8:27 AM
Karthikh Venkat
To fade age spots naturally, you first need to evaluate your current lifestyle and then adjust it accordingly. If you continue to expose your skin to the sun's damaging UV rays and eat a poor diet, your age spots will keep coming back, no matter how many age spots creams you try. While home remedies can help lighten age spots, the best remedy is a change of your habits.
What Age Spots Are
Age spots, also known as "liver spots," are the dark spots that appear on your skin as you age. The spots are most prominent on the backs of your hands and on your face and chest, and they can appear in an array of colors, from light brown to black.
Changing Your Habits
The key to removing these age spots from your body and eliminating the chance of additional spots appearing over time is to limit sun exposure. Since it is inevitable that everyone must spend some time in the sun, the best method of preventing sun damage is to avoid the sun when you can and use a good sunscreen with at least 15 or 30 SPF when you can't.
The second-best defense you have against developing age spots is to drink plenty of water, eat a healthy diet and incorporate an exercise routine into your daily life. Keeping your body in tip-top shape and ingesting plenty of antioxidants to help your body fend off free radicals is a step in the right direction.
Before you decide to do anything about your age spots, it's important to see a licensed dermatologist to determine if the spots in question are in fact age spots or something more serious. Also, before using any product-natural or otherwise-to lighten your skin, check with your dermatologist to make sure it is safe.
Bleaching Your Age Spots
For lightening age spots with a bleaching agent, dab the solution on the spot several times a day until the spot lightens enough that it blends in with the rest of your skin. If the area you want to lighten is large, it may be best to lighten the whole area, such as the entire back of your hand or your entire face. Check with your physician or dermatologist before using any ointments and lotions on your body, and, if your skin develops a red spot or rash where the ointments have been applied, discontinue using the product until you have sought the advice of a trained medical professional.
Good natural bleaching agents include lemon juice, other citrus juices, vinegar, horseradish or a mix of honey and yogurt. Apply the agent to a small spot on your skin to make sure you have no allergies to the ingredients you are about to rub on a larger area. Then start slowly, always rub gently and stop if redness or pain occurs on the site. Remember that each item can burn your skin if left on too long, so be sure to rinse if you feel any irritation.
On average, it will take about two months of regular use to lighten age spots. Create a chart, and follow it religiously. If the products do not harm your skin, it may be safe to apply them twice a day in a more vigorous regimen.
