The benefits of Alpha arbutin have been touted and marketed as an effective skin lightener, largely because it’s derived from the bearberry plant.
But is Alpha arbutin safe for teenage skin? Let’s examine this question.
Is Alpha Arbutin Safe For Teenage Skin?
Alpha arbutin is completely safe for teenage skin. In fact, it can be used to treat acne which is a common issue faced by teenagers.
It can also reverse the damage caused by sun exposure at an early age and is an excellent treatment for hyperpigmentation.
If you are a teenager and have acne, blackheads, or other skin problems, alpha arbutin can help.
It is a natural whitening agent that has been used for many years to help treat these conditions.
Alpha arbutin can be applied topically to the affected areas. It’s also available in oral form.
Alpha arbutin works by blocking the production of melanin, the dark pigments found in your skin.
It’s derived from bearberry plants and is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. These make it an effective treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.
Alpha arbutin is not recommended for people with sensitive skin as it may cause irritation or allergic reaction in some individuals.
If you are prone to allergies, check with your doctor before using alpha-arbutin products on your face because there are some side effects associated with them.
Alpha arbutin products come in various forms including creams, gels, and lotions.
They should only be used externally; applying them directly onto broken skin could lead to irritation and inflammation of the area where the medicine was applied.
How To Use Alpha-arbutin For Teenage Skin
Here are some tips on how to use alpha-arbutin for teenage skin:
1. Moisturize
When your skin is in its teenage years, it strives to obtain hydration.
So, if you are a teenager and you want to use alpha-arbutin for your skin, make sure it is used in a moisturizer or lotion. This will allow the best results to be achieved on your skin.
2. Combine with hydroquinone
If you have oily skin, then combine the hydroquinone with the alpha-arbutin and apply it to your face.
This will help reduce the oil content of your face as well as prevent pimples from appearing on your face.
3. Cleanse at night
Every night before going to bed, make sure to wash your face thoroughly with a cleanser and then apply alpha-arbutin cream to it.
This will help remove all dead cells from the body and allow fresh skin cells to be produced by your skin.
4. Use it morning and night
One common problem that teenagers face is pimples or acne on their face which can cause scarring on the face too.
To prevent this from happening, make sure that you use alpha-arbutin daily along with a good cleanser for your face at least once during the day and once at night before going to bed.
5. Use an SPF
If you’re using alpha-arbutin, remember to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage and discoloration.
6. Be patient
The results of treatment cannot be seen overnight and it may take some time before you see any reduction in your pigmentation problems or melasma (brown patches).
7. Don’t overuse it
Remember that too much of a good thing can be bad! Too much alpha arbutin can cause inflammation.
Can Anyone Use Alpha Arbutin?
For the most part, yes! Alpha Arbutin is generally considered safe for all skin types and tones, though some precautions are necessary.
Because Alpha Arbutin breaks down in sunlight, it’s usually best to apply products containing this ingredient at night.
And, like other skin brighteners, you should always wear sunscreen during the day when using Alpha Arbutin to protect your freshly-brightened skin from sun damage.
Alpha Arbutin is also a good fit for anyone who may have had adverse reactions to other skin-lightening ingredients such as hydroquinone.
While hydroquinone has been deemed safe by the FDA, many people prefer to use gentler alternatives like Alpha-Arbutin in their skincare routines.
It’s also safe enough to be used with exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acids and retinol.
Alpha Arbutin may not be a great option for pregnant or nursing women due to the lack of research on how it affects expecting mothers and their babies.
Is Alpha-arbutin Safe For Sensitive Skin?
Arbutin can help boost the complexion’s radiance and even out skin tone. It also promotes a brightening effect on the skin.
Arbutin is great for those with sensitive skin because it’s a natural ingredient with little to no side effects.
Is Alpha Arbutin Safe For People With Allergies/phobias?
It is safe, but since it is a natural ingredient it can be allergens.
This is also the case with other skincare products. Try to make a patch test before you apply on your skin.
The best way to try a new product is to do a patch test first – this means applying a small amount of product on your skin and see if you have any reactions to it.
Usually, you will know within 24-48 hours whether the product will work well with your skin or not.
Is Alpha Arbutin Safe For Children?
It’s best to use Alpha Arbutin on children over 12 years old.
This is just a general rule of thumb, though you should always consult your pediatrician before beginning any skincare routine on your child.
Is Alpha Arbutin Effective As An Acne Treatment?
Alpha arbutin can be used in the treatment of acne, but its effectiveness is limited. In fact, it’s more effective as a skin brightening agent.
However, some research shows that alpha-arbutin may help reduce inflammation in the skin and even have antimicrobial properties.
So it could help with acne and fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
A study published in the journal Pharmacognosy Research tested alpha-arbutin against a combination of other compounds — known as bachu leaf extract — on rats with blemishes caused by a skin inflammation process called acanthosis nigricans.
The study found that both alpha-arbutin and bachu leaf extract helped reduce the animals’ inflammatory response to the blemishes.
Bachu leaf extract, however, was more effective at reducing inflammation than alpha arbutin alone.
Another study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment examined how well alpha-arbutin worked on inflamed skin after UV exposure.
The researchers found that alpha-arbutin helped improve inflammation on sunburned skin faster than another active ingredient, mulberry root extract.
Can You Use Alpha Arbutin With Your Current Skincare Routine?
Alpha Arbutin may be used with your current skincare products. However, you should avoid mixing a high concentration of Alpha Arbutin with a high concentration of Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid).
This combination can cause skin irritation and redness. You may also want to avoid mixing Alpha Arbutin with benzoyl peroxide, AHA’s, BHA’s, and retinol.
While it is not known if these ingredients will make either product less effective, they are likely to irritate the skin.
Final Thoughts
Alpha arbutin is extremely safe for teenagers or anyone for that matter. It’s a semi-synthetic derivative of hydroquinone, which means it’s been tested fairly extensively.
Unlike hydroquinone, alpha-arbutin helps to lighten skin by inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase and thus inhibiting melanin production.
Since the process is slower than that of hydroquinone, you don’t have to worry about permanent skin damage.
