Health

10 Home Remedies To Prevent and Treat Age Spots

The body naturally produces melanin (skin pigment). However, there are people whose bodies produce melanin in excess quantities. This is a very common issue that most… Simi - November 6, 2017

The body naturally produces melanin (skin pigment). However, there are people whose bodies produce melanin in excess quantities. This is a very common issue that most people deal with. It is the excess production of melanin that leads to the formation of age spots, also known as solar lentigines or liver spots. This usually happens because of too much exposure to the sun. Those who use tanning beds or lamps have also been known to have age spots.

Typically, the spots appear in different sizes on different individuals. They can be seen on the arms, hands or the face, basically any part of the body that is exposed to the sun. The spots can be black, brown or tan, and are oval and flat where there is too much pigmentation. These are often referred to as age spots because they are prevalent in people who are at least 50 years old. There are, however, younger individuals who also have age spots, particularly those who are out in the sun most of the time. It is also worth noting that this is a common problem for those who have light skin.

There is nothing dangerous about age spots. Though harmless, most people usually worry about the cosmetic appeal. You can get rid of them through medical treatments or products for skin bleaching and lightening. The only problem here is that these products are, in most cases too expensive, and they also carry side effects.

Take note that while these natural remedies have been known to work well, there are people who have also had bad reactions to them, perhaps as a result of allergic reactions or contradiction with their gene pool. Before you begin any home remedy, make sure you consult your doctor. The following are some good natural remedies for age spots that you can find in your kitchen.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood happens to be one of the best remedies you can use to fade the age spots away. The soothing relief on your skin is something you will appreciate more, in addition to the spots disappearing. Other than that, sandalwood has also been known to help in making the spots and scars on your skin heal at a faster rate. When you pay attention to most cosmetic products, you will notice that in the list of ingredients, sandalwood is usually a common essential oil.

Preparation

  • Mix sandalwood powder and rose water in equal proportions (2 tablespoons each). In case you need to make a paste, add more rosewater and toss in some lemon juice.
  • Apply the mixture on the part that is affected and let it stay for 20 minutes. You can also just leave it on until it has dried out.
  • Rinse with clean, cold water. You should do this 2-3 times a week until you see the dark spots fading away.

In order to get the best results with the sandalwood paste, apply it on days when you do not need to go out. If possible, stay inside the house most of the day, especially when the sun’s rays are intense. If you have to step outside the house, apply some sunscreen. It is also important to walk in a shaded area so that you can limit your exposure to the sun.

For those who would love to use sunscreen when going out, shop for sunscreen products with a sun protection factor SPF of no less than 15. Make sure the product you purchase also has UVB and UVA protection. Sunscreen should be applied no less than half an hour before you go out into the sun.

Apple Cider Vinegar

For years, apple cider vinegar has been used as a natural remedy for a lot of skin conditions. It is no surprise that it is also a good remedy for age spots. While it might not get rid of the spots completely, apple cider vinegar will actually make it easier to conceal the spots and make them difficult to notice. Other than that, you also end up with an improved skin tone.

The active ingredient in apple cider vinegar that makes this possible is the presence of alpha hydroxyl acids. The action of these acids makes the affected spots lighter. Patches of the skin that are dark will also become lighter when you use apple cider vinegar.

Preparation:

  • You will need unfiltered apple cider vinegar and water for this.
  • Mix them in equal parts, then toss in some honey.
  • Apply the mixture on the parts affected.
  • Leave it to rest for 20 minutes.
  • Rinse off with clean water.
  • You should do this once each day.

Alongside this mechanism, you should also add 2 teaspoons of apple cider (organic) in a glass of drinking water. You should drink this twice a day, for it also helps in improving your skin and health.

Note:

When you use this mix, you will, from time to time, experience a stinging sensation. You can also notice some redness in the treated area. This is normal, so you should not freak out. However, in case you notice the irritation is too intense, stop using apple cider vinegar immediately. Apple cider vinegar works best because it dries out the spots and makes them fade out better, faster and naturally.

Yogurt

Yogurt is another natural product that has seen a lot of uses as a natural home remedy. In most cases, it is the action of the lactic acid available in yogurt that makes it the perfect remedy, especially for age spots. Lactic acid acts gently on the affected areas. It removes the dead skin cells. While the skin that is discolored is peeling away, your body will generate fresh healthy skin. As this happens over time, it becomes difficult to notice the age spots.

