Call them brown spots, age spots, dark spots or sun spots, they are all the result of direct and excessive sun exposure on your face.
Sun exposure increases production of melanocytes leading to an increase supply of melanin in the skin making the skin dark. You can seek help from dermatologists,or if you prefer, you can get rid of sunspots with some simple home remedies.
These sunspots can affect anyone and can appear at any age on the skin. They may also appear on the other exposed skin of the body. These not-harmful spots are known as Solar Lentigines.
Sun spots look very similar to freckles but they are two different conditions. Freckles are found on the face of white skin people where as sunspots can appear on any color skin in any part of the body.
Though some remedies for freckles and sunspots may be same, both conditions respond differently to different treatments.
What Causes Sunspots?
The name sunspots itself is a clear indication that they are caused by exposure to the sun. The harmful ultraviolet rays (UV Rays) are responsible for these spots.
Lighter skin tones are more likely to get sunspots as compared to darker skin. The overexposure to sun causes excess production of melanin in some skins that is why some people get sun spots and others don't even if they have similar exposure to the sun.
Sunburn also can cause these dark spots.
So if you are a light skin person and like to stay in the sun then make sure that you do not overexpose yourself. Some minimum sun exposure is necessary for everyone as it is the only source of body's requirement of Vitamin D.
Today lots of people do not have enough sun exposure so they suffer from vitamin D deficiency. So get sun exposure but be careful.
Get the exposure in the morning hours to meet your vitamin D requirements. Sun from 10:00 - 16:00 hrs is prone to cause sunburn and sun spots.
Prevention of Sun Spots
Sunspots on your face certainly do not look good and impact your beauty and personality.You can take following precautions to avoid getting sunspots on your skin:
Use Sunscreen
In order to prevent exposure to UVA and UVB rays of sun apply sun protection screen of at least SPF15. If you are likely to get exposed to the sun during the harsh sunlight time between 10:00-16:00hrs then apply SPF30 protection.
You can't depend on your moisturizers and foundations. Though modern cosmetics of foundation and moisturizer may have a certain degree of sun protection inbuilt, that is not sufficient.
Avoid Over Exposure to Sun
This is easier said than done. Some jobs require you to be in the sun. Traveling people may get overexposure during driving long hours. Use sun protection while driving long hours in harsh sun. Use tint glasses in your car doors that will reduce the harshness of the sun.
Resist temptation of sun tanning. If anyone in your family has sunspots than that is the indication that your skin type is prone to sun spots. Knowing this it is wise to avoid sun tanning.
3 Ways to Get Rid of Sunspots Naturally
Natural remedies are your best bets to get rid of sun spots. You are not going to get exposed to harsh chemical based cosmetics that might give you other long term skin and other health problems.
All natural products that work to make your skin fair will also work to remove sunspots, but the following will be more effective:
1. Lemon Juice to Remove Dark Spots
Lemon juice is a mild bleaching agent with antibacterial and antifungal properties. It can help in getting rid of age spots and dark spots caused by sun exposure.
It is also a good home remedy for blemishes and scars. Lemon helps get rid of dead skin and regenerates new skin.
You can make lemon slices and directly rub on the sun spots. Or extract lemon juice and apply with cotton balls on the affected area. Both methods will do a good job of removing sun spots.
Keep it on the skin for 30 minutes and wash it off with warm water. Moisturize the skin with any natural moisturizer.
If your skin is sensitive then then you can dilute lemon juice with equal amounts of water and apply.
Make sure that you do not go out in the sun with lemon juice applied on the skin.
2. Aloe Vera to protect from Sun Damage
Aloe vera has natural healing and skin regenerating properties. Apply Aloe vera twice daily to prevent any further damage from the sun.
You can use fresh Aloe vera leaves to extract the gel and apply. You can extract the gel from a leave and store it refrigerated for 7-10 days.
You don't have access to fresh aloe vera leaves then buy aloe vera gel of reputed brand and apply.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar for Sunspots
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a very effective remedy for sunspots. It is used for many skin conditions due to its alpha hydroxy acids contents.
You can apply dilute apple cider vinegar directly on your skin 2-3 times a day, but for the best results you should apply apple cider vinegar and lemon juice together.
Mix apple cider vinegar and lemon juice in equal quantities. !/2 teaspoons of both will be sufficient for one application on the face and neck.
Apply the mixture with cotton balls every night before going to the bed and leave it overnight before rinsing it in the morning with warm water.
Initially you may feel sting. That is alright.
All the above given remedies for sun spots are natural products. they produce results slowly. Apply them daily consistently for 6-8 weeks and you will begin to see the sunspots disappearing.
These products should be used with preventative methods of applying skin protection screens during the time of sun exposure.