Time is not kind and it takes something important away from all of us – our beautiful, blemish-free skin. That’s why sometimes we get these ugly bumps known as sunspots. I’m sure that you’re familiar with them, right?
These nasty spots are a common problem for all women around the world. We try to cover them with makeup, but it’s just not working. Don’t give up. Makeup and skin creams are not your only option.
So, if you are wondering how to get rid of sunspots, don’t stop reading. Bellow, you’ll find some fascinating home remedies for sunspots that will restore your fair skin. These treatments are easy to prepare, and they have proven their benefits through the years.
What causes sunspots?
Initially, doctors thought that there is a connection between the appearance of sunspots and liver problems. That’s why sunspots are also known as liver spots. But that theory proved to be completely wrong. Liver problems don’t cause the appearance of these spots and having such patches doesn’t mean that you’re ill.
Sunspots, age spots, solar lentigo, or senile freckles are the result of skin damage caused by frequent exposure to UV rays. That’s why they usually appear on the face, neck, hands, arms, and shoulders where your skin comes into contact with the sun every day.
But how does that happen? In the bottom layer of our skin, we can find some very special cells called melanocytes. These melanocytes are responsible for the production of the pigment melamine. That’s the pigment responsible for our skin color if you don’t know.
When an area gets frequently exposed to UV rays, the melanocytes produce more melamine in that spot. And the excess amount of melamine turns that part of the skin brown. Simple, right?
Everyone gets these brown patches. They can vary in size, and they can appear everywhere –including the top of the scalp if you’re a man with a receding hairline.
But frequent exposure to the sun is not the only way to get these spots. If you use a tanning bed extensively, you’ll also get sunspots. It doesn’t matter that you’re getting exposed to artificial light, it’s still light, and it causes excessive production of melanin.
The two most common risk factors for the formation of these brown spots are age and skin type. The older you get, the more likely are sunspots to appear. And if you have fair skin and get sunburn often, you’re also at risk of developing solar lentigo.
Symptoms of sunspots
How can you tell if a certain spot on your skin is a sunspot or something else? Here are some sunspots facts:
- Sunspots are darker than your natural skin tone
- They are usually flat and brown
- They appear on areas frequently exposed to sunlight
These spots are completely harmless, and they don’t turn into skin cancer. However, skin cancer looks just like a sunspot – a brown patch on your skin. And only a dermatologist may be able to determine if the patch is a simple age spot or cancer.
The good news is that skin cancer is curable if it’s caught on time. So if you notice a change in an existing brown spot, bleeding, pain or itching make an appointment with a dermatologist.
Sunspots might not be a sign of cancer, but they do show that you’re frequently exposed to UV rays. And skin cancer is related to skin cells damaged by UV rays.
Home remedies for sunspots
When you have sunspots, you can go to your dermatologist and ask him to remove them or lighten them. You can also try to cover them with makeup, use a chemical peel or get laser treatment. But that’s your last resort.
I’m going to offer you some natural ways to lighten your skin and make sunspots disappear. However, remember that everyone reacts differently to the same remedy. Do a patch test on your skin before you attempt any of these natural treatments to avoid allergic reactions.
1. Lemon juice lightens the skin
One of your best bets when it comes to sunspots removal is lemon juice. You see, lemons contain acids, which will lighten your skin and remove the offensive sunspots.
Lemon juice also helps if you have acne and blackheads because it cleanses the skin and removes dead skin cells. It contains alpha-hydroxy acid, which is a common ingredient in many commercial skin products.
Here are two easy ways to use lemons for getting rid of sunspots.
Necessary ingredients:
- Fresh lemon juice
- A cotton ball
- A bowl
- Water
- Moisturizer
Process:
- Get some fresh lemon juice and pour some into the bowl.
- Use water to dilute the juice.
- Soak a cotton ball in the juice and apply it to the affected area.
- Wait half an hour and wash with water.
- Finally, apply moisturizer.
