Arbutin benefits for skin: a safe natural lightening agent?
What is arbutin? What are the benefits of arbutin for the skin? How can it be used and benefited from? Important information and details in this article.
In the following, we will introduce you to the benefits of Arbutin for the skin and some important information about this substance.
What is meant by arbutin?
Arbutin is a natural lightener that is extracted from the dry leaves of some plants, such as bearberry and blueberries.
The potential benefits of arbutin for the skin are numerous, and most of them stem from the ability of this natural compound to inhibit and resist the production of melanin in the skin, which may help lighten the skin color and protect the skin from the overproduction of melanin, but it should be noted that the lightening effect of arbutin is a temporary effect that quickly fades when Stop using arbutin.
The Alorboaten preparations Brightening are safe often for different skin types and can be found in many skincare products.
It should be noted that the arbutin here is specifically alpha-arbutin, as there is also a compound called beta-arbutin, a compound similar to alpha-arbutin, but it is the harmful and unstable version of arbutin, so it is preferable to avoid beta-arbutin.
How does arbutin work in the skin?
Most of the benefits of arbutin for the skin stem from the potential ability of arbutin to inhibit the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme that plays a role in the appearance of various skin pigmentations, such as
But when you use arbutin, it prevents the enzyme tyrosinase from doing its normal activity, which helps slow the production of skin pigment after exposure to UV rays, which may contribute to combating the formation of dark spots.
The mechanism of action of arbutin in the skin is similar to that of some other plant-based lightening compounds, such as the following:
- Kojic acid: It is extracted from mushrooms.
- Licorice root: It is taken from the licorice plant.
Benefits of arbutin for the skin
Because of the way it affects the skin, this compound may have numerous skin benefits, such as:
1. Resist and lighten acne scars
Acne and some types of inflammatory skin problems may leave dark spots known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These spots may be pink, red, or brown.
After they form, these spots may need months or years to fade, but if arbutin is used, it may be possible to shorten this period, one of the benefits of arbutin for the skin is that it may help to get rid of these spots due to the following:
- It has natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Its potential ability to lighten post-acne scars and spots, or prevent these scars from forming in the first place in people who are prone to breakouts.
2. Resist the harmful effect of sunlight
One of the benefits of arbutin for the skin is that its use may help to resist the harmful effect of sunlight, as arbutin may help:
- Protect the skin from a significant change in its color after exposure to sunlight.
- Stimulating skin recovery from some types of pigmentation that the sun may play a role in its emergences, such as freckles and liver spots.
3. Even skin tone
One of the potential benefits of arbutin for the skin is that it may help to even out skin tone. Because of its potential to protect the skin from the formation of pigmentation in addition to its potential ability to stimulate the fading of pigmentation and dark spots after their emergence, regular use of arbutin may help to obtain an even skin tone.
4. Arbutin Benefits for Other Skin
Arbutin may also have other benefits for the skin, such as:
- Skin color lightening.
- Fighting and treating acne.
- Resist some other skin problems, such as melasma.
How to use arbutin for the skin
The benefits of arbutin for the skin can be achieved by applying it to clean, dry skin twice daily before applying a moisturizer. Arbutin can be used alone, or with other preparations, as follows:
- Vitamin C, where this vitamin is applied in conjunction with arbutin to the skin.
- AHA acids, when peeling the skin with these acids and then applying arbutin, the ability of the skin to absorb arbutin may increase.
If arbutin is used regularly, it may take 1-2 months for a person to begin to notice any improvement in the appearance of their skin.
Pros of using arbutin for the skin
Here is a list of the most notable:
- Gentle on the skin Because of the slow rate at which arbutin releases its active compound into the skin, arbutin is often not irritating to the skin.
- It can often be used without concern in conjunction with various skin preparations.
- Safer than some other popular lightening creams, such as Hydroquinone. While hydroquinone works to lighten the skin by killing melanocytes, arbutin only inhibits the enzyme that stimulates melanin production.
Arbutin side effects
Despite the many benefits of arbutin for the skin, and although it is a safe preparation in most cases, it, like other skincare products, may also have potential harms, such as the following:
- An allergic reaction may cause several symptoms, such as redness and irritation.
- Irritation may be associated with the appearance of mild acne.
- Sunburn, or increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun.
To avoid possible arbutin damage, make sure you: apply sunscreen regularly, start with a small amount of arbutin before gradually increasing the dose, and test the arbutin on a small patch of skin to monitor the reaction before using it more widely.