Doing fake freckles with makeup was once popular among girls as it may make you look younger and cuter. However, it is quite an annoying problem if freckles are real in increasing amounts. To prevent freckles, you should reduce the damage done by ultraviolet light from children and adolescents, such as wearing sunscreens. Nowadays, there are many freckle-removal products and treatments available in the market to help you reclaim your perfect skin.
Causes of Freckles
Freckles are the most common colored patches on your skin’s surface layer. They are small, irregular, and brown spots, scattering on your cheeks, nose, and eyelids where were exposed to the sun. You may also find freckles on your shoulders, necks, and backs of your hands in some cases.
- Genetics
- Individuals with lighter skin
- Frequent exposure to ultraviolet lights, especially in summer
If you have freckles when you are young, they are usually caused by your genes and sun exposure, especially those without any sun protection. Generally, freckles increase and darken after sunbathing, but it turns pale after some time.
Treatments of Freckles
To remove or lighten freckles, you can consider using topical medicines, fruit acid peels, and laser therapy from a clinical perspective.
Topical Medicines
Topical medications include alpha hydroxy acids, azelaic acid, vitamin C, arbutin, vitamin B3, and koji acid. These compounds can lighten the colored spots on your skin surface and repress melanin formation. However, please consult your doctor before applying and only use prescribed medications. Extra attention should be paid if you are pregnant or with other conditions.
Fruit Acid Peels
Fruit acid peels are to speed up cuticle exfoliation and, therefore, skin resurfacing. They can reduce melanin, improve skin pigmentation, and lighten the colored patches on your skin. Since the acidity of the peels is high, it is recommended to apply under your doctor’s supervision. Clinically, products with different acidity and concentration are used with accurate timing to help you rejuvenate the skin.
Laser Therapy
Apart from the above, you can also consider receiving laser therapy to remove freckles. Laser freckle removal can remove unwanted freckles by targeting the melanin in your skin. The laser beam is selectively absorbed by the pigment in the freckles after heating up and breaking up into small particles, which can then be deterred from the skin through metabolism. Generally, the removal is done after one to two treatments. However, freckles may reappear if you lack sun protection afterward. Mild pain or redness may result after the therapy, and you should follow the skincare and sun protection advice from your doctor to avoid recurrence.
Freckle-Removal Products and Home Remedies
There are many skin-whitening products available on the market that possibly contain chemicals, such as fruit acid, salicylic acid, or hydroquinone. Dr. Wu Wai Fuk, a specialist in Dermatology, remind you all that simple skin tests should be conducted before using these whitening products. You can apply a small amount of the products on your inner arm first. If no allergeic reaction is observed, including redness, peeling, or itsines, after one to two days, you can then apply it on your face.
Besides, some home remedies from online sources, such as fresh fruit masks and applying apple cider vinegar on your freckles, may irritate your skin, leading to redness and peeling. You should avoid using the latter to treat your freckles. The former, with lemon and citrus, may cause light-sensitive dermatitis if you do not thoroughly clean your face afterward. The juice in these fruits contains photosensitive material, which can trigger a light-sensitive reaction. If you expose to sunlight, inflammation, redness, swelling, and even blistering may result. Eventually, melanin accumulates, and dark spots appear.
Prevention Tips for Freckles
Apart from the about spot-lightening methods, you should adopt sufficient sun protection measures to prevent freckles effectively. Ultraviolet light is everywhere, no matter the weather and seasons. You should wear sunscreen and other protective gear whenever you go outdoors. Let’s cultivate some sun protection habits to avoid freckles from a young age.
- Try to minimize the exposure to ultraviolet light, especially from 10 am to 4 pm
- When doing outdoor activities, you should use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and PA+++
- Wear wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, and sunglasses; use UV umbrellas
Furthermore, you can absorb more vitamin C from your diet by eating strawberries, kiwis, guavas, grapefruits, tricolor pepper, and broccoli. With sufficient vitamin C intake, enough water, adequate sleep, and stress relief, you can have better skin quality.
Freckles can be annoying as they affect your appearance. To shrug off this agony, you should consult your doctor for proper treatments. Cigna DIY Health Plan enables you to freely choose from various protection benefits to customize your plan to your individual needs, including dental coverage, regular oral check-ups, treatment costs, and emergencies. Tailor your health coverage now.
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