There are many home remedies, but prevention is often the best one for age spots, which are primarily caused by decades of sun exposure. Dr. Elizabeth L. Tanzi, clinical faculty at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Center Department of Dermatology in Baltimore, addressed the American Academy of Dermatology in November 2009, about popular sun exposure notions. She said, "The fact is these myths are harmful because sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer, and the consequences of this misinformation could be potentially fatal."
Prevention
Skin care specialists of the National Institutes of Health, writing for Medline Plus in May 2010, say prevention of skin damage by sun exposure is easy.
When the sun is high, a few hours before and after high noon, stay indoors or wear clothing that covers your arms and legs and wear a hat.
Apply sunscreen with a high sun protective factor, or SPF. Remember the "30/30" rule: SPF 30 applied at least 30 minutes before going outdoors. Do this for bright sun in winter too.
Aloe Vera
Apply aloe vera gel, the juice that oozes from the cut plant, to lighten age spots. It also helps soothe sunburn pain. Rub the thick, clear liquid onto the darkened areas two times every day. Allow it to stay there undisturbed for 45 minutes, then rinse off with water. Skin care specialists at Home Remedies say improvement will become noticeable within a month with this remedy.
Lemon
The citric acid in lemon or lime juice is recommended by many skin care specialists to lighten age spots. Dab the juice on the spots, or apply a cut piece of the fruit, and wait 30 minutes before rinsing off. Do this twice a day for two months. "Free Beauty Tips" writers advise applying a moisturizer after allowing the lemon juice to air-dry to counteract the slightly irritating effect of the citric acid.
Writers for "Purefect Your Skin" warn that lemon juice left on your skin can intensify sun damage. Rinse treated areas thoroughly before going outdoors.
Castor Oil
Home remedy experts at Home Remedies Web recommend castor oil applied directly to your age spots, once every morning and again in the evening, to lighten the over-pigmentation of age spots. Application on the pad of a bandage overnight increases effectiveness. Typically, this will begin to fade the appearance of your darkened spots after as little as one month.
Apple and Onion
Skin care experts at Home Remedies Web say strained onion juice mixed with apple cider vinegar will lighten age spots. Dab the mixture on your spots and let stand for at least 30 minutes. Rinse afterward and apply a moisturizing lotion if you notice some irritation. Six weeks of once-a-day applications will start to reveal improvement in coloration.
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