How to Remove Freckles – Know the Facts

Bleaching agents, the most conventional treatment for freckles, have limited success in masking the appearance of freckles. Bleaching agents attempt to fade the freckles to a color approximating that of the surrounding skin. However, they can sometimes lighten or darken the skin surrounding the freckles, calling even more attention to the spots. Occasionally, bleaching agents cause rashes or chemical burns. Some people have had success using alpha hydroxy acids on a regular basis, combined with sun avoidance and the use of sun block. Some dermatologists recommend prescription-strength retinoids for the treatment of freckles.

Lemon juice is a time proven freckle fighting remedy. It is not necessary to rub your skin with a piece of lemon. Applying the juice with your fingers will do the job. Fruit and vegetable masks (apricots, strawberries, cucumbers, red currant).

Before treatment, a cold gel is usually applied to the areas to be treated and patients wear protective eyewear. During treatment, a physician or trained staff member gently applies the smooth glass surface of the IPL handpiece to the skin. Light is delivered to the skin surface in precise pulses that are typically pain-free. Occasionally, some signs of treatment, such as redness, can last for one or two hours. In most cases, the entire face is treated, but the therapy can also work well on the neck, chest and hands. Results from a full series of treatments usually last for a year or more.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL): IPL is one of the newer forms of facial rejuvenation. IPL delivers energy to both the superficial (epidermis) and deep (dermis) layers of the skin, the epidermis is spared from damage. Thus, there is virtually no recovery time.

Freckles can also be treated with proper Vitamin supplements. For Egr and individual suffering from freckles should increase the intake of Vitamin C. Due to Vitamin C present in adequate amount in the body, the skin becomes less sensitive to the sun and hence less melanin deposition occurs. The food rich in Vitamin C includes Oranges, grapes, apples, etc.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL): IPL is one of the newer forms of facial rejuvenation. IPL delivers energy to both the superficial (epidermis) and deep (dermis) layers of the skin, the epidermis is spared from damage. Thus, there is virtually no recovery time.

Chemical peels are used to remove age spots, freckles, discoloration, wrinkles and fine lines. They generally help to make the skin smooth and firm and also help in curing freckles gradually.

Some people's freckles fade away almost completely in the winter and return in the summer. Freckles rarely develop into skin cancer. However, freckles are especially common in people with light skin, and having light skin that burns easily increases your risk of skin cancer. The best treatment for freckles is prevention. The key to preventing freckles is sun avoidance and daily sunscreen use. Cryosurgery -- A light freeze with liquid nitrogen can be used to treat freckles. Tretinoin Sometimes used in conjunction with other bleaching creams, tretinoin (vitamin A acid, Retin-A) also helps to make freckles lighter when applied over a period of time. Several lasers, especially ones that produce a green light, can lighten and eliminate freckles safely and effectively.

Author: Corwin Brown

How to Get Rid of Freckles

Freckles are small brownish spots on human skin. Excessive and uneven pigmentation due to sun damage is the common cause of freckles. Some people find freckles to be attractive but most people with freckles that I know, wants to get rid of it.
There are various ways of getting rid of freckles such as chemical treatments and natural remedy for freckles.
What are the common treatments used to get rid of freckles?

• Bleaching agents and creams are the most common treatment used to get rid of freckles. However, bleaching agents may burn the skin around the freckles and may even cause scarring.
• Retinol is also used to lighten freckles. They are actually effective if treatment is continued for a long time. There is risk however that the skin around the freckles may lighten, thus giving emphasis on the brown spots.
• Laser treatment such as resurfacing may also be used to lighten the discoloration.
• Chemical peel and deep peeling are also done as treatment for freckles but recovery time may be significant.
• Modern way to get rid of freckles involve freezing with liquid nitrogen.

You will need to combine the above treatments with avoidance of sun exposure and using sunblock with sun protection factor 30 or higher. This will help avoid the discoloration or freckles. Natural remedy for freckles For those who want to get rid freckles using natural remedies, you may try the following:

• Rinse your face with sour milk. It will help minimize the darkening of the freckles.
• You may also try to use lemon juice to wash your face. It will lighted the freckles, but you need to be doubly sure you do not expose your face to the sun because your skin will be extra sensitive because of the lemon juice.
• Sour cream may also be used in your face as a mask. It will lighten the freckles. However you may not rinse your face afterwards, only wipe your face with soft cloth or tissue.
• Increase Vitamin C intake. This vitamin will make your face less sensitive to the sun. Therefore, you minimize the risk of developing more freckles than you already have.

If you are one of those you feel that freckles are nice to have on your face, how to get rid of freckles is not your problem. However, those of you who dislike this discoloration in your face may benefit from sun avoidance and sunblock.

