5 Simple & Natural Ways To Remove Sunspots On Your Skin Fast

Whoever told you that sunspots, also known as age spots, are an inevitable consequence of aging, knows little. For starters, age has very little to do with the onset of sunspots. Sunspots, less glamorously known as solar lentigines are caused by excessive exposure to the sun which reduces the skin’s ability to repair itself. Once you spot sunspots on your skin, you can expect them to darken and increase in number with every single UV ray that hits you. Sunspots typically find refuge in areas of the skin that are directly exposed to sunlight. They may be parts of your skin that are most often exposed. Such as your face, your forehead, or cheeks if you have high cheekbones. A naturally, beautiful pouty upper lip is also found to be in the sunspot radar. Arms and legs are almost always fine targets for sunspots, ‘coz let’s face it (pun intended), who would want to cover up those slender limbs, when the weather is cast in gold. This is a catch 22 for sure. You want the sun as much as you don’t want the sun to ‘spot’ you. In other words, you don’t want sunspots but by some funny luck, if you do end up being the one who gets in the way of the sun when he’s out, throwing away sunspots for free, be sure to know how you can get rid of them for good. And, better still, (beyond getting rid of them) be sure to know how you can protect yourself from sunspots.

So is sunlight the villain here? No, of course not. Let’s not forget sunlight is our best source of the ‘sunshine vitamin’, Vitamin D, that’s crucial for overall health. It protects against inflammation, lowers high blood pressure, helps muscles, improves brain function and is even known to protect against some cancers. However, we have to choose the ‘type’ of sunlight we expose our skin to. You want to stay away from the ‘wrong’ kind of sunlight - think - sunlight peering in through your car windshield or an untinted window on that long drive at 2 pm, or the heat soaked sunlight streaming into your workstation from your well-meaning window after lunch, or sunlight filtered through those fluffy, giant clouds. No, they don’t ‘un-UV’ your sunlight for you. These are all examples of the kind of sunlight you want to stay away from. Pay attention: stay away from the sun between 11 AM and 3 PM. But heck! That’s not always possible, because life, work, outdoors, errands, all and sundry don’t come to a grinding halt between 11AM and 3PM everyday. They go on and so must you. That’s why, it’s well and wise to be aware of your surroundings just as much as of yourself.

Everyone exposed to the sun will eventually get sunspots. You can think of sunspots as parts of your surface skin giving themselves up in order to protect lower levels of your skin from overexposure to the sun. A brown pigment or melanin in your skin is produced to create a protective layer of brown (sun)spots. These sunspots are more easily visible on lighter skin. Sunspots are typically not dangerous, however, you should check with a dermatologist if the spot graduates from a large tan freckle and grows in size to develop darker (almost black) pigmentation, causes itchiness, and expands its irregular borders. These signs may point to a far more serious condition of a type of skin cancer called Lentigo Maligna melanoma. Dermatologists would be able to look at sunspots and tell if they pose any significant health risks.

Once your dermatologist has cleared you of any health complications related to your sunspots, you can get on any of these proven simple and natural ways to remove sunspots on your skin. With natural remedies, there are no hard and fast rules about how long you might want to continue a natural treatment. They are full of benefits and completely harmless.They can double up as excellent preventative measures as well. Inculcating a simple routine of following any of these natural remedies on a daily basis will leave your skin flawless, and will rid your face, arms and legs of sunspots and blemishes for good.

Nothing beats Vitamin C to get rid of sunspots, and lemon juice is filled with it! Always available in your kitchen, grab a lemon today to get started on a routine that will get you closer to having that blemishless face, and spotless arms and legs faster than you ever imagined.

You will need: Concentrate juice of a fresh lemon squeezed into a bowl. A cotton swab for application.

Soak the cotton swab in the lemon juice and apply on sunspots. Use liberally on face, forehead, legs and arms wherever affected. Leave on for no more than 30 minutes and then wash off with fresh water. Take care not to apply lemon juice around the eyes, as the skin around the eyes is very delicate. Apply a soothing moisturizer after washing and patting dry. This can be done once a day every day until spots vanish.

