Fade My Freckles!
|
Freckles, age spots, pregnancy mask - these harmless skin defects can be quite an annoying problem. We all want not only silky smooth complexion, but an even and healthy skin tone as well.
Freckles. Considered cute by some, they are a real problem for others. Freckles, a.k.a. ephelides, are small brown or tan patches common in individuals with lighter skin, blond or red hair, and blue, green or grey eyes. They appear early in life, increase in number during summer months and fade in winter. After the age of 40-45 they disappear, but who wants to wait?
Another type of skin discoloration is pregnancy mask, otherwise known as chloasma or melasma. It appears during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Women with darker skin are more likely to develop this condition. After delivery, chloasma will fade, however some traces may still remain. It can also occur in women who are taking oral contraceptives.
Age spots - lentigines - are similar to freckles. They appear later in life and can occur in any skin type.
The good news is: if you know why the discoloration occurs and take measures to prevent and treat it, you can have an even skin tone at any age.
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. The amount of melanin present determines the skin tone of an individual. Extra melanin is produced by the body in response to sun exposure: it absorbs UV rays and does not allow them to penetrate deep into the skin layers as it would be damaging.
If you want to avoid skin discoloration, the first and the most important thing you need to do is to avoid sun exposure and wear sunscreen. This way your body will not need to produce more melanin.
Since melanin is accumulated in the upper layer of the skin, you might want to consider skin lightening and peeling. There are different products that can be used for this purpose:
- Hydroquinone has been a very popular treatment, however it can irritate the skin.
- Kojic acid, discovered in Japan in 1989, is a natural product derived from fungi (mushroom). It is gentle on the skin and very effective in treating skin discoloration. Penetrating upper skin layers, it inhibits the formation of the pigment.
- Alpha-hydroxy acids help to shed old cells faster, therefore they will be helpful as well. By removing the outer skin cells, which are usually darker, you will make your freckles or age spots lighter and less visible.
If you decide to use any of the above products, extra sun protection is imperative. If necessary, apply an SPF cream several times a day. By using skin lighteners and peels, you affect the upper darker layer. Lower layers are lighter, with less melanin present. If you don't protect your skin, it will launch its own defense mechanism producing more melanin. This will result in darker and more intensive discoloration, which can be even harder to get rid of.
Please remember that skin discoloration (excluding pregnancy mask, which should disappear after the delivery) require consistent treatment. Once you stop using lighteners and protection, the dark patches will be back. But keeping up with your skin regiment is not difficult: all you need is a gentle yet effective lightener and a moisturizer with complete UV protection - against both UVB and UVA rays.
Natural remedies you can use:
- Wash your face with sour milk. Lactic acid will provide gentle peeling effect without irritating or drying your skin.
- 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).
- Sour cream mask. Do not rinse this mask completely, just remove gently with a facial tissue, then apply a moisturizer. For oily skin - use lemon juice before applying the mask.
- Natural parsley juice (or parsley infusion) mixed with equal amounts of lemon juice, orange juice, and red currant juice under your favorite cream will help you keep your freckles invisible.
Last but not least - increase your Vitamin C intake! It makes your skin less sensitive to the sun. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, apples, green onions, black and red currant, rosehip tea.
Please note that some types of skin discoloration are due to internal disorders. Poor liver functioning, hormonal or metabolism disorders, overactive thyroid can be the underlying reasons for unsightly cosmetic problems. If this is the case, start your treatment from the inside.
Note: Information in this article is not to be taken as a medical advice. Always consult your doctor if you need professional help.
(C) Natalie Katsman, 2004.
