Melanin is a biological pigment formed through a series of chemical reactions involving the amino acid tyrosine and its derivative, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). In humans, melanin is a dark brown pigment primarily located in the skin, hair, and eyes. It is produced and stored in specialized cells called melanocytes. Melanin is responsible for the color of the skin and hair. When melanin production is disrupted or inhibited, it can lead to pigment loss, resulting in conditions like vitiligo, which causes white spots on the skin.
Basic Introduction of Melanin
Melanin is a dark brown pigment found in the skin or hair of animals. It is produced and stored in a special cell, the melanocyte. It is because of the existence of melanin that the skin has color. Once melanin cannot be formed for some reason, it will cause pigmentation loss, thus forming white spots.
It is the presence of melanin that gives the skin its color. If melanin cannot be formed for some reason, it causes depigmentation, resulting in white spots. Any animal or plant structure with dark brown or black pigment (such as skin, hair, choroid, or potatoes exposed to air). Anything resembling natural dark brown or black pigment, especially due to chromium or 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (or dopa for short).
Melanin is actually a protein that exists in everyone’s body. They exist between the cells in the basal layer of the skin. At this time, it is not true melanin, but a substance called “melanin protosubstance”, also called “pigment mother cell”.
Melanin is secreted by pigment progenitor cells. When ultraviolet rays (B wave, A wave) are irradiated on the skin (B wave, namely UVB, acts on the basal layer of the skin, while A wave is more powerful and acts on the dermis of the skin), the skin will be in a state of “self-protection”. Ultraviolet rays stimulate melanin and activate the activity of tyrosinase to protect our skin cells. Tyrosinase reacts with tyrosine in the blood to produce a substance called “DOPA”. DOPA is actually the precursor of melanin, which is formed by oxidation of tyrosine and releases melanin. Melanin moves through layers of cell metabolism and reaches the epidermis of the skin to form freckles, sun spots, dark spots, etc.
How to Prevent the Production of Melanin and Make the Skin White?
- Pay attention to labor protection and avoid direct exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet rays can promote melanocytes to produce melanin particles, making the skin darker. It is best to apply some whitening sunscreen on the exposed areas.
- Pay attention to your diet. Drink more water, eat more fresh vegetables, hawthorn, carrots, hydrangea, cordyceps, ganoderma and other fungi, and eat less salt to reduce the formation of melanin.
- Take vitamin C orally. It can reduce dopaquinone to dopa, thereby inhibiting the formation of melanin.
- You can take the Chinese medicine Liuwei Dihuang Pills orally, 8 pills each time, 2-3 times a day.
- For external decolorization or freckle removal agents, you can choose 3% hydrogen peroxide, 5% white mercuric ointment, or whitening and anti-wrinkle cream, freckle whitening cream, protein tender cream, protein ginseng beauty cream, special whitening powder, etc. Long-term use can whiten dark skin to a certain extent.
- Do not use ointments or cosmetics containing estrogen, because estrogen can promote the formation of melanin. Applying these cosmetics will make the skin darker, and long-term use will cause skin lesions.
- Harmonize the seven emotions, keep a good mood, and avoid worrying or getting angry.
- L-vitamin C liquid. L-vitamin C factor can inhibit the formation of melanin and lighten dark spots.
- Eat in moderation, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoid greasy, spicy, alcoholic and cheese-containing foods.
- Chinese herbal freckle treatment to prevent the production of melanin: Chinese medicine research shows that the spots on the skin are inevitably related to the internal organs. When the five internal organs are full of essence and qi, the skin is delicate and radiant; when the five internal organs are deficient in essence and qi, the skin is withered and yellow. “Spots” are essentially the reflection of the dysfunction of the five internal organs, the poor circulation of qi, blood and body fluids, and endocrine disorders on the face. To treat spots, both the symptoms and the root causes should be treated. Chinese herbal freckle treatment treats the five internal organs, and by regulating qi, blood and body fluids to balance yin and yang, the purpose of removing spots and nourishing the skin can be achieved.
- Choose cosmetics that lighten pigments with natural ingredients and traditional Chinese medicine.
- Use foundation cream and pressed powder to cover the spots. The foundation you choose should be slightly darker than your skin color to reduce the color difference between the spots and healthy skin and play a covering role.
- Avoid sun exposure and choose sunscreen with different SPF (sun protection factor) according to the season.
