Freckles are a very common blemish, particularly for those with light skin. While they can be a sign of sun damage, you are more or less prone to them depending on genetics.
These little brown spots can appear anywhere on the body, though hands and face are usually the most affected. You can often get rid of these marks with medical methods, but most people try home remedies first.
Here are a few methods you might want to try yourself. But make sure you consult your doctor or dermatologist first.
1. Bleach cream
To get rid of spots and discolored skin, you can use a bleaching cream. There are several available to you, but it is a good idea to test the cream on a hidden area of your body first.
Some creams can cause a reaction as they are rather strong. They may also cause your skin to darken instead of lighten, so testing the effects on your own skin is a good idea.
2. Lasers
You can have freckles removed with lasers. This can be fairly quick and is good for those who have large freckles.
However, you will need to be sure that none of the spots are cancerous. Skin cancer can be insidious and may be disguised as a simple blemish. Consult your doctor first.
More: 10 Beauty Boosts That Take 5 Minutes or Less
3. Lactic acid
Spread some sour cream over the areas that are affected by freckles and you can gently fade them. It can take a number of treatments, however, so you may want to invest in a few large tubs of sour cream. Alternatively, you can use sour milk.
More: 10 Reasons to Say No to Botox
4. Chemical peels
If you are determined to get rid of your blemishes, you can eliminate them with a chemical peel. Since the peel removes several layers of skin, it can get rid of any irregularities that are on the surface.
Home peels are not usually a good idea, as they do not have the right strength to eliminate all blemishes and can be difficult to administer yourself. Your best bet is to see a dermatologist for this type of procedure. It will leave your skin raw for a few days, but it will heal smoothly and usually blemish free.
More: 9 Signs Your Skin Needs More Care
5. Freezing
You can also freeze your freckles, though this may be best left to a professional. Essentially, you use liquid nitrogen on the spot.
This creates a blister, which causes the discolored skin to fall off after a few days. It can be a very harsh treatment, however, so you should never repeat treatments in the same area within a week.
More: 10 Vital Everyday Skincare Tips
6. Fruit and vegetable facials
Another popular home remedy is to use certain fruits and vegetables on your face. Making your own face mask is easy. Just toss the desired ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.
Spread the mask on your skin and let it sit for 10-20 minutes. Good options include apricots, strawberries and cucumbers. Parsley juice mixed with lemon juice is also a good choice.
More: 7 Best Foods to Add to Your Homemade Face Mask
7. Lemon juice
The juice of lemons has long been used to create lighter skin. It can actually lighten your freckles naturally.
However, the acid in the lemon juice may be irritating to your skin so test it on a small patch before you spread it over your entire face. You can apply just the juice or cut a lemon in half and rub it over the spots.
More: 7 Incredible Benefits of Lemon Water
8. Vitamin C
If you prefer a method of getting rid of freckles that doesn’t involve smearing things on your face, you can take Vitamin C supplements. You can get this from certain foods, as well.
Citrus is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It will help protect your skin from forming new freckles by making it more resistant to the sun’s rays. You can also avoid the sun, particularly around midday, when the UV rays are strongest.
More: 5 Facts about Vitamin C
9. Eggplant
Slice fresh eggplant and apply to the most affected areas. You can gently massage the eggplant slice into your skin to help release the juices.
Leave the slices on your skin for at least ten minutes. If you do this on a daily basis, you will notice a definite reduction in a week or two.
More: 10 Foods to Eat Every Day for Perfect Skin
10. Castor oil
Both castor oil and Vitamin E oil can work to remove blemishes. At bedtime, wash your face with soap and water and rinse well. Dry your face with a towel. Apply the chosen oil to your freckles and let it soak in for ten minutes before you head to bed.
In the morning, you can wipe the oil away and rinse your face. Don’t apply anything else, for best results. Repeat until your freckles have faded away.
Everyone has a home remedy for eliminating blemishes. You can either treat them yourself or see a dermatologist for a more serious method. While the harsher techniques will work faster, many of the home remedies are also very effective over time.
