When it comes to skin complexion, most of us are looking to improve our golden tan. However, learning how to get pale skin is becoming a popular trend.
Thanks to the emergence of K-Pop from South Korea, as well as the growth of fantasy stories, vampire romps, and everyone’s favorite goth girl Wednesday Addams, pale skin is the hot new thing.
But how do you get pale skin naturally without resorting to harsh chemical bleaching? Don’t worry, we have you covered. In this article, we’ll be giving you the best tips and suggestions for how you can lighten your complexion and achieve perfect pale skin. Let’s get to it.
Why do people want pale skin?
People may want to make their skin paler for various reasons. Cultural preferences, societal norms, or personal aesthetic choices can all play a significant role. In some cultures, lighter skin is considered a symbol of beauty, wealth, or high social status. In others, people may feel that having pale skin gives them a more youthful or refined appearance. Additionally, some may simply prefer the look of pale skin.
In the western world, popular media trends have influenced many people to learn how to get pale skin. Remember that whole vampire craze? It may sound a little silly, but the Twilight generation has led the way for years in the quest for pale, luminous skin. Whether it’s the infectious style and charisma of Wednesday Addams or the sheer awesomeness of gothic bad boy KingCobraJFS on YouTube, the sway of celebrities and online influencers can’t be overlooked.
However, it’s important to note that some skin-lightening products and procedures can come with significant risks. If you want to get pale skin, you need to be aware of the potential pros and cons associated with certain techniques and treatments.
Skin lightening or skin whitening: What’s the difference?
If you want to get pale skin, it’s essential you become familiar with common terms associated with this process. Contrary to popular belief, skin lightening and skin whitening are very different things. Here’s what you need to know.
What is skin whitening?
Skin whitening, also referred to as skin bleaching is quite an invasive procedure designed to noticeably change the complexion of your skin. To be more specific, it’s a process of drastically altering your natural skin tone to become significantly whiter.
Skin whitening can be a risky endeavor, as the ingredients used in whitening products such as mercury and hydroquinone can irritate the skin and even trigger toxic reactions.[1] This all depends on your natural skin type and how it reacts to various things. Everyone is different in this area, but skin whitening is known to produce unpleasant side effects and complications.
What is skin lightening?
On the flip side, skin lightening is a much gentler and more accessible technique to brighten the skin without the need for potentially hazardous ingredients. Products such as brightening serums and dark spot correctors are used to counteract the effects of excess melanin in the skin. Skin lightening methods are designed to reduce dark spots, sun spots, liver spots, blemishes, and the marks left behind by acne.
Our recommendation
We suggest that if you want to get pale skin, you should opt for skin-lightening products and methods rather than skin whitening. Skin lightening is safer, easier to control, and less likely to produce harmful side effects.
This is simply our personal recommendation. If you feel you’d prefer to try skin whitening procedures, you should contact a professional dermatologist or medical practitioner to discuss your options.
What causes the skin to get darker?
The complexion of your skin is ultimately determined by how much melanin your body produces. Melanin is a pigment that gives color to our skin, hair, and eyes. It is produced by skin cells called melanocytes. Melanin helps protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. The amount of melanin our bodies produce is determined largely by genetics, but can also be influenced by other factors such as sun exposure, hormonal changes, and skin injuries such as inflammation caused by shaving and ingrown hairs.
Different people have different levels of melanin, which results in variations in skin color. Skin issues such as dark spots (also called sun spots and liver spots) can appear on any part of our body due to the numerous factors we’ve mentioned. Prolonged sun exposure however is clearly the leading cause of hyperpigmentation. It can appear on our face, neck, shoulders, arms, legs, between the breasts, and yes, on our butts!
Additionally, certain skin procedures such as microneedling can produce an unwanted side effect of darker skin and hyperpigmentation.
How to get pale skin: Our best methods
Now that we know the science behind skin color and complexion, it’s time to share our best methods for getting pale skin.
A lot of the following techniques are easy to do and can be incorporated into your lifestyle immediately. Other suggestions may take more time and discipline but will yield fantastic results if done consistently.
Reduce sun exposure
The most obvious way you can get pale skin is by staying out of the sun as much as possible. The less time you spend exposing your skin to the sun, the likelihood of your body producing melanin is decreased significantly. Less melanin means fewer dark spots and areas of hyperpigmentation.
Staying out of the sun is easier to do if you live in a colder part of the world where sunlight is a rare blessing. However, if you live in sunnier areas, there are some simple tricks you can do.
