Freckles are light brown or tan spots on the skin. They are made of clusters of skin cells that contain the pigment melanin. Moles are raised, but freckles are flat. Freckles are not harmful or painful. Usually, freckles are caused by overexposure to the sun. Freckles open pores and patchy skin and it is not easy to get rid of them if you do not like them. A genetic predisposition is also linked to developing freckles. The skin produces melanin on exposure to the UV radiation from the sun or tanning lights.
This can lead to over–deposition of melanin in one spot and this is causing freckles. Freckles often happen in people with blonde or red hair, fair skin, and light-colored eyes. You should remember that freckles do not form without exposure to sunlight, so if you have freckles, then it may be a sign of malignant skin cancer. In this case, it is very important for you need to ask for medical help as soon as possible.
There are many treatment options available to diminish the appearance of freckles, including skin–lightening creams, chemical peels, pigment lasers, etc. But, you can read this article so you will discover many home remedies to lighten your freckles. You need to talk with your doctor if you have freckles before you use some of the below-mentioned home remedies, so in this way, you will know that you will not cause worse effects.
Here are some home remedies which you can use to treat freckles:
Contents
Kiwi:
This fruit has flavonoids like quercetin which may inhibit tyrosinase activity. This can lead to a reduction in any skin pigmentation, including freckles. For this natural treatment, you will need 1 kiwi fruit and 2 – 3 strawberries. You should make a thick paste of these two fruits by blending them. Then, apply this home remedy to the areas where you have freckles. Let this paste stay there for about 20 – 25 minutes before you rinse it off. You need to do this type of natural treatment two times per week.
Banana peel:
Banana peel has bioactive compounds which can inhibit melanogenesis and this can help to reduce freckles. You will need a ripe banana peel. You should rub the peel of a ripe banana on the freckled areas of your skin and let it stay there for about 20 minutes. Then, wash it off and do this natural treatment once per day.
Eggplant:
This natural treatment is rich in bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants, phenolics, and vitamins. These compounds exhibit photoprotective compounds which can help to prevent skin damage on exposure to UV rays of the sun. This can help to reduce freckles. You will need 1 fresh eggplant. You need to cut the eggplant into slices and rub these slices on the freckles in a circular motion. Then, let the juice from the eggplant on your skin stay for 15 minutes. Then, wash your skin thoroughly using water. You need to repeat this natural treatment once every day.
Shea butter:
It has been found that shea kernels can inhibit melanogenesis. The shea butter can help to decrease the melanin synthesis and it can reduce the occurrence of freckles. You will need one to two teaspoons of shea butter. You need to heat the shea butter until it is warm and massage it gently into the areas with freckles. You should let it stay there through the night and rinse it off in the morning. You should repeat this natural treatment every night for a period of 3 – 4 weeks.
Cocoa butter:
This type of home remedy has bioactive compounds, like polyphenols, which offer photoprotection and can reverse the effects of UV – induced skin damage. Also, this can help to prevent the development of brown spots that are caused by freckles. You will need one to two teaspoons of cocoa butter. You should take one to two teaspoons of cocoa butter. Then, apply it on the freckles and massage it gently into your skin. You should let it overnight and wash it off using a cleanser the next morning. You can repeat this natural treatment every night before you go to bed in a period of 2 – 3 weeks.
Pomelo essential oil:
This type of home remedy is known to have anti–melanogenic and antioxidant properties. It can help to decrease the synthesis of melanin and it can reduce the appearance of freckles. You will need 2 – 3 drops of pomelo essential oil and a few drops of carrier oil. You need to take 2 – 3 drops of pomelo essential oil and dilute it with a carrier oil like jojoba oil or sweet almond oil. Then, apply this home remedy to the freckled areas. You should let this home remedy stay on the freckled areas for 20 minutes before you rinse it off using water. You need to repeat this natural treatment on a daily basis before you go to bed.
Eucalyptus oil:
This is an essential oil that is widely used due to its pharmacological properties. The eucalyptus oil inhibits tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis, which can help to reduce hyperpigmentation. This can help to reduce freckles. You will need 2 – 3 drops of eucalyptus oil and a few drops of carrier oil. You need to dilute 2 – 3 drops of eucalyptus oil with a carrier oil like sweet almond oil.
Then, apply this home remedy to the freckled areas and let it stay there for 20 minutes. You should wash it off using a washcloth. You need to do this natural treatment once on a daily basis before you go to bed. If you have hypersensitive skin, then you should not use this home remedy.
Honey:
This home remedy has phenolic and flavonoid compounds which can help to inhibit tyrosinase activity. This can help to control the excess production of melanin in your skin, which in turn can help to reduce the occurrence of freckles. You will need 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of fresh honey. You need to make a thick paste of honey and lemon juice and then apply this paste to the areas where you have freckles.
You should let it stay there for 15 – 20 minutes before you rinse it off. You need to do this natural treatment two times a week. If you have sensitive skin you should not follow this home remedy because lemon juice can cause redness and irritation. Also, you should apply sunscreen before you go out because lemon juice makes your skin photosensitive.
Yogurt:
This home remedy has lactic acid which can help to inhibit tyrosinase activity, reduce hyperpigmentation and suppress melanin formation. These effects can help to reduce the appearance of freckles. You will need 2 – 3 tablespoons of yogurt. Then, apply this yogurt to the freckled areas. You should massage the affected area for about 15 – 20 minutes in a circular motion. Then, wash off using water. You should apply this home remedy on daily basis.
Turmeric:
There are some studies in which are shown that curcumin, which is the primary component of turmeric, inhibits melanogenesis. This means that it can help to reduce the excessive deposition of melanin in the skin which causes freckles. You will need 1 teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. You should make a fine paste of turmeric powder and lemon juice. Then, apply this paste to the freckled areas and wait for it to dry. You should rinse it off thoroughly using water. You should do this type of natural treatment once every week.
Aloe Vera:
It has been shown that the topical application of Aloe Vera gel triggers the production of metallothionein in the skin, which can help in the prevention of UV – induced damage. This can help to inhibit tyrosinase activity. Also, this can help to decrease the melanin deposition in the skin, which will lead to lesser freckles. You will need fresh Aloe Vera gel. You should apply some fresh Aloe Vera gel on the freckles and massage it for 2 – 3 minutes. You should let it stay there for 10 minutes and then rinse it off. Also, you can let it stay there through the night. You need to repeat this natural treatment every day.
Apple cider vinegar:
This home remedy has malic acid which exfoliates the darkened skin cells. This can help in lightening freckles. You will need 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon honey. You should mix the honey and vinegar and then apply them to the freckles. Also, you can apply this home remedy to the entire face. Then, let it stay there for 15 – 20 minutes. You should rinse using lukewarm water. You need to apply this home remedy once on daily basis on your freckles. If you are applying this home remedy on the entire face, then you need to repeat it every alternate day.
References:
- How to Remove Freckles Permanently And Get Spotless Skin. https://www.india.com/lifestyle/how-to-remove-freckles-permanently-and-get-spotless-skin-4080777/. Published July 10, 2020
- https://www.medicinenet.com/freckles/article.htm.
- https://tibot.ai/skin-disorders/pigmentation-disorders/freckles/.
- 10 Home Remedies To Help You Get Rid Of Freckles Permanently. https://www.scoopwhoop.com/home-remedies-to-remove-freckles-permanently/. Published February 1, 2019