Another reason why you might want to consider using yogurt is that it keeps your skin looking fresh and moisturized for a long time. Apply some yogurt on the affected parts. Make sure you are using plain unsweetened yogurt. Let it dry for around 30 minutes then rinse off with clean cold water. You should do this twice or thrice a day.

Another option is to prepare a yogurt face mask. Mix 1 tablespoon of yogurt, 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of oatmeal. Mix these properly then apply on the affected areas. Allow this to sit for half an hour then rinse off with clean cold water. You can do this twice or thrice a week.

While yogurt has lactic acid, there are other properties in it that help in bleaching your skin and making you look lighter. You can actually have your skin getting several tones lighter. If you use it regularly, you should be able to notice the age spots fading away over time. Yogurt is a mild bleaching agent, so you should not have to worry about allergic reactions. However, should you notice anything weird, like redness on the area you apply, or irritation, stop and immediately consult your doctor.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a natural healer in virtually any part of the body. It is an antioxidant. This, therefore, means that with Vitamin E, it is possible to heal and reverse the damage that could have been caused by excessive exposure to the sun. UV rays usually do a lot of damage to the skin, particularly for those who spend a lot of time outdoors and without proper protection from the sun, like sunscreen.

Vitamin E makes the age spots fade away. Other than that, it will also leave your skin moisturized. Because of this, you end up with flawless and healthy skin. Some people’s skin responds so well to Vitamin E, they actually look younger in the process.

Buy quality Vitamin E oil from your local stores. Massage the oil in the affected part of the skin two times a day for around 15 minutes. If you do this regularly for a few weeks, you should notice changes in your skin tone. The uneven skin tone in the areas with age spots will have been reduced.

Another option is to take two capsules of Vitamin E and extract their content. Mix this together with a teaspoon of castor oil until you have an even paste. Apply this on the parts affected before you go to sleep in the evening. You should do this every day, leaving it overnight and rinsing properly in the morning.

Lemon

When it comes to natural remedies for the skin, lemons are some of the most efficient options you have. They do not just help in lightening the age spots, they also help with other dark spots on your skin, and freckles. Lemons have citric acid. Citric acid usually removes the dead skin cells safely. It does this by disintegrating the melanin pigment. When this happens, new layers of skin are revealed, in the same way, some medicines usually work.

One of the main reasons why lemons are preferred by a lot of people is because they also make your skin glow. It is important to note that lemons also have Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant. Therefore, it protects your skin from damage by free radicals.

Take note that soon after you apply lemon on your skin, you should not step out into the sun. If you do this, there is a high risk your skin will be darker than it was. People with very sensitive skin should not use lemons. This is because lemons will often cause redness and irritation on the body. If this is the case, you might want to look at other home remedies other than lemons. If you insist on using lemons, you should use rosewater to dilute it before you apply it on your skin.

For this solution, you only need two things, a knife, and a lemon. Cut the lemon into slices then rub them on the affected parts of your skin. Let the lemon juice stay on for around 20 minutes then rinse with clean, clear water. For this procedure to be effective, you should do it twice a day until your age spots disappear.

Turmeric

In the list of natural remedies you will come across in your kitchen, turmeric is one of the most effective ones you will come across. Turmeric is a product that has been in use for so many years as far as skincare is concerned. In fact, it is a common ingredient in any healing procedure that uses Ayurveda techniques for skin conditions.

Turmeric will easily lighten your skin, especially the parts where age spots are prominent. Apart from that, it has powerful antioxidant properties. You will benefit from this because it repairs the damage caused by free radicals.

Prepare two teaspoons of turmeric powder and add some milk. To make this even more effective, you can toss in a few teaspoons of lemon milk. Apply this mix on the parts of the skin affected. Let it settle for 30 minutes then rinse with warm water. You should do this twice or thrice a week.

Because people react to turmeric or lemon differently, you should not attempt this if you have not discussed it with your doctor. They will consider your allergies first before giving you the go-ahead. If you try it and feel some intense irritation on the skin, or redness where you apply it, stop immediately and consider other alternatives.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is also another natural remedy for so many skin conditions. It has been used successfully in the past to manage things like stinging nettles, poison oak, eczema and age spots. It is common because its benefits are two-fold. While your skin will remain fresh, you will also benefit from the anti-inflammatory properties of Aloe Vera. Other than that, you will notice your skin is moisturized.

