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Sea salt is, as the name suggests, salt obtained from sea water. Unlike table salt, it is produced by evaporating seawater, and therefore may contain trace minerals like iron, potassium and zinc. It has a unique taste, and it is widely used for seasoning, preserving, and in cooking. However, in addition to its culinary uses, it can also be used for your skin. Today, many skincare products include sea salt as an ingredient for exfoliating and more.
Sea salt can be used as a potent exfoliant, removing dirt, grime and oils, and cleaning the pores on your skin. It can also be used to balance oil production, and reduce oiliness. (Don’t confuse Dead Sea Salt or Epsom Salt with sea salt. Each has unique properties.) To use, mix a teaspoonful in warm water, and mist onto your face. It’s that easy! Or, to find out if this would make an appropriate ingredient in your daily skincare regimen, click here to take the Skin Quiz.
Sea salt, while great for exfoliating, may be harsh on your skin. It may cause mini tears to form on the skin surface, through which bacteria can enter your skin and cause problems such as acne breakouts. Therefore, it may be a good idea to use a gentler exfoliator.
Melasma is a specific example of hyperpigmentation. Melasma looks like whole patches of brown or darker skin across the parts of the face and neck. Melasma is common among women who are pregnant - it’s even referred to as “the mask of pregnancy.” But melasma can occur in both men and women who are not pregnant, too. Melasma can be caused by UV damage, but there are also genetic, hormonal, and medication-induced causes for melasma, too.
There are a variety of topical ingredients that can be used to lighten the skin from melasma or reduce its appearance. Each ingredient works in different ways, and each has their own benefits and drawbacks. hydroquinone, arbutin, vitamin C (ascorbic acid, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, etc) are some of the most commonly used ingredients for melasma treatment.
Hydroquinone is a skin lightening cream that works by suppressing the production of melanin. There are drawbacks to using hydroquinone, however, including cancer risks demonstrated by recent scientific studies, as well as hydroquinone-induced ochronosis.
Arbutin is a synthesized derivative of hydroquinone. It acts as a powerful skin lightening ointment that works a bit differently than hydroquinone. It blocks the production of melanin instead of “bleaching” the skin.
Vitamin C can be used as a brightening agent to lighten the hyperpigmentation of your sunspots or melasma. It works by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, preventing the formation of melatonin.
Ascorbic Acid is actually the formal scientific name for one form of Vitamin C. It can refer to either a naturally occurring Vitamin C found in foods such as citrus, or a synthetic form of ascorbic acid created to be more shelf-stable for skincare products like discoloration repair lotions and creams.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is another form of Vitamin C. By synthesizing this compound from Vitamin C, dermatologists are able to give us all the benefits of Vitamin C in a more shelf-stable form that can also be soluble in oil to make more effective, deeper penetrating skin products. (Herndon 2016)
Ingredients in the vitamin A family (ie. Retinol, tretinoin, etc) and acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid) help damaged pigmented skin cells shred faster, so they also help with melasma.
Sea salt may be effective for melasma, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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