Fitzpatrick skin type scale, Indians usually score around III to VI, meaning that their skin contains higher levels of protective melanin.
This means that you have more protection from UV rays and serious burns; however, there is a catch that we’ll go over further below.
2. More Active Melanocytes Create More Eumelanin
Although most body tissues have roughly the same amount of melanocytes (skin pigment cells), Indians have larger and more active melanocytes that make more eumelanin.
Your body naturally produces more melanin when you get sun-exposed, scratched, or inflamed to protect your skin from further irritation and damage.
The reason why Indians have more reactions to irritation is because their melanocytes are generally more active and produce more eumelanin when triggered.
Top Reasons Your Indian Skin Is Prone to Hyperpigmentation
Now that you know why Indian skin tone is uniquely predisposed to develop dark spots, let’s go over the major causes of uneven skin tone for people with naturally pigmented skin.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Your skin can develop dark spots after getting inflamed due to a pimple, harsh scrubbing, insect bite, and other similar reasons.
It happens because your melanocytes automatically go into overdrive and start generating more melanin to <<heal>> the <<wound>>. Once the site of the inflammation has healed, dark spots remain on your skin as a remainder of the incident
Melasma Caused by Hormone Fluctuations
Hormone replacement therapies and menopause can make your skin sensitive to UV light and trigger irregular melanin production.
These dark spots usually appear on your cheeks, forehead, and upper lip in a symmetrical pattern and are commonly referred to as melasma.
Dark Spots Caused by UVA Exposure
UV light penetrates through your skin and causes your melanocytes to become excessively active, which leads to dark spots.
High-energy visible light (HEV) from electronic screens can penetrate the skin and contribute to spots appearing on your face, particularly for people with naturally pigmented skin.
Indian Skin Care Tips to Reduce Melanin Overproduction
If you have Indian or naturally pigmented skin, it’s important to take special care of your skin to reduce unwanted melanin production. Here are the basic Indian skincare recommendations that should help you prevent developing dark spots:
Daily UV Protection
To stop your melanocytes from entering the hyperpigmentation mode, it’s essential to wear sunscreen with adequate UV protection every single day.
Washing Away Dead Skin Cells
A gentler alternative to harsh exfoliation is a calming face mask that would remove the top layer of your skin and rid your skin of dead cells that contain excess melanin.
Melt away unwanted spots with our nourishing face mask that gently exfoliates and renews your skin without irritating it
Nourish and Protect Your Skin Barrier
It’s vital to keep your skin barrier intact and sufficiently nourished to prevent developing dark spots.
Using serums and toners with calming extracts and ingredients that reduce the appearance of dark spots would help you achieve an even skin tone while maintaining the health of your skin.
The Rare Chemistry Approach to Treating Hyperpigmentation
At Rare Chemistry we specialize in creating chemical treatments that are gentle enough for sensitive pigmented skin while still being effective at reducing the appearance of dark spots.
We’ve developed our unique formulations of medical skincare to specifically target the causes of uneven skin tone while protecting the integrity of your skin barrier.
When creating your daily skincare routine to reduce dark spots, make sure to include the following recommended Rare Chemistry products:
Radiance Boost DeTan Face Mask
Use this special face mask 1–2 times a week to gently slough off dead skin cells and reveal a brighter complexion.
Dewy Skin Gel Moisturizer and Hydration Intense Day Cream
Both of these deeply hydrating moisturizers would nourish and protect your skin from irritants that may cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Non-Comedogenic Matte Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++
To reduce spots caused by UVA exposure, make sure to apply this sunscreen each morning before going outside.