Dermatologists and practitioners of naturopathy, recommend using lemon juice on sunspots as it is highly acidic. The acid in the lemon acts as a bleaching agent and gently exfoliates the skin, reducing the appearance of sunspots. Also, the highly concentrated vitamin C in lemon juice helps protect the skin from further damage.

You will need: Natural Aloe vera extracts from an Aloe vera leaf or store bought pure aloe vera gel, cotton swab, Vitamin E capsules (optional)

Combine two spoons of aloe vera gel or extract with one capsule of vitamin E, and apply on sunspots. Leave on for 30 minutes. This can be repeated twice every day until desired results become visible. If you have sunspots all over your face, arms and legs, increase the quantity of the mixture proportionally, and apply on affected areas of the skin.

Aloe vera has soothing properties and cools damaged or irritated skin. It is a proven anti-inflammatory and has properties that help skin regeneration. For better and faster results to get rid of sunspots apply this mixture consistently for over 6-8 weeks. This is a sure shot at ridding yourself of those unsightly sunspots. However, using aloe vera for sunspots comes with certain caveats. Dermatologists warn that aloe allergies are common, so if you choose to use the plant extract, then test out a patch of skin first, before applying all over affected areas.

You will need: one medium sized onion and half a cup of apple cider vinegar. Roughly chop the onion and blend it with the apple cider vinegar.

Use a cotton ball to apply mixture to affected areas, and leave on for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, rinse with water. This is a great option and can be done once a day for 2-4 weeks.

Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals. Onion extracts are full of antioxidants. It helps remove scarring on the skin and encourages regeneration and healing on the outer layers of the skin. Apple cider vinegar contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) that help remove dead skin (where the sunspots are), improves the skin.

You will need: One cucumber, half a teaspoon of lemon juice, 4-5 tablespoons of cold, fresh milk. Peel the cucumber and grate it. Keep aside for a few minutes until some water is released from the cucumber. Add in half a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and few tablespoons of milk, one tablespoon at a time. Make sure the mixture is not runny.

Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture on affected areas. It is also safe to apply on the face, forehead, arms and legs, even where your skin is not damaged. For best results, this can be applied twice a day for 2-4 weeks.

Both, cucumber and milk are naturally hydrating and nourishing supplements. When applied topically on the skin they soothe irritated or damaged skin, and thus helps heal skin faster. Lactic acid in the milk helps lighten excess pigmentation on the skin. Cucumbers, quite literally are the coolest containers of some fantastic, skin-friendly vitamins and minerals packed in together. Cucumbers are a great source of vitamin K and molybdenum.They are also a great source of copper, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, phosphorus, magnesium, biotin and vitamin B1. Vitamin C in lemon juice helps with regeneration of new skin and protects the skin from further damage.

You will need: 2- 3 tablespoons of organic, turmeric powder, one tablespoon of raw, unfiltered honey, and 3-4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Combine these ingredients in a bowl to make a homogenous mixture.

Apply this mixture generously over affected areas of the skin. This can also be used on other parts of your skin that are not affected by sunspots. For best results this can be applied once a day for a week.

Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce scars. It’s antibacterial properties, not only heals damaged skin, but also protects your skin from further damage. Unfiltered honey is an excellent source of antioxidants and helps slow the aging process. Honey helps soothe irritated skin and can help create a radiant glow, upon regular use. Apple cider vinegar contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids that help get rid of dead skin (where the sunspots are), improves overall skin health.

Natural remedies are the safest options for any skin treatment. However, results can come by relatively slowly, depending on the extent of sun damage. If you’re itching (pun totally intended) to get rid of your sunspots faster than natural remedies promise, you might like these dermatologically approved chemical options. All dermatologically recommended chemical treatments to get rid of sunspots relatively faster than natural remedies, are geared towards penetrating the top most layer of the skin -the epidermis- where the pigment is located, in order to make corrections.

Prescription bleaching creams or skin lightening creams composed of hydroquinone, may be used as is or in combination with retinoids (tretinoin) along with mild steroids to help get rid of sunspots fast. A common side effect of this procedure is temporary itching, redness, dryness or a burning sensation on treated area.

