Although steps can be taken to prevent freckles, they can be difficult to remove once they have developed. According to the American Association of Dermatologists (AAD), these little spots of brown pigment are often a sign of sun damage. Protecting your skin from the sun's UV rays can help to avoid freckles, but what to do if they have already appeared? Besides laser surgery, there are some natural home remedies that you can try.
Lemon Jujce
Applying lemon juice to your freckles could be a temporary method for eliminating those pesky freckles. Lemon juice has lightening properties, and is often used to lighten hair as well as dark spots on the skin. Use your fingers to rub the juice on your freckles twice a day for 15 minutes at a time. If it feels too harsh, try adding sugar to the mix, as suggested by the website "No Freckles." Lemon juice may reduce the visibility of your freckles, but they are likely to return the next time your skin is exposed to sunlight.
Milk Acids
Products containing lactic acids may bleach away freckles. These substances work in much in the way that lemon juice does, and can be applied in a similar manner. The website Natural Home Remedies mentions rinsing your face with sour milk. Alternatively, try putting sour cream on your freckle-afflicted face. Leave the cream on for 15 minutes before wiping it off with a soft towel. Yogurt can be used as an alternative to sour cream or sour milk.
Face Masks
Concoct a natural face mask and coat a layer on your face once a day. Natural Home Remedies gives a recipe for a herbal honey mask, which is warmed honey mixed with wheat germ. Let the mask set for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and cool water. Another option is mixing a small amount of honey with one tablespoon of yogurt, applied on the freckles for 30 minutes daily. The website also recommends a mixture of lemon juice, rum, glycerine and buttermilk, all mixed and applied to the face twice a day for 30 minutes.
Prevention
If you are experiencing success with any of the above home freckle remedies, remember the most important step of all: Stay out of the sunlight. Use sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher every time you leave the house, as advocated by the AAD. Freckles are your body's way of showing you that it needs protection from the sun. Without shielding your skin from the sun's rays, freckle remedies will never yield permanent results.
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