- Only go out to do errands after dark, such as shopping, etc.
- Carry an umbrella to shield yourself from the sun during the day
- Wear long clothes that cover up as many areas of your skin as possible
Alongside these techniques, it’s a good idea to always wear powerful sunscreen. We recommend choosing a sunscreen with an SPF between 30 and 50, as this will provide adequate protection from sun damage.
Eat the right foods
Making positive adjustments to your diet can have a huge impact on the complexion of your skin. Eating the right type of foods with the right type of ingredients is a helpful step in how to get pale skin. More specifically, eating a large variety of fruits[2] and vegetables will drastically improve the overall health of the skin, and minimize the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots, helping to lighten the skin.
Foods that are rich in antioxidants are amazing at fighting free radicals and keeping the skin in good shape. Some of the best ingredients to consume are the following:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Selenium
- Beta-carotene
These can be found in fresh fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and healthy fatty foods such as avocado and salmon.
Drink more water
Drinking plenty of water is essential for the skin because it helps to keep it hydrated. Hydrated skin looks and feels smoother, plumper, and more radiant. It also makes pale skin appear more luminous and glowing. When skin is dehydrated, it can appear dull and dry, darken its complexion, and fine lines and wrinkles may become more noticeable.
Staying hydrated also helps to flush out toxins from the body, which can help to improve the overall appearance of the skin. Additionally, water is essential for the proper functioning of all cells in the body, including skin cells, and helps to regulate the body’s temperature. Aiming to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day can help to keep the skin looking and feeling its best.
If you’re not much of a water drinker, you can also eat more water-dense foods such as strawberries, cucumbers, lemons, oranges, etc. As long as you remain properly hydrated, the chances of getting healthy pale skin only increase.
Not sure if you’re hydrated enough? Check the color of your pee. If it is clear, you’re good. If it is yellow or dark orange, you need to drink more water.
Exercise more often
That’s right, doing regular exercise can be extremely good for your skin, especially if you want to get pale skin. Here’s why:
- Improves circulation: Exercise increases blood flow, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which can help improve skin health and give it a radiant glow.
- Supports the immune system: Regular exercise can help boost the immune system, which can help keep skin clear by fighting off harmful bacteria and toxins that can cause breakouts.
- Reduces stress: Stress can trigger skin problems like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Exercise can help reduce stress levels and calm the mind, which can have a positive impact on the skin.
- Increases perspiration: During exercise, the body sweats, which helps to remove toxins from the body, including the skin. This can help to unclog pores and keep skin clear.
Use skin-brightening products
Skin brightening products can help you achieve a lighter, brighter complexion by reducing the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. These products typically contain ingredients like hydroquinone, vitamin C, and niacinamide,[3] which can help to lighten the skin. Some skin-brightening products may also contain ingredients like glycolic acid,[4] which can help to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells, revealing brighter, more even-toned skin.
Overall, if you want to get pale skin, you really need to embrace the power of brightening serums and also consider consuming ingredients like glutathione, which can contribute to lightening and skin whitening.
Exfoliate regularly
Exfoliating the skin regularly can help to make it lighter by removing dead skin cells, promoting cell renewal, and improving skin tone and texture. This process can help to reduce the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and other discoloration, resulting in a brighter, more even-toned complexion. Regular exfoliation can also help to unclog pores, prevent breakouts, and stimulate circulation, all of which can have a positive impact on the skin’s overall appearance.
However, it’s important to choose the right type of exfoliant and exfoliate gently, as over-exfoliating can damage the skin and make it more susceptible to sun damage and other environmental factors. Additionally, it’s best to talk to a dermatologist before using exfoliating products, especially if you have sensitive skin or a skin condition, to ensure that the product is safe and appropriate for your skin type.
Conclusion: How to get pale skin
As you can see, getting pale skin requires a combination of factors. Firstly, doing all you can to avoid sun exposure is probably the most important aspect. The less sun you allow to touch your skin, the less risk of hyperpigmentation and dark spots forming.
Next, positive lifestyle changes in the area of diet and hydration will be extremely helpful. The skin is an organ, and keeping your body healthy will only be beneficial for your skin. Stay hydrated to keep your skin clear and glowing.
Finally, by using the right types of skin-brightening products, you can speed the entire process along. Remember to stay consistent and not expect results too quickly. Getting pale skin requires a medium to long-term time commitment, but if you keep at it you’ll be more than pleased with the results.
Good luck! We hope you get that gorgeous luminous pale skin you desire soon.
References
