How To Get Rid Of Sun Freckles On Legs

A long day at the beach or pool, or repeated short exposures to the sun, can cause hyperpigmentation on your legs. This over-production of skin pigment, also known as melanin, can cause freckles and other discolorations. The situation isn't hopeless. Using a combination of protective measures and skincare products, you can help fade the spots on your legs to get back the smooth, even tone you want.

Step 1

Wear long pants or jeans. This helps shield your skin from the sun, which is a direct cause of spotted hyperpigmentation on your legs, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Step 2

Slather on sunscreen before going outdoors if you don't wear long pants or jeans. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen product that has an SPF of 30 or more. For the best, long-lasting results, skincare expert Paula Begoun advises using a sunscreen whose main sunscreen ingredient is avobenzone, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

Step 3

Exfoliate your legs every day when you bathe or shower. Use a skin scrub, such as those made with ground apricot kernels or plastic microbeads, or a skin cleanser formulated with exfoliating chemicals like alpha hydroxy acid. Such exfoliation of your legs helps get rid of the pigmented skin to reveal newer, unblemished skin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Step 4

Apply a skin bleaching cream to your legs every evening. For the best results in fading freckles and other discolorations, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a skin cream made with hydroquinone at a concentration of 2 percent. Hydroquinone helps fade natural skin pigment.

Tips and Warnings

Talk to your dermatologist if you want faster treatment of your sun freckles than what's afforded by at-home, over-the-counter treatment. The American Academy of Dermatology says prescription hydroquinone creams--these contain greater levels of the skin-fading chemical--and procedures like laser treatment or chemical peels can help fade your leg spots faster.