About The Author
Natalie Katsman is a co-founder of http://www.natural-aid.com, where you can find fine quality aloe vera products for beauty and well-being and subscribe to HealthySkin Newsletter filled with beauty tips, recipes and information on herbal healing, skin care and cosmetic chemistry.
|
|
|
Buying Wholesale Salon Equipment
Buying salon equipment from a wholesaler is one option to consider when opening a new hair, nail or tanning salon. Wholesalers of salon equipment typically offer many different styles and brands of equipment because they don't specialize in one particular brand over another. This allows the consumer many options when equipping their business.Many wholesale suppliers of salon equipment are available online and consumers are able to quickly and conveniently brow...(related: Beauty)
Pierced Ear Problems And Solutions
The practice of ear piercing dates back to thousands of years ago. From jungle tribes to desert nomads to royalty, pierced ears were indicators of both beauty and social standing. Ear piercing is just as popular today, with both men and women having one or both earlobes pierced. Certain preventive and maintenance procedures need to be observed in order to avoid and treat pierced ear problems either on the lobe or on the cartilage.A sizable percentage of individuals experience minor problems in the period following piercing. You've heard the saying 'cleanliness is next to godliness.' Here, it is suitable to say 'cleanliness is key to avoiding pierced ear problems.' It's important for the person performing the piercing to operate in clean surroundings, use sterile equipment and employ a sanitary piercing technique. Ideally, p...(related: Beauty)
Hair Split Ends
This is a common condition which proves to be the devil of every girl's life! Split ends are most often seen in long hair but also found in shorter hair that is out of condition and is an affliction of anyone trying to grow their hair. The problem can be solved with good hair maintenance so check out this article!Split ends,...(related: Beauty)
History Of Plastic Surgery
When most people use the term Plastic Surgery, they more often than not use it in reference to cosmetic surgery. Few people actually stop to think that Plastic Surgery covers a far wider range of surgical procedures and that cosmetic surgery is only one type of surgery related to Plastic Surgery. The full scope of Plastic Surgery is quite wide if one stops to think about it and more often than not, is related to, and, plays a fundamental role in conjunction with other fields of medicine and surgical procedures pertaining to the field of general surgery.Plastic Surgery is basically concerned with the reconstruction of the surface of the bod...(related: Beauty)
Essential Oils Slow The Signs Of Time From Your Skin
I enjoy pretty scents, don't you? I love working with fragrance so much that I make my own scented lotions, facial scrubs, massage oils, room sprays and more, using essential oils and the proper unscented carrier. My tastes have always run to the sweet floral aromas of jasmine, ylang ylang, rose, lavender, neroli and combining them with the citrus tones of orange, bergamot, lemongrass, lemon, lime and grapefruit. Add a touch of sandalwood and you've got a blend of fragrance that will melt any stress and take you to a tropical island all in one whiff.Essential oils aren't just pretty smells. These concentrated
Tips On Using A Hair Iron
The hair iron is coming more and more popular. It is used by women of all ages and for various purpose...(related: Beauty)
Sugar Sweet Beauty
In the self-care and beauty industry, the latest craze is to include sugar in skin care products. If you search the internet you will find everything from sugar body scrubs to sugar hair removers. The prices can range from $8.00 to $35.00 for each product. How's that for a product in which the main ingredient can cost you a no more that $3.00 for a 5 pound bag!To enjoy all of the benefits of a sugar based product without shelling out the big bucks, trys these recipes:Orange Cream Sugar Body ScrubThis recipe is great to remove dead skin and give...(related: Beauty)
Fragrance And Fun Fight Dry Skin
If you are a baby boomer, you might be experiencing dry skin seasonally or everyday. It can be a constant challenge to keep the skin moist and supple; especially when menopause approaches or you live in the cold ...(related: Beauty)
5 Diy Anti-aging Tactics
Do you want your life story to be a long and joyous one,without having every line written on your face?Yes, we all do!Is there anyone who doesn't want to look as good as they can,for as long as they can?While there are some very quick fixes such as, minor to majorcosmetic surgeries, there are some less extreme measuresthat you can use to look and feel younger on a daily basis.(1) ...(related: Beauty)
What Is The Real Price Of A Spray Tan?
Looking tanned is such a great feeling, isn't it?There are three methods of getting that feeling.1. Getting out into the sun. Great if you are young, and believe that all this hype about skin cancer has nothing to do with you. Goes hand in hand with high alcohol consumption, speeding and living on credit. It will catch up with you sooner than you think.2. Solarium. Possibly a little more sensible solution if you take it easy, and buil...(related: Beauty)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Beauty