The old adage ‘you are what you eat’ holds quite true when it comes to your skin.
No matter what skin concerns you are dealing with, and how much skin care products you put in, your skin sooner or later becomes the reflection of the nutrition you put in your body.
So here is our first blog of the series ‘eat your skincare’, focusing on foods that help you with hyperpigmentation
What is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a common skin problem that appears as dark patches, spots, uneven skin tone or stubborn scars on your face or on body,
It is generally caused because of overproduction of melanin by the skin in a defensive response to harmful external factors like inflammation, sunburn injury etc
Even though harmless, hyperpigmentation can actually mess up a person's confidence, self-esteem and create body image issues. Read more about hyperpigmentation in detail in our blog section.
How do food items help with hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation as mentioned earlier is caused by overproduction of melanin, a pigment responsible for skin colour. And melanin in turn is regulated by tyrosinase - an enzyme.
Foods that can inhibit tyrosinase and control melanin production can thus help with hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone .
Antioxidants, like vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene, are key players.
They combat free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage skin cells and stimulate melanin overproduction.
Now here are seven foods items rich in tyrosinase inhibitors to include in your diet:
Carrots: Carrots are rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C. Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A, which helps with skin cell turnover, and thus fades dark spots. Vitamin C prevents melanin production. Melanin is the pigment that causes hyperpigmentation in the first place.
Carrots also offer other numerous skin benefits like gentle exfoliation from natural enzymes, hydration from water content, and antioxidant protection from free radicals.
Spinach: When it comes to hyperpigmentation, spinach shines due to its rich content of vitamins and antioxidants.
Packed with vitamin C, spinach helps skin avoid melanin production. Moreover, it contains vitamin A, which again promotes skin cell turnover, and helps in the reduction of hyperpigmentation appearance. Spinach's antioxidant properties are a bonus too. They help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, further helping skin with a clear complexion and overall health.
Citrus fruits (Oranges, lemons, grapefruits): Citrus fruits are proven and well known for their skin-benefiting properties especially when it comes to hyperpigmentation. Packed with vitamin C, a potent antioxidant, citrus fruits help skin avoid meaning production. Further it stimulates collagen synthesis, promoting skin's elasticity and helps in the overall improvement of skin texture.
Beyond vitamin C, citrus fruits also have alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like citric acid.These AHAs act as gentle exfoliants, remove dead skin cells and reveal a brighter complexion.
Almonds: A nutritional powerhouse that offers benefits beyond heart health. Almonds are quite rich in vitamin E which is a potent antioxidant & protects skin from damage caused by free radicals - a primary contributor to hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, almonds contain essential fatty acids that hydrate and nourish the skin.
Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes are packed with beta-carotene, similar to carrots, and offer a rich source of vitamin A, which is essential for skin cell turnover. This helps in fading of dark spots.
Sweet potatoes also contain vitamins C and E, which work to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, preventing further pigmentation and promoting overall skin health.
Berries: Berries are a powerful fruit They are known to have numerous benefits to health as a whole. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, they offer a natural approach to achieving a more even skin tone.
Berries also have high concentration of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that prevents melanin production, and thus reduced dark spots & hyperpigmentation. Also, berries contain anthocyanins, compounds that protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, which can worsen hyperpigmentation.
Walnuts: Walnuts are also packed with antioxidants, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. It combats free radical damage, a primary cause of uneven skin tone. Vitamin E, in particular, helps repair skin tissue and protect against environmental stressors.
And there you have it — seven foods that can get you even toned and healthier skin.