Who doesn’t like sunbathing? Exposure of bare skin to UVB rays has various health benefits but excess of which also results in different skin conditions. Liver spots or solar lentigines, usually known as age spots are black or brown spots on the skin. Age spots tend to occur due to skin pigmentation, aged cells, or melanin, which is common due to excess exposure to UV rays. According to Harvard Medical School Research, nearly 90% of the fair-skinned people aged above 50 years tend to have age spots.
Age spots (Liver Spots ) can be seen anywhere on your face, back, arms, shoulders, and feet. Liver spots are harmless, but they result in an unattractive and older appearance. Although physically removing them is considered to be one of the most effective ways to get rid of age spots, not everyone can afford to do so. On the other hand, sunscreen or skin lightening products are also expensive. Have you ever heard of home remedies for age spots? Worry no more! Because age spots can be eliminated using day to day ingredients found in your kitchen.
Home Treatment for Age Spots
1. Essential Oils
It is a fact that ageing is associated with several issues such as hair loss, wrinkles(1), skin conditions, and so on. An age spot is one such skin condition that appears on the skin in clusters. Essential oils are one of the most popular home remedies for age spots. Essential oils are rich in nutrients that not only treats age spots but also promotes healthy skin. Essential oils also protect the skin from UV rays wherein chemical sun protection creams might carry side effects.
Essential oils popular in treating age spots, blemishes, and other skin conditions include:
- Lavender essential oil
- Frankincense essential oil
- Helichrysum essential oil
- Geranium essential oil
- Sandalwood essential oil
- Carrot seed essential oil
- Myrrh essential oil Lemon essential oil
- Rose essential oil
- Ylang essential
For effective treatment consider diluting essential oils with a carrier oil. Ideal carrier oils are sweet almond oil, pomegranate seed oil, argan oil and coconut oil for age spots. Apply and massage the diluted mixture on age spots or the affected area of the skin at least once in a day.
[Also Read: Reduce Your Age Spots With Frankincense Oil]
2. Lemon Juice
With increasing pollution, global warming, and other environmental crisis, it has become almost impossible to escape from hyperpigmentation. According to The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, researches on hyperpigmentation disorders have significantly expanded over the past decade. Age spots or hyperpigmentation is commonly found skin condition in present days. Studies have found out that citric acid acts as a bleaching agent naturally; thus, lemon juice is indeed a no-brainer solution that fights against age spots.
Lemon juice is comparatively harsh on the skin. Dilute the lemon juice with the same amount of water. With the help of cotton balls gently apply the diluted solution on the affected area of the skin. Rinse it off after 15-20 minutes. Do not rinse with soap or any chemical products during or after rinsing it off. Lime juice works effectively when sustainably treated with for 3 to 4 weeks. Lime juice balances the skin tone by combating age spots.
3. Oatmeal
Are you fed up of scars(2), acne, dark spots, and even worse, age spots? According to the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Avena Sativa, i.e., oatmeal performs multi-therapy activities such as clearing dead skin cells, exfoliation and combats skin barrier. Oatmeal powder is one of the best home remedies for age spots. Oatmeal powder is considered ideal for age spots.
Before using any ingredients against your skin condition, take a skin test to check if you are sensitive to a specific element. To prepare the oatmeal paste, mix three tablespoons of oatmeal powder with one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of milk. Apply the paste on the affection area of your skin. Let it dry completely. Once dried, rinse it off with water only. The milk content in the mixture erases the black spots, wherein honey acts as the moisturizer and oatmeal exfoliate the skin. Using this home remedy thrice a week will help you attain the desirable results.
[ Read: Essential Oils for Dark Spots ]
4. Potato
How to make your face look younger? Do you want to get rid of those unattractive age spots? Potato is one of the simple ingredients that are popular in treating age spots. Potato is also a cure-all beauty enhancer. It treats dark circles, hair loss, dark spots, scars, acne, and dull skin. Potato consists of natural bleaching properties that help age spots fade away. It lightens the skin tone and beautifies the appearance of the skin. It fights against hyperpigmentation and pimples.
Potato is a mild cleansing agent which makes it ideal for day to day usage to combat age spots. Cut the potato into slices and dip it in the lukewarm water to moisten the slices. Further, place the slices on visible age spots and leave for about 10 to 15 minutes. It is ideal to use potato slice treatment during the night hours as it provides adequate time to work on minerals and vitamins. You will notice the changes in less than four weeks.
5. Buttermilk
It is almost a nightmare to have age spots in visible areas. Melanogenic paracrine factors are one of the reasons that are responsible for the growth of age spots on the skin. According to recent studies, massive improvements were seen in the skin conditions when treated with buttermilk. Buttermilk is rich in vitamin D, lactic acid and vitamin B12. It removes the dead cells and brightens the skin tone. Vitamin B6 enhances the productivity of collagen, subsequently balancing pigmentation.
Buttermilk is not harsh on the skin, which makes it ideal for direct application of the ingredient on the affected area. For effective results, saturate the cotton balls and dip it in the milk before you apply it on your skin. Let it dry completely for nearly 20-25 minutes. Like the potato, even buttermilk is ideal for regular usage. Attain the desired skin condition in less than three weeks with the usage of this popular home remedy for age spots.
6. Honey
Honey is indeed a magical natural potent. It has been used in the medicinal field since centuries to cure various health conditions. This nature’s gift is also popular in treating age spots. Ideal honey is supposed to contain 80% sugar in it. For ideal results, it is recommended to use organic or raw honey. Raw honey is a natural antibacterial agent that exfoliates the skin cells. The antioxidant quotient of organic honey prevents aging of the skin.
Raw honey is one of the mild remedies that you can regularly use to treat age spots. Dip your fingertips in the honey and gently apply it on the age spots. You will observe the changes in a short period. Honey not only combats age spots but also removes the dead skin pigments. The nutritional properties of raw honey benefit the skin in several ways by producing new cells. You can also use similar cure-all agent, apple cider vinegar for liver spots.
Age spots or hyperpigmentation has become a common skin condition in present days. The unpleasant appearance caused due to age spots is frustrating. Most skin lightening products cause more damage to the skin as they tend to contain chemicals such as steroids and mercury. On the other hand, natural ingredients treat dark spots more effectively. The effectiveness largely depends on the cause of the age spots; thus sustenance in the treatment with home remedies for age spots will indeed show remarkable changes. However, it is ideal to consult a dermatologist to rectify the actual cause and treatment.
FAQs
1. Which Are the Best Home Remedies for Age Spots?
Wave goodbye to age spots with these simple home remedies for age spots.
- Lemon juice
- Onion juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Aloe Vera
- Horseradish
- Yogurt
- Papaya
- Buttermilk
- Castor oil
- Sandalwood
- Honey
2. How Is Potato Helpful for Age Spots?
Potato is a natural ingredient that acts as a skin lightener. Either cut the potato into slices and apply it daily on the affected area or use the juice to rinse the affected area twice a day regularly. Potato contains an enzyme known as ‘catecholase’ which helps get rid of age spots. It also has anti-aging properties that exfoliate your skin.
