Call them brown spots, age spots, liver spots or lentigines. Whatever you choose to call them, you most likely want to call them gone. In most cases, brown spots appear over time as the result of exposure to the sun. Getting rid of brown spots may take time, but there are inexpensive home remedies for accomplishing this task. Keep in mind, however, that very dark or rapidly changing spots can indicate liver problems or skin cancer, so be sure to monitor them and see your doctor if necessary.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, include citric, lactic, tartaric, glycolic and malic acid. Natural acids, found in foods such as citrus fruits, buttermilk, tomatoes, vinegar, yogurt and grapes, work as gentle bleaching agents to lighten the skin and as exfoliates that help remove the older, top layer of skin cells faster and speed up cell renewal. Keeping in mind that it may be one or more months for changes to occur, here are some suggestions for removing brown spots:
Rub 2 or 3 tsps. of straight buttermilk combined with 1 tbsp. fresh tomato paste, 1 tsp. fresh lime juice, 1 or 2 tsps. fresh orange juice combined with 1/2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar or straight lemon juice on brown spots once or twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes.
Oils
Castor oil helps improve skin texture and works as a pigment dispersant. Dip a cotton ball in castor oil and dab it on your skin once or twice a day. Garlic oil works similar to alpha hydroxy acids. Crush a few fresh garlic cloves into an oily paste and rub it directly on the brown spots each night for six to eight weeks.
Plants
The leaves of the aloe vera plant contain a gel-like substance that works to exfoliate and remove old skin cells and encourage new skin cell development. When combined with an alpha hydroxy acid such as lemon juice, the results can be even more dramatic. Remove the inside gel substance from plant leaves by tearing a piece of a leaf from the plant, then split the skin using a knife. Peel the skin back and apply directly to brown spots. Do this twice daily for at least one month, leaving the gel in place for about 45 minutes each time.
Dandelion plants work in much the same way as aloe vera. You can either squeeze sap from a dandelion stem directly onto brown spots or crush the entire dandelion plant, including the flower, to make a paste you rub onto brown spots.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is good for your skin. Its antioxidant properties promote skin cell growth and slow the aging process. Break open a vitamin E capsule and apply directly to brown spots, rub the oil into your skin and leave it on overnight. Repeat this every night for about two months.
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