Pigmentation is a common facial brown or melanin pigmentation and disfiguring skin disease caused by the increase of melanin in the skin. It mostly occurs on the cheeks and forehead, and is aggravated by sun exposure. It is more common in women. Including freckles, chloasma, age spots, sun spots and pregnancy spots, etc., it is a pigment disorder skin disease.

As a natural tyrosinase inhibitor, plant essential oil has significant transdermal absorption ability and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Tyrosinase is the key enzyme for producing melanin. Therefore, plant essential oils can inhibit the production of melanin by inhibiting tyrosinase activity, prevent chronic deposition of pigment in the skin, and effectively remove chloasma on the body surface that is harmful to beauty, freckles, dark spots, etc., so that the skin gradually regains its whiteness, tenderness, and elasticity.

The following are commonly used  essential oils for blemishes:

Neroli essential oil

Neroli essential oil is extracted from the white petals of bitter orange. It can significantly inhibit melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in cells without affecting cell proliferation and growth. Neroli essential oil is safe and highly effective and can be added to cosmetics as a natural blemish remover.

Its main chemical component, linalool, can eliminate DPPH free radicals and has antioxidant activity.

Linalyl acetate can reduce tyrosinase activity to inhibit melanin production. It can also resist acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS), and exert an antioxidant effect.

Limonene can inhibit tyrosinase activity and has excellent antioxidant properties. It can increase the activity of the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT), reduce the production of lipid peroxides, and scavenge O2- and hydroxyl free radicals. 

Frankincense essential oil

Frankincense essential oil is a powerful astringent that can effectively lighten melanin and improve spots caused by melanin accumulation. It has an outstanding effect on lightening spots and is the best choice for removing age spots and keeping the skin young. When using, add 1 drop of frankincense essential oil to the cream and apply it on the face every day to have a beauty effect of lightening the spots. You can also use frankincense essential oil in conjunction with neroli essential oil to have a better effect on improving age spots and skin.

Its main chemical component, α-pinene, is an active component with anti-melanin properties, which can significantly reduce melanin content and tyrosinase activity; it also has antioxidant properties, which can reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) and ROS content and restore glutamate. GSH levels, increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities

Rosemary essential oil

Rosemary essential oil is a spice with a long history. It is very beneficial to the respiratory system, can also improve memory, and has a certain effect on improving the liver, cardiovascular system, urinary system and limb joint pain. The latest research has found that rosemary essential oil can increase the activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in cells, decrease the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and significantly inhibit the melanin production and tyrosinase activity of melanocytes. And there is a dose-dependent relationship.

Its main component, eucalyptol, contributes to its antioxidant activity in addition to inhibiting capsaicin receptor-mediated pain.

In addition to its antioxidant properties, α-pinene also has potent antityrosinase and antimelanogenic activities.

β-Caryophyllene can reduce melanin production by down-regulating the expression of the melanin synthesis phase MITF gene, tyrosinase-related proteins TRP-1, TRP-2 and tyrosinase, thereby reducing melanin content and achieving a spot-bleaching effect.

Rose essential oil

Rose essential oil is called the "Queen of Essential Oils". It can promote the decomposition of melanin, accelerate the balance of nutrients and water, and strengthen the discharge of cytotoxins, thereby achieving overall regulation and control of the internal and external environment of the skin, nourishing internally and externally, diluting spots, and improving skin. Dry and restore skin elasticity, allowing women to have fair, elastic and healthy skin. Its main chemical component, geraniol, can inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, reduce the production of melanin, and has whitening effects.

Citronellol can inhibit lipid peroxidation in the heart, liver, and kidneys; scavenge O.2, .OH, and diphenyl bitter radical free radicals (DPPH.); inhibit oxidative hemolysis of red blood cells induced by H2O2, and play an antioxidant role.

Argan oil

Argan oil has anti-melanin production and tyrosinase expression effects, and can be used as an important preparation for the treatment of pigmentation diseases and solve the problem of skin spots. The mechanism is by acting on the ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways, causing phosphorylation of MITF, thereby inhibiting melanin production.

Its main chemical components, oleic acid and linoleic acid, effectively inhibit melanin production by down-regulating protein kinase A (PKA), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K/Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways.

In addition, linoleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid that can increase the amount of ubiquitination of tyrosinase and accelerate the spontaneous degradation of tyrosinase. At the same time, it can accelerate the renewal of the stratum corneum and play an important role in the removal of epidermal melanin by promoting epidermal desquamation.