Emma Drosy

Freckles – Causes, Symptoms, Types and Treatment

Freckles are flat, circular small spots of melanin on human skin in people of fair complexion. The spots develop randomly on the skin, especially after repeated exposure to sunlight. They may vary in color - they may be red, yellow, tan, light-brown, brown, or black. They are usually more often seen in the summer, especially among lighter-skinned people and people with light or red hair. Both men and women get freckles at an equal rate.

Causes of Freckle

Exposure of skin to sun is one of the main cause of developing freckles. Freckles will fade when sun exposure is reduced or eliminated. The basic cause of freckles are some special cells in the skin that produce a pigment called melanin. If you have melanin in your body, going on accumulating at one place, then it may result in freckles age spots.
Freckles are influenced by genetic factor also. Hormone Abnormalities can cause freckles since estrogen over-stimulates pigment-producing cells, causing them to generate excess color when exposed to sunlight.

Signs and Symptoms of Freckles

In some cases, freckles are sporadic, individual spots and sometimes there are several grouped together, making them appear larger and cover a greater portion of the skin. Freckles, age spots and pregnancy mask have several things in common. They are formed in sun exposed areas: face, hands, chest and back. These unwelcome brown patches are nothing more than accumulation of skin pigment melanin which is always produced by the skin.

Types

Ephelides (singular: ephelis, the Greek word for freckle): This term refers to flat spots that are red or light-brown and typically appear during the sunny months and fade in the winter.
Lentigines (singular: lentigo, from the Latin word for lentil): Children may develop a small tan, brown, or black spot which tends to be darker than an ephelis-type freckle and which does not fade in the winter.

Effective Freckle Treatments

Bleaching Creams - The use of hydroquinone and kojic acid are one of the beneficial treatment for freckles. They may help in lightning freckles if they are applied consistently over a period of months.

Cryosurgery: A light freeze with liquid nitrogen can be used to treat freckles.

Chemical Peels: Chemical peels are used to remove age spots, freckles, discoloration, wrinkles and fine lines. They generally help to make the skin smooth and firm and also help in curing freckles gradually.

Freckle Laser Removal

The most effective freckle removal method is freckle laser removal. There are a number of available laser treatments that are safe. A laser projects an intense light on the area that is affected, causing the light to be absorbed by the oxyhemoglobin and melanin so that the darker cells are destroyed and the healthy cells are left in tact. Your will need to protect your eyes from the intense light by wearing goggles. The light is directed using a very thin piece of equipment.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL): IPL is one of the newer forms of facial rejuvenation. IPL delivers energy to both the superficial (epidermis) and deep (dermis) layers of the skin, the epidermis is spared from damage. Thus, there is virtually no recovery time.

Tretinoin: Tretinoin (vitamin A acid, Retin-A) also helps to make freckles lighter when applied over a period of time.

Corwin Brown

Skin Lightening Secrets for Hyperpigmentation

Some don't even know it. There are skin lightening products to help get rid of your hyperpigmentation, melasma, freckles, uneven skin tone, dark skin discolorations, acne scars, dark underarms, elbows, knees or inner thighs. But a safety issue is raised over the availability of harmful skin lighteners or whiteners in the market.

Knowing what to choose and how to use will help you achieve the fair skin tone from products that actually deliver.

Success in skin lightening of dark skin pigmentations does not rely on products alone. In addition to the skin whiteners, a good regimen should also include sunscreen, Vitamin C and moisturizers.

A good sunscreen should have a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 50 or better to prevent further darkening or sun damage. You should know that the powerful sun radiates both UVA and UVB rays that a good sunscreen should block. UVA rays are capable of aging and wrinkling of the skin, while UVB is the culprit for sunburn and probable skin cancer. If you should look for the ingredients in a sunscreen, choose the ones with Avobenzone, Zinc Oxide, PArsol 1789 or Mexoryl-SX. Wear sunscreen at all times whenever outdoors, whether you're in a skin lightening regimen or not.

500mg of Vitamin C supplement can decrease the production of melanin (brown pigments responsible for skin tanning). Ever wonder why glutathione (whitening) pills are taken with Vitamin C? It's the ascorbic acid that does most of the job actually, so you'd be better off taking these supplements while using skin lightening products for best results.

Your favorite moisturizers will keep your skin hydrated during the skin whitening process. Remember skin lighteners have a mild drying effect (that's why in some cases, acne is controlled while lightening the acne scars) necessary to prepare the skin for exfoliation and peeling off the dull and unwanted dark skin patches. You should apply your face cream or body lotions 15-20 minutes after using the skin lightening products.

Suggested time to apply skin lighteners is at bedtime, then use sunscreen at daytime.

Follow these simple secrets and you'll be on your way to better self esteem, even skin tone and a rosy whiter skin!

By: Jose & Maria Baltazar