How To Lighten Freckles
If you have freckles you have probably heard everyone telling you that you should love your freckles and you shouldn’t get rid of them. People who tell you this usually don’t have freckles themselves so they do not understand how self-conscious they can make you feel. I have dozens of freckles all over my face and I wish they were not there. Whenever you look at skincare ads with photos of people with clear skin they never have freckles. If you want to lighten your freckles that is entirely up to you and you should not let anyone tell you otherwise. Freckles are basically just visible sun damage. Here are 5 ways to lighten your freckles
Use SPF daily
Sunscreen will not fade your freckles but it will prevent them from getting darker and will stop additional ones from forming. It is important to still wear sunscreen on days when it is overcast as UV rays can still penetrate the skin regardless of how sunny it is. If possible try to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and if you are wearing makeup during the day try to wear a product that contains SPF.
Using fading products
There are many products available on the market that will fade pigmentation. popular products that are used for fading pigmentation include hydroquinone and vitamin C. These products will also brighten your skin and even out your skin tone.
Try laser
There are several laser treatments that target pigmentation. These lasers work by targeting pigmentation and breaking it down. These treatments are incredibly effective. If you get a treatment you can expect your pigmentation go darken for around a week. After that, it will slowly start to fall off leaving you with clear and freckle free skin. Most people will need around 4-6 treatments to make a significant difference but the good news is that these treatments are becoming more affordable and accessible. I am actually getting this treatment done at the end of the year and I will post an update with my results.
Chemical peels
Chemical peels work by removing the top layer of skin. This may result in some light pigmentation being removed. The chemical peel also encourages the skin to produce more collagen, in turn, keeping your skin youthful.
Natural alternatives:
There are many natural solutions to pigmentation available. Here are the best natural products available for lightening pigmentation:
Lemon juice: Apply undiluted lemon juice with a Q-tip to each freckle then wash off.
Buttermilk or sour cream: Buttermilk and sour cream contain lactic acid which is thought to lighten pigmentation. Make a buttermilk or sour cream mask by simply placing the mask on your face for 10 minutes. Afterwards, then wash it off with warm water.
