How to remove freckles? — Learn effective and simple ways to get rid of sun residue
How to remove freckles: is this idea on your mind? Hyperpigmentation on the face can come in different forms, colors and sizes, and people struggling with this type of skin lesions would often like to get rid of them. How do hyperpigmentation occur and are there any home remedies to lighten the spots on your face? We suggest!
How are freckles, hyperpigmentation and facial spots formed?
Spots and discoloration on the face is a problem directly related to the pigmentation of the skin and the presence of a dark pigment in it: melanin. It is responsible for the color of our skin, hair, and the color of the irises of our eyes. The most important function of melanin in the body is to protect human skin from various factors, including UV radiation, which is very harmful to our health.
Melanin is not only found in humans, the pigment is present in most animals. It is produced by melanocytes, special cells, which are most abundant in the epidermis. When these cells are dysfunctional, they can clump together and produce excessive amounts of pigment or distribute it incorrectly. This results in darker spots on the skin (freckles, hyperpigmentation). They can have a genetic basis, as well as occur as a result of hormonal changes, too much sun exposure, or inflammation.
Causes of hyperpigmentation include:
- sunlight: it is the main contributor to skin discoloration, as pigmentation irregularities form under its influence.
- Genetic predisposition: many people are born with pigmentation inherited from their parents or grandparents.
- Hormonal changes: Hyperpigmentation is often a consequence of pregnancy, hormonal contraception or hormone replacement therapy.
- Photosensitizing cosmetics: Certain ingredients in creams, perfumes, and deodorants can cause hyperpigmentation after sun exposures.
- Medications: Use of barbiturates, antimalarials, and phenolphthalein can lead to hyperpigmentation.
- Herbs: Some herbs, such as sage and St. John’s wort, are photosensitizing and extra protection from UV radiation should be used when taking them.
- diseases: discoloration can be a sign of certain diseases such as diabetes and liver or kidney failure.
- Abrasions: sometimes discolorations can occur as a result of mechanical irritation, especially in people with very sensitive skin.
- Acne: the pigmentation that remains on the skin after pimples is a well-known condition affecting people with acne-prone skin. Tanning these types of marks can cause them to darken. Regular, gentle exfoliation can help with acne blemishes.
What are the types of hyperpigmentation?
It can take on different colors and shapes — depending on the cause:
- freckles: their appearance is genetically predetermined and associated with exposure to sunlight, they arise as a result of abnormal activity of healthy melanocytes (interesting fact: freckles do not occur in young children, they begin to appear only after 3 years of age),
- Lentigines: most common in people over 40 years of age, form as a result of photoaging, so they are visible in areas most often exposed to sunlight, such as the face, neck, neckline and hands,
- Melasma: they occur only on the face, have irregular shapes and dark color, the cause of their formation is hormonal changes: they appear most often in women during pregnancy, or taking birth control pills,
- Acne spots: usually have a reddish hue, which over time becomes lighter and fuzzier, occur as a result of inflammation of the skin, for example in the presence of acne, psoriasis, or skin contact with chemicals.
The occurrence of hyperpigmentation is usually not dangerous, but we must remember that any change on the skin that changes its color or size should be consulted with a doctor.
What does prevention of freckles look like?
The prevention of hyperpigmentation is closely related to UV protection. Even if the spots on the skin are caused by inflammation or hormonal changes, they will be hardly noticeable without the stimulation of sunlight. That is why it is so important to always protect your skin with creams with SPF. Cosmetics should be applied to the face, neck, décolleté and skin of the hands every day, regardless of the season. We must also remember that the cream applied to a given part of the body will lose its properties in 2–3 hours. To maintain protection from UV radiation, we need to apply another layer of preparation after this time. Exposure to the sun should be reduced to a minimum, from an early age, not only because of hyperpigmentation: UV radiation significantly speeds up skin ageing, and can also lead to dangerous diseases.
When fighting hyperpigmentation it is also important to exfoliate the skin regularly, especially if you have problematic skin, prone to acne and inflammation.
How to remove freckles?
Removing freckles is not an easy challenge: these blemishes that we receive with our genes can remain with us for the rest of our lives. Certainly, the most effective will be to undergo a treatment with a laser, but there are several steps that we should include in our daily routine if we want to fight their visibility on the skin. One of them is the use of cosmetics that lighten hyperpigmentation. Ideally, they should have in their composition substances such as:
- fruit acids,
- vitamin C,
- vitamin A acid,
- azelaic acid,
- lactic acid,
- salicylic acid,
- natural currant, citrus, cucumber or parsley extracts.
However, we must remember that the effects of such cosmetics will not be seen immediately: they should be used regularly, for a long time. The treatment can be supported by using home masks for blemishes, and once in a while going to a beauty salon for a deep acid peeling treatment. If you have freckles, think carefully about whether they really bother you. Certainly, many people say that this element only adds to your beauty (there is a reason why there are special tutorials on how to paint freckles).
Home remedies for blemishes
Some types of spots and blemishes on the skin we are able to reduce with the help of cosmetics created from products that we can find in our makeup bag, kitchen and pantry. Home remedies will not be as effective as a professional beauty treatment, but they will certainly help us fight the problem.
Baking soda mask:
- Baking soda has a cleansing and brightening effect,
- Mix a small amount of powder with warm water until a soft paste is formed,
- Apply to the affected areas, let it dry and then wash off with warm water.
Lemon tonic:
- Lemon juice, due to the acids present in its composition, is known for its brightening properties,
- Mix lemon juice with boiled water in a ratio of 1:1,
- Twice a day, wipe your face with a cotton ball soaked in tonic.
Cucumber mask:
- Cucumber not only brightens the skin, but also nourishes, refreshes and moisturizes it,
- Grate cucumber, add a few drops of lemon juice and mix,
- Apply the mask on the skin with blemishes for 15 minutes, then wash it off with warm water.
Cosmetic procedures for removal of freckles and hyperpigmentation
The fastest way to remove pigmented lesions, is to make an appointment for a professional cosmetic procedure. In the fight against hyperpigmentation the most effective will be chemical peels and laser treatments.
Chemical peelings
Deeply acting acid peels exfoliate the epidermis and stimulate skin tissue to work and regenerate. A series of such treatments is one of the best ways to fight hyperpigmentation, especially those after inflammation and acne. Acids that are used in beauty salons include:
- glycolic acid,
- mandelic acid,
- pyruvic acid,
- TCA acid.
Acid peels work best when the preparation is individually selected for a given skin type, and the procedure will be repeated several times at equal intervals.
Remember that acids in high concentrations should be used only under the supervision of a professional. Independent and incompetent use of this type of preparations can have the opposite effect, and lead to skin irritation and discoloration!
Laser removal of hyperpigmentation
The laser is the most effective weapon in the fight against hyperpigmentation: the effects can often be seen after the first treatment, and it works on virtually any type of skin lesions, regardless of the cause of their occurrence. The treatment is painless and usually does not require a period of convalescence. How does the laser work? Its beam is absorbed by the skin, where it “finds” cells that produce too much melanin, and then eliminates them. At first the discoloration may appear temporarily darker, but after some time the top layer of the epidermis peels off and the skin regains its uniform color.
Unfortunately, there are contraindications to performing this type of procedure, including:
- taking photosensitizing drugs and herbs,
- hormone therapy,
- pregnancy and breastfeeding,
- taking medications affecting blood clotting,
- inflammatory conditions and skin infections,
- chronic diseases,
- dryness and irritation of the skin,
- taking antibiotics,
- sunbathing during the month preceding the procedure.
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