How to Get Rid of Freckles

Freckles are small, light brown spots, mostly occurring on fair-skinned individuals.They generally appear randomly on the face and upper shoulders— the most common sun-exposed areas.

Freckles are yellow, red, tan, or light brown spots on skin due to unevenly distributed melanin. They appear due to exposure to sun. Freckles tend to appear larger when the clusters of spots overlap.

There are two types of freckles:

Simple freckles: These usually develop during the summer but disappear during winter.

Sunburn freckles: These tend to be darker and larger than the former. They do not fade in the winter months and they are likely to have irregular borders.

Genetic factors play an important role in determining the severity of this problem. People with green eyes and reddish hair are more susceptible to freckles. Though some people find them ugly to look at, they are usually harmless.

How to Get Rid of Freckles

Here are 10 solutions to help you get rid of freckles.

1. Lemon Juice
2. Sour Milk
3. Papaya Juice
4. Horseradish Juice
5. Red Onion Slices
6. Hydroquinone Creams
7. Kojic Acid
8. Laser and Chemical Peels
9. Cryosurgery
10. IPL Treatment

 

1. Lemon Juice

   • Apply freshly squeezed lemon juice to the freckled area.
   • Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes.
   • Rinse with clean water.

   Lemon juice is a great way to get rid of freckles, thanks to its bleaching properties.

   *You can also add equal amount of orange juice, and/or parsley juice. Alternately, you can apply a combination of lemon juice, honey, and salt or prepare bleaching masks from other citrus fruits as well.

2. Sour Milk

   • Apply sour milk (or sour cream) to your freckled skin.
   • Leave on for about 15 minutes.
   • Rinse off with clean water.

   Milk contains lactic acid that has a gentle peeling effect. You can also add a few drops of lime juice.

3. Papaya Juice

   • Soak a cotton ball in fresh papaya juice.
   • Dab it on your skin.
   • Leave on for 15 minutes.
   • Rinse with clean water.
   • Repeat two to three times per day.

   Papaya contains an enzyme called papain that helps cure freckles and blemishes.

4. Horseradish Juice

   • Apply horseradish juice to the affected area.
   • Leave on for 10 minutes.
   • Rinse with clean water.

   *You may also apply a mixture of one teaspoon of grated horseradish juice, one tablespoon of ground oatmeal, and four tablespoon of sour milk.

5. Red Onion Slices

   • Rub red onion slices on your freckles.
   • Repeat two or three times daily for 10 days.

   You may also apply a combination of onion juice and vinegar.

6. Hydroquinone Cream

   • Follow product instructions.

   Use a hydroquinone cream to lighten your freckles as it works as a bleaching cream. These creams generally contain alpha hydroxyl acid and a compound called hydroquinone that reduces melanin production.

   They exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells and reduce freckles within a few weeks.

   On the downside, it may give rise to side effects like dry skin, redness, and a mild burning sensation, rashes, etc. It is banned in some countries because it is linked with an increased risk of developing cancer.

   If you decide to try this treatment, make sure you do not apply other medicated topical products, especially benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, etc.

7. Kojic Acid

   • Follow product instructions.

   Kojic acid can help lighten freckles as it inhibits melanin formation by preventing the activity of an enzyme called tyrosinase that assists in melanin formation from the amino acid tyrosine. You can opt for a kojic acid cream or soap.

8. Laser and Chemical Peels

   These procedures are beneficial for reducing freckles, age spots, blemishes, wrinkles, and fine lines. Those who have dry skin can try a 50-70% glycolic acid peel whereas those with greasy skin can try a 10% TCA peel.

   Before opting for any of these procedures, it is suggested to weigh the pros and cons beforehand.

9. Cryosurgery

   This is a popular procedure that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the freckles.

10. IPL or Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

    This is a newer treatment that involves the use of pulses of broadband light to rejuvenate the skin and remove freckles caused by pigment irregularities.

Tips to Prevent Freckles

• It is believed that drinking rosehip tea on a regular basis can prove useful in preventing freckles.
• If you want to hide freckles with makeup, then you can apply a concealer on the dark spots before applying foundation.

Dos and Don’ts

Dos	Don’ts
Do wear a sunblock (SPF 30 or more) to protect the skin from sun exposure and to prevent further darkening of the spots.	Do not stay out in the sun for too long.
Do include vitamin C-rich foods in your diet; vitamin C builds collagen and stops the production of new melanin pigments.	Do not fret over your freckles; instead learn to love them as a part of you.