Maximum Fit Magazine

Dark spots and discolorations on the skin can be a difficult and embarrassing problem. Skin pigmentation, age spots and melasma are hard to treat. There is no shortage of fading creams on the market - many of which are unsafe and do more harm than good, such as those containing hydroquinone. Others are simply ineffective and a waste of time and money. However, there is the possibility that a simple, natural home remedy may be just the solution you’re looking for. When I first noticed the darkening area on my forehead, in my late twenties, I didn’t know what it was. Was it dirt? It wouldn’t wash off! I did some research and determined it was melasma - like an age spot it’s a type of hyperpigmentation on the skin. Age spots are generally like large, dark freckles. Melasma is an area of patchy darker skin that often affects the forehead, temples and cheeks. Both age spots and melasma can be treated by the same types of lightening solutions. Since I am the type of girl who appreciates a good home remedy, I dove headfirst into research and came upon several simple natural treatments to try to lighten the dark spots on my face.

To fight your melasma, you will need to do more than use one cream. For the best results, you can supplement your cream with simple, natural and little known remedies. Some of these are things you can buy at the store and add to your cream, some are things you can buy at the store and apply to your face before and after your cream, and some are nutritional supplements you can take internally. MSM is a nutritional supplement you can buy at the drugstore. Containing a natural sulfur, it supplements the diet with the sulfur that is found some fruits and veggies, a nutrient many of us may not be getting enough of. MSM is very good for the skin, as you take it internally, it begins softening the skin over your entire body. MSM also improves the health of your hair and nails. If you have joint pain, it may provide some relief there as well. Some who take MSM also notice that scars are naturally lightened and reduced. Some melasma sufferers have found MSM supplements to offer them a complete cure! Personally, I noticed that my own melasma appeared after I had stopped taking MSM, and I didn’t know at the time the connection between the two. Adding MSM to your daily melasma treatment can be a very powerful and positive element. Start out with 1 to 2 grams a day, and see how your body reacts to it. Some people may find they are going to the bathroom more frequently, until their body adjusts. Some melasma sufferers will megadose with MSM, up to 8 grams a day. If you plan to do this, work up to it gradually. Take Vitamin C with your MSM, as it enhances the results.