These Fruits Help You Avoid Melanin
- Grapes. Grapes are seasonal fruits in summer and ripen in midsummer. Grapes are known as “the treasure of fruits”. They are rich in vitamin B3 and various minerals. They deeply moisturize the skin and have anti-oxidation and anti-aging effects. The grape polyphenols in the pulp are strong antioxidants and have powerful sun protection and post-sun repair functions, preventing melanin precipitation and the formation of spots.
- Peaches. Peaches are also seasonal fruits in summer. They are refreshing, delicious, and sweet. The fruit acid in peach flesh has an excellent moisturizing effect, keeping the skin moisturized and translucent. In addition, peach flesh is rich in vitamins B and C, which have the effect of anti-oxidation and promoting blood circulation, making the facial skin rosy, white, and radiant.
- Cherries. Cherries are also called cherries. They are rich in iron and carotene, which can promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and promote skin microcirculation. Similarly, the vitamin C in cherries can whiten the skin and inhibit the deposition of melanin, so that people no longer fear the hot sun in summer.
- Watermelon. Most people only know that watermelon is a fruit that cools down and relieves heat, and replenishes water. However, few people know that watermelon is also a good product for beautifying and whitening the skin. Watermelon contains amino acids that stimulate skin activity, and has the effects of moisturizing the skin, sun protection, and whitening. In addition, after eating the watermelon pulp, you can also slice the watermelon rind and apply it on your face, which has an excellent cooling and hydrating effect.
- Apple. Although apples are not seasonal fruits in summer, they are now the beauty fruit of all seasons. The protein, dietary fiber, minerals and various moisturizing factors in apples can inhibit the formation and precipitation of melanin, reduce facial sun spots and whiten the skin. Eating an apple every day can also enhance immunity and resist viruses from eroding the body.
Effective Ways to Reduce Melanin
- Avoid exposure to ultraviolet rays: The formation of melanin is closely related to ultraviolet rays, so we should reduce exposure to strong sunlight, especially a few hours after 12:00 noon, when the sunlight is the strongest. Wear a sun umbrella and apply sunscreen when going out. In addition, the radiation from electronic products that we are exposed to on a daily basis also contains ingredients that are harmful to the skin, so we should pay attention to it.
- Pay attention to your diet: People with skin diseases must be careful not to eat spicy, indigestible, fried foods, sweet, fatty, greasy and heavy foods, stay away from artificial additives, and use hormones and contraceptives with caution. Drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables that are good for removing spots include cherries, pineapples, lychees, apples, red dates, lemons, tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, citrus, aloe vera, carrots, eggplants, celery, etc. In addition, foods rich in trace elements such as copper and zinc, such as shellfish, animal livers and some acidic foods, can aggravate melanin deposition and should be eaten less.
- Maintain a good lifestyle: Our bodies are very sensitive and will react to even the slightest injury. If the disease reacts on the skin, it will show dullness, inflammation, spots, etc. Therefore, if you want to maintain your skin, you must develop a good living habit in your daily life. In particular, you should not stay up late, which will cause a lot of melanin deposition. In addition, you should try to have regular meals, go to bed early and get up early. Each meal should be 70% to 80% good, and don’t eat after 9 o’clock in the evening. Food is a bit poisonous, especially sweet, fatty and greasy. Combine work and rest, avoid overwork, exercise properly, and cultivate a good physique, and you will be bright and radiant.
- Maintain a good mood: Bad mood can also lead to the deposition of melanin. If you are often angry, or if you are under long-term mental stress, you will develop ugly spots on your face and arms, especially on your face, so you should always pay attention to maintaining a happy mood. Traditional Chinese medicine also believes that the seven emotions and six desires can cause harm to the body, which is reflected in the dullness of the skin, the deposition of pigment toxins, etc.
- Massage: Massage: Melanin deposition often indicates poor blood circulation. To reduce melanin, you can massage specific points on the thigh, lower leg, inner forearm, and base of the neck. Yoga and stretching can also help improve circulation. Soaking your feet at night and using masks made from green tea, angelica, and almonds can aid in detoxification and freckle removal.
Snow-white skin not only makes us look more elegant but also makes us look younger. Many female friends want to know how to reduce melanin. The above article introduces several methods in detail. I hope the information introduced above will be helpful to everyone.