How to get rid of ugly sun spots on your skin

Most of us associate skin pigmentation with age, but this is not always the case. Sun spots are caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.

They are flat patches that are usually darker in color than the rest of the skin. They are common on the face and hands. Medically, they are called solar lentigos and are rarely associated with genetics. They are not harmful; but they are also not desirable because they leave the skin looking blemished.

Home remedies from your kitchen cabinet

Lemon juice –

Slightly acidic lemon juice helps reduce sun spots. To add, the vitamin C it contains is good for the overall health of the skin. Leaves skin with a smooth texture and an even tone.

Use a cotton ball to dab some freshly squeezed lemon juice on the discolored stain. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes and rinse with cold water. For best results, apply daily for 2 months. If you suffer from dry skin, lemon juice may make it even more dry. In this case, you can dilute it with water or honey or add a little olive oil.

Red onion –

Red onion juice works as a bleach and helps to gradually lighten age spots. Just cut a red onion and apply it to the affected area. Let the juice act for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with cold water. Do it once a day for about 2 months.

Whey –

Buttermilk helps improve the appearance of facial blemishes by acting as an exfoliator. It contains lactic acid that removes the dead layers of the skin. Whey is best suited for dry skin, as its natural fat content hydrates it. However, if your skin is oily or acne-prone, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to it.

Apply buttermilk with a cotton ball directly on sun spots. Another recipe you can use is a mixture of 4 teaspoons of buttermilk and 2 teaspoons of tomato juice.

Green Tea –

Green tea is rich in antioxidants and therefore beneficial for skin health. Place a tea bag in a cup of boiling water for about 5 minutes. Squeeze the tea bag onto a cotton ball and apply it to the sun spot. Green tea will gradually fade age spots.

Aloe vera –

Aloe vera works wonders repairing and rejuvenating the skin. The best to use is fresh aloe vera gel. Cut a leaf, take the gel and apply it to the sun damaged area. It should be applied twice a day for about 30 minutes.

The treatment must be followed religiously for 2 months if you want noticeable results. In case fresh aloe vera gel is not available, you can use fresh aloe juice or a cream with the same infusion.

Apple cider vinegar

You will find apple cider vinegar as a natural remedy for a variety of health problems. It is one of the best ingredients if you are looking to erase those sun spots permanently.

Apple cider vinegar is too strong to use on undiluted skin; therefore, it must be diluted with the same amount of water. Don’t leave it on your skin for too long or repeat the procedure too often. It could irritate the skin. Alternatively, you can mix apple cider vinegar with orange juice or onion juice.

At the doctor’s office:

Chemical peels –

Chemical peels reverse sun damage. It involves the use of chemical solutions to remove the upper layers of the skin and expose a new layer of skin. The procedure has side effects. It should be done in the clinic of a dermatologist and only after a specific test.

Laser resurfacing –

Laser resurfacing gives a new finish to the skin by removing the damaged layers with laser light. Although it is a very effective and permanent solution, it is expensive and requires a lot of post-treatment care. It is recommended for severely damaged skin.

Vitamin E capsules

Vitamin E is a miracle solution for all skin and hair problems. For faster results, open a vitamin E capsule and gently massage the gel-like substance into the sun spots. Leave it overnight and clean it with a damp cloth in the morning. You can do the same if your skin has scars.

You can also use skin lightening serums that contain hydroquinone and licorice extract as the main ingredients.

What else to keep them away?

Sunspots will keep rearing their ugly head if you move into the sun without protection.

• Try as much as possible to avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight.

• Protect your face with a wide-brimmed hat or scarf.

• Smear a good sunscreen with at least 30 SPF or higher and one with zinc oxide.

As a precautionary measure, you should have your doctor check for sun spots, especially if they are extremely dark and slightly raised. These can be moles and not sun spots.