Laser or Intense pulsed light therapy does not affect the top most layer of the skin. Instead,it targets and destroys the melanin-producing cells directly, that are present just below the top most layer of the skin.. These treatments are usually over two or more sessions, distributed over time. For larger areas of the skin beyond the face, such as skin on the arms, forearms, shoulders and legs, laser therapy is an efficient option. A common side effect of laser therapy is slight discoloration of the skin.

Freezing is a process that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze or destroy sunspots by destroying the pigment in the affected area. Thus, it inhibits the darkening of the spot upon subsequent exposure to the sun. As the area of treatment heals, the skin appears lighter. So, this may be an ideal option if you are looking for a quick-fix that targets getting rid of sunspots faster. A common side effect of this procedure is temporary irritation of the skin or permanent scarring or discoloration.

As the name suggests, a chemical peel entails using certain types of acids such as Alpha Hydroxy Acid, or trichloroacetic acid or phenol to remove the damaged outer layer of the skin (epidermis). As the damaged skin peels off, new skin grows and rids you of your sunspots. This may not necessarily be a faster procedure than natural remedies, since new skin takes time to grow. A common side effect of this procedure is temporary redness and irritation and possible permanent change of skin color.

There are several benefits of wearing sunscreen. For starters, if you have sunspots, regardless of whether you have started treatment, always wear sunscreen on all exposed parts of your skin- your face, arms and legs. Sunspots are clear signs of damaged skin, and dermatologists always recommend sunscreen with SPF 30 or more as a protective as well as preventative measure from any further damage.

With global warming on the rise, the depletion of the ozone layer is only getting worse. This means that harmful UV rays from the sun can penetrate the earth’s atmosphere more easily, and can potentially cause skin cancer. A good sunscreen with SPF 30 or more will protect you from harmful UV rays.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and is also the first to come in contact with any external influences. Hence, it plays a vital role in protecting our bodies from potential threat. When the skin is unprotected, it bears the brunt of the harsh UV rays of the sun, causing sunspots and premature aging. Those fine lines on your forehead and around you mouth; those crows feet that distract from your playful smile; and those unwanted wrinkles, are blatant signs of premature aging and they can all be totally avoided by protecting your face, arms and legs generously with sunscreen.

There are certain proteins in the skin that keep the skin healthy, soft and supple. They are collagen, keratin and elastin. These proteins are put at risk when the skin is exposed to the sun- unprotected. Sunscreen helps protect these proteins and hence guards the health of your skin. Let your forehead shine with confidence, not become a canvas for sunspots and fine lines!

If sunscreen is not handy, grab an umbrella. Yes, that’s right an umbrella. According to a research study published in JAMA Dermatology, an umbrella can block more than 75% of harmful UV rays on a sunny day. Black umbrellas are even more effective, blocking 90% of harmful UV rays on any given sunny day.

It doesn’t hurt if you binge on foods rich in vitamin E. Ample supply of vitamin E to the body, benefits the body tremendously. One of the many benefits includes repairing damaged skin. Including foods rich in vitamin E, in your diet regularly, can help keep skin looking young and healthy. Some foods rich in vitamin E are: almonds, spinach, sweet potato, avocado, wheat germ and sunflower seeds.

Just as a fatigued body is relatively weaker than a healthy body to cope with adversity; fatigued and unhealthy skin is weaker than healthy skin to recoup and heal faster from sun damage, such as sunspots. It is important to keep your mind stress free in order to keep your skin youthful and healthy. Stress is seen to have negative impacts on your skin. Hormone levels spike, making skin more sensitive to externalities.

It is simple to get rid of sunspots if you’ve been a targetted. Natural remedies are safe and can work wonders on sunspots that not very severe. Dermatologically recommended chemical treatments are great for getting rid of sunspots that are darker and have been around on your skin for longer. And always good to remember, prevention is so much better than cure. Spend some guilt-free, me-time. Pamper yourself with any of these skin-loving natural remedies, as the best preventative from sunspots. Make sure you have your day in the sun, without having to worry about how your face, forehead, arms or legs would look, the next day! Happy summer smiles.