- Repeat every couple of days unit the sunspots disappears.
Alternatively, you can make a lemon skin-lightening face mask.
Necessary ingredients:
- Powdered milk
- Honey
- Lemon juice
- Essential oil of your choice
- Water
- Bowl
- Moisturizer
- Tablespoon
Process:
- Measure one tablespoon of powdered milk into the bowl.
- Add one tablespoon of honey and one teaspoon lemon juice.
- Mix two drops of essential oil.
- Stir the ingredients well.
- Apply the mask to your face and wait 25 minutes.
- Wash with water.
- Apply moisturizer.
- Repeat two-three times a week. Don’t overdo it.
Notes: Lemons can irritate sensitive skin. So I don’t recommend rubbing undiluted lemon juice on your face. Always dilute it with water or rosewater and don’t apply it around your eyes. Also, don’t go outside after you have treated your skin with lemon. You can get sunburn. And remember, lightening your skin with lemon juice works. But it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to be persistent.
2. Aloe vera for skin rejuvenation
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A popular remedy for various skin conditions is aloe vera. You’ve probably used it for treating sunburn, haven’t you? And sunburn damages the skin and increases the risk of sunspots. Moreover, aloe vera has natural healing properties and an anti-inflammatory effect, and it removes the build-up of dead skin cells.
In addition to this, aloe vera moisturizes the skin and keeps it hydrated.
Necessary ingredients:
- Aloe vera plant
- A knife
- A bowl
- Water
Process:
- Get an aloe vera leaf.
- Use the knife to cut it one and extract the gel into a bowl. Use these methods if you don’t know how to do it.
- Then use your fingers to apply the aloe vera gel to your skin.
- Wait half an hour and wash with water.
Alternatively, you can add tomatoes to the mix, which have natural skin-lightening properties.
Necessary ingredients:
- Aloe vera plant
- Tomatoes
- Orange lentils powder
- A grater
- A bowl
- A knife
Process:
- Start by extracting some fresh aloe vera gel.
- Cut a tomato in half and grate the pulp. Pour it into the bowl.
- Add orange lentils powder and some aloe vera gel.
- Mix the ingredients well until you have a paste.
- Apply it to your skin and wait 15 minutes.
- Then rinse with water.
- Repeat once or twice a week.
Notes: Be careful when you’re extracting the aloe vera gel – the yellow liquid which will ooze is toxic. As soon as you extract the gel, pour it into an air-tight container and store it in the fridge. You can also buy aloe vera gel from the store. Just make sure that it’s pure aloe vera gel with no added chemicals.
3. Onion juice nourishes the skin and removes blemishes
I know what you’re thinking. How could something so simple as onion juice help me get rid of sunspots? Well, onions have fascinating benefits when you use them on your skin.
- Restore the natural glow of your skin, because they are rich in vitamins A, C, and E.
- Protect the skin from the harmful free radicals that damage cells.
- Keep your face wrinkle-free and pimple-free due to its potent antioxidant and antibacterial effects.
- Removes dark spots from the skin because it has bleaching properties.
Necessary ingredients:
- Onion juice
- Honey
- A bowl
- A tablespoon
- Water
- Cotton balls
- Blender
- Strainer
Process:
- Get some onions and blend them well.
- Strain out the juice.
- Then measure one tablespoon of onion juice into the bowl.
- Add two tablespoons of honey.
- Mix the ingredients well.
- Apply the mixture to the brown spot using a cotton ball.
- Wait 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse with water.
- Repeat once a day.
Alternatively, you can mix onion juice with apple cider vinegar, which also lightens the skin.
Necessary ingredients:
- Onion juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- A bowl
- A cotton ball
- Water
Process:
- Measure equal amounts of onion juice and apple cider vinegar into the bowl.
- Mix them well.
- Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture to the brown spots.
- Rinse off with water after 30 minutes.
- Repeat.
