How to Address a Childs Skin That Hasnt Recovered from Tanning for a Year?

If a child's skin becomes darker and fails to recover after a year, it is recommended to consume more foods with whitening effects in their daily diet, such as lemon, grapes, and dragon fruit. (1) The first step in skin whitening is to inhibit the production of melanin. Melanin is the primary pigment that affects skin tone, and inhibiting its production is a crucial ultimate goal of whitening products. Melanin is produced within melanocytes, which are located in the basal layer of the skin's epidermis. Therefore, functional ingredients must penetrate the skin and reach the basal layer to exert their effects. Hence, good permeability is a key criterion for evaluating the excellence of a product. Commonly used whitening agents that inhibit melanin production in the market include arbutin and its derivatives, kojic acid and its derivatives, vitamin C and its derivatives, endothelin antagonists, licorice flavonoids, anthocyanins, as well as plant extracts such as green tea, rhododendron, grape seed, and rhodiola.

(2) The second step in skin whitening is to block the transport of melanin. After melanin is produced within melanocytes, melanosomes are transported along the dendritic protrusions of melanocytes to surrounding keratinocytes, affecting skin color. Melanin transport inhibitors can reduce the transfer rate of melanosomes to keratinocytes, decrease the melanin content in various layers of the epidermis, and achieve a whitening effect. Examples include nicotinamide, azelaic acid, and green tea extracts.

(3) The third step in skin whitening involves exfoliation. These substances soften the stratum corneum, accelerate the shedding of dead cells, promote epidermal metabolism, and allow melanosomes that enter the epidermis to be eliminated during the metabolic process along with the rapid renewal of the epidermis, thereby reducing their impact on skin color. Examples include fruit acids and keratinolytic enzymes. Chemical exfoliation with fruit acids can be irritating and should not be used in excessive amounts. In contrast, keratinolytic enzymes are biological exfoliants with a gentle effect and generally do not cause irritation.