To get the best results with Aloe Vera, it is always advisable that you use the naturally occurring Aloe Vera plant. You can plant it in your garden or you can purchase one from the local grocery store. Alternatively, there are people who have had impressive results with Aloe Vera products they purchased from health stores online and in the neighborhood.

For those who are using the plant, break one of the leaves. It is the oozing gel that you will rub onto the age spots on your skin. Let it soak in for a while. It will feel sticky, but let it be. Allow it to sit for around half an hour then you can rinse it off with clean water. You should do this two times a day until you are satisfied with the results you get.

When you compare some of the products, including natural remedies for age spots, Aloe Vera is actually one of the most effective products you can use. Its naturally occurring compounds will remove the dead cells from your skin gently, in the process supporting the growth of new and healthy skin cells. If you use Aloe Vera constantly, there is a good chance that it will not just remove the age spots, but you will also have lighter skin.

Tomatoes

The main reason why tomatoes are efficient in healing age spots is that they are acidic. Their acidic property makes them a good bleaching agent for your skin. They are, therefore, a good candidate when dealing with age spots. Other than age spots, you can also use them for freckles and a host of other blemishes on the skin.

Other than their acidic component, tomatoes are also rich in lycopene and a lot of enzymes that help in keeping the skin lighter and glowing. Lycopene is a highly efficient antioxidant, so you can look forward to lighter skin in a few weeks.

You will only need a tomato and a knife for this remedy. Slice the tomato into slices and rub one on the parts affected. Let the tomato juice stay on your skin for 25 minutes then rinse it off with clean, cold water. You should do this at least once a day, but twice would be best.

Another way of preparing this remedy is to mix honey and tomato juice in equal proportions. Mix the ingredients thoroughly then apply on the part of the skin with age spots. Let this settle for 15 minutes and then rinse it away with cool, clean water. You can also do this one or two times a day for effective results. While tomatoes are effective, not everyone’s skin reacts well to it. Stop and consider other home remedies if you notice your body reacting badly to it. You should also consult a doctor.

Buttermilk

Dairy products are notorious home remedies because of the presence of lactic acid. Buttermilk is no different, just as is the case with yogurt. Lactic acid will exfoliate the dead skin pigments, removing the damaged skin. At the same time, it will gently bleach the affected part, revealing healthy skin whose spots are less noticeable. The more you use it, the lighter the area becomes, and over time you should notice the age spots going away completely, or being near-impossible to notice.

Another reason why you might want to use buttermilk is that it helps in skin rejuvenation and restoration. You should apply it directly on the parts with age spots. Leave it on the applied area for 15 minutes, then rinse off with clean, cold water. Do this twice or thrice a day for the best results.

There is another way of applying buttermilk to deal with age spots. Mix 2 tablespoons of tomato juice and 4 tablespoons of buttermilk together. Apply this gently on the part of the skin with age spots. Let it settle for 15 minutes then rinse off with clean cold water. You can do this two times a day.

While this remedy has been a success for age spots, you can take it a notch higher. You can consider preparing the same for washing your face every morning. If you want, you can also prepare a buttermilk bath every morning. This will help you feel fresh and have lighter skin all over the body. The evenness of this procedure makes it worth a try.

Castor Oil

Castor oil has always been known to help in treating a lot of skin conditions. In this list of skin conditions, age spots stand out. When using castor oil, you only need to apply a little oil on the parts of the skin that are affected. Massage this gently for one or two minutes. If you happened to apply more oil than you needed, just massage until the oil has been properly absorbed. You should do this twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.

The best thing about using castor oil is that the results are noticeable very soon. After 4 weeks, you should be able to notice a difference in your skin tone. The age spots should become difficult to notice the more you keep using castor oil.

In case you have dry skin, you should take additional precautions to make this work. Add a bit of coconut oil or olive oil together with castor oil. This is supposed to moisturize your skin and at the same time prevent dryness when you are done with the massage.

Castor oil has a host of antioxidants. These are quite beneficial in keeping your skin lighter, and at the same time protecting your skin from normal damage agents like UV rays. Other than that, castor oil will also improve your skin appearance. Even the texture will improve over time. You will end up with smooth, soft skin than you had before.

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