We all love being in the sun. Especially with winter approaching, sunbathing would be one of our favorite activities. There are so many good things about the sun – the warmth, the light, and a new beginning. However, what’s not good is the appearance of freckles.
Well! That’s debatable. Because many find Freckles aesthetically pleasing while others do not. Some people consider freckles to amplify their beauty while some think freckles hinder it.
But not to worry about it now. Freckles can be removed or faded away through skin care treatments if you’re fed up with your freckles.
Follow this guide to know everything about freckles and how to get rid of them.
What Are Freckles?
The small brown spots on the skin are known as Freckles. They’re generally more common in people who have a lighter complexion. Freckles appear on the skin after sun exposure as a response to the skin being stimulated by UV light. They can be formed on any body part which is exposed to the sun such as the face, the hands, and the arms.
Freckles can be genetics too. Studies have proven people with the MC1R gene are more likely to have freckles, as are people who are frequently out in the sun without adequate protection.
Freckles Or Moles?
Although both of them are completely different, one way to effectively differentiate between them is that freckles aren’t growths, so they can’t be cut off from the face.
Are freckles good or bad?
Freckles lie on neutral ground. They’re neither good nor bad for us. There are no health benefits known for freckles. And, unlike moles, they very seldom pose any health risks.
Whether freckles are good or bad, it’s entirely a perspective different from one person to another.
Some people like freckles, others aspire to have them (like tattooing fake freckles) while some don’t want them and prefer to prevent and remove their freckles.
Do freckles go away with age?
There are generally two types of sports that people refer to as Freckles –
- Ephelides – They are ordinary freckles that usually fade away with time. It can happen quickly: it’s not surprising for some people to have a face full of freckles in the sunny summer, and a freckle-free visage in the wintertime. In other cases, it can happen over years, and people find themselves having fewer freckles as they get older.
- Solar lentigines – They are also known as sun spots or liver spots. They will not go away over time: even with limited UV exposure, wide-brimmed hats, and profuse amounts of sunscreen, the freckles stick around! In these cases, the only tried and tested solution for removing these sunspots is a freckle removal treatment by a trained professional.
What causes freckles to suddenly appear?
Human skin reacts very quickly when exposed to the sun. Even a few minutes outside on a high UV day can result in sunburn for some people. A similar thing happens with freckles. A small amount of time spent in the sun may result in Freckles.
Top Ways to get rid of Freckles
Sunscreen
The right type of sunscreen, when properly applied, can always prevent the appearance of freckles. For stronger and better protection against the UV rays, choose a sunscreen with a higher SPF rating, and make sure that you follow the instructions.
Some people may still be prone to getting freckles as freckling can be unavoidable in a few cases.
Moreover, sunscreen will prevent the occurrence of upcoming acne. It will not fade away or remove the freckles that are already there on the skin.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a reliable source for removing freckles. It lightens the freckles, thus reducing their all-over appearance on the skin. Along with this, applying Vitamin C serum provides benefits like suppressing melanin cells, rejuvenating skin, and preventing discoloration of the skin. It also leads to brighter and healthier skin and protects the skin from free radical damage. Any Vitamin C facial sheet mask, serum, or cream will do the job.
Retinol
Retinol is another great way to lighten your freckles. Retinol is suitable for every skin type, even sensitive ones. Not only it helps with the freckles, but it also improves skin tone and texture in general and fights the onset of the signs of premature aging.
Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a procedure by which chemicals are applied to the skin, resulting in exfoliation and the peeling off of old and damaged skin. There are many advantages to having a chemical peel, like getting younger-looking and rejuvenated skin. A chemical peel can also have the added benefit of removing or significantly lightening freckles.
There are several other kinds of chemical peels. The entry-level techniques are superficial peels that only peel off the top layers of skin. More complicated treatments, like deep and medium peels, are more powerful and peel off more skin. A superficial peel won’t have a big impact on freckles, but a medium-level peel should result in lightning or removing those spots.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment is one of the most effective ways of removing freckles. Many freckles are usually removed after just one session, and even persistent freckles can disappear into obscurity after repeated sessions.
Laser treatment will put off your freckles, but long term, new freckles can occur if you’re not cautious in the sun. While laser treatment is effective and a very favored choice, it’s vital to still be sun-safe with shade, hats, and sunscreen if you want to keep freckles away for a long duration.
Intense Pulsed Light therapy
Intense Pulsed Light therapy (IPL) can benefit some people to achieve clearer skin. IPL is identical to laser treatment, in that it is a process of flashing light on the skin.
With IPL treatment, light is transformed into heat and soaked up by the pigment cells in the skin. The undesirable pigment is eradicated, abolishing freckles and other kinds of spots. IPL works less effectively on people with dark skin tones, but on many people, it can help with concerns such as:
Freckles, Sun damage, Birthmarks, Varicose veins, etc.
Conclusion
You can certainly get rid of freckles through the above-mentioned techniques and procedures. Make sure to consult a professional if any of the treatments show a backlash on your skin.