Skin lightening or skin bleaching refers to a common cosmetic procedure the aim of which is to lighten the dark areas present in your skin  which you are not comfortable with.

According to  leading experts who also provide various skin care tips to their clients, skin lightening should only be preferred to improve the appearance of your blemishes like dark patches and birthmarks and not to change the color of your skin on the whole.

There are different procedures involved in terms of skin lightening. These procedures work by the way of reducing the concentration or production of melanin into your skin. Melanin is known to be the pigment that helps to provide color from the skin and to protect your skin from the sun.

Common skin-lightening procedures:

There are two popular methods that are used for lightening your skin tones, as suggested by the dermatologist. The first one is the use of different kinds of skin lightening creams. The second one includes a cosmetic treatment known as laser treatment.

• Skin-lightening creams:

There are various skin-lightening creams which are available in the market that you can buy in order to lighten the tone of your skin. However, it is always suggested to buy the skin-lightening products after discussing the same with your dermatologist. Your dermatologist will suggest you the best suited skin-lightening product for your skin  type and will also recommend the duration for which it can be used safely.

There are many powerful skin-lightening creams available on the prescription from the doctor. These creams contain agents such as hydroquinone and corticosteroids which have desired results but may not suit everyone and cannot be used long term.After the application of these creams, you are required to take care of various skin care tips to attain the best possible results.

• Laser treatment:

Another method of lightening your skin tone which is becoming very popular by each day is laser skin lightening. In this treatment, a laser is used to lighten the dark patches and blemishes present on the skin. This works by either removing the outer layer of the skin or by damaging the cells that involve the production of melanin. Just like the skin-lightening creams, this treatment too requires you to follow several skin care tips such as not stepping out in the sun, following the CTM rule, etc. The results of laser skin lightening vary from person to person. For some people, this treatment may work like magic while for the others the results are temporary.

Skin-lightening procedure or treatment might cost you a lot of money. Thus, it is very important for you to know what you are going for. Consult your dermatologist first before you plan on taking any major step.