Notes: When you use apple cider vinegar, there might be a slight stinging sensation. You must do a patch test to see how your skin will react to this treatment.
4. Sandalwood powder for radiant skin
You’ve probably heard about sandalwood and how useful it is for relaxation. But sandalwood powder is also a powerful home remedy for many skin problems, including sunspots. It has natural anti-tanning properties, and you can use it to treat sunburn, too. Moreover, sandalwood:
- Softens the skin
- Shrinks pores
- Prevent acne breakouts
- Cools the skin
- Relieves itching
Necessary ingredients:
- Sandalwood powder
- Rosewater
- Glycerin
- Lemon juice
- Cold water
- A bowl
Process:
- Start by measuring two tablespoons of sandalwood powder.
- Pour them into the bowl.
- Add two tablespoons of rose water, one teaspoon of glycerin and one teaspoon of lemon juice.
- Mix with cold water to make a paste.
- Apply to the affected spot and wait a few minutes.
- Then wash off with water.
- Repeat a few times every week until the spot starts to disappear.
Alternatively, do the following:
Necessary ingredients:
- Sandalwood powder
- Lemon juice
- Orange juice
- Vitamin E capsules
- A bowl
- Water
Process:
- Measure into the bowl two tablespoons of sandalwood powder.
- Add one tablespoon of orange juice, one teaspoon of lemon juice and two Vitamin E.
- Mix the ingredients well and apply the concoction to the skin.
- Wait 30-40 minutes and wash off with water.
- Repeat.
Notes: Sandalwood usually doesn’t irritate, but if you have sensitive skin, use it with caution.
5. Papaya decreases pigmentation
Yes, that’s right. This delicious fruit can help you get rid of those nasty brown specks.
- Contains papain enzyme, which can lighten the skin and help you get rid of shingles
- Has anti-wrinkle properties
- Hydrates the skin
- Removes dead skin cells due to the presence of alpha hydroxy acids
- Contains Vitamin A, which reduces dark spots
Necessary ingredients:
- Half a papaya
- A blender
- A knife
- Water
Process:
- Cut a papaya in half and put it in the blender.
- Blend until you have a thick paste.
- Apply it to the affected area and wait 20 minutes.
- Rinse off with water.
Alternatively, you can mix papaya with milk.
Necessary ingredients:
- Papaya
- Milk
- Blender
- A cup
- A knife
Process:
- Cut and chopped the papaya into pieces.
- Measure one cup of chopped papaya and put it in the blender.
- Add three tablespoons of milk.
- Blend well.
- Apply to the skin.
- After 20 minutes rinse with water.
Notes: Be careful when you’re using papaya. Some people might be allergic to it, so don’t forget to do a patch test. If you have normal skin, use unripe papaya. For sensitive and dry skin use ripe papaya pulp.
How to prevent sunspots?
Even though it’s very likely that you’ll get a couple of sunspots as you grow old, there are some things you can do to protect your skin. Here are some simple tips for you to follow:
- Limit your exposure to the harmful UV rays as much as possible.
- Always apply sunscreen to your face.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and the skin around the eyes.
- Keep your skin cool and hydrated.
- Wear a hat to protect your face.
- Always exfoliate your skin gently to avoid damage and irritation.
- Consider getting monthly facials.
- Eat a healthy diet rich in antioxidants.
Sunspots are usually not a cause for alarm, but they are a warning sign that you’re spending too much time in the sun. You can easily get rid of them, but if you don’t take protective measures, they will appear again.
So what do you think about these home remedies for getting rid of sunspots? Have you ever used them? How do you get rid of sunspots? Share in the comments.
Cory Fang
A beauty professional, Cory Fang earned her two-year diploma in Beauty and Skin Care before going on to study Reflexology, Somatology, and electrical face and body treatments.She is committed to her client's well-being, and after working at a local beauty business for three years, she went into business for herself four years ago. A proponent on peels, skin needling, facials, and basic home care, she knows what it takes to keep skin and the body healthy.
