How to Get Rid of Pigmentation

Whether it's freckles, sun spots or age spots, dark pigmentation can be a source of embarrassment and cause you to feel uncomfortable in your own skin. Covering them with makeup or lotions is a temporary fix. However, there are solutions that can fade or remove your unwanted dark pigmentation completely. Purchase an over-the-counter product at your local store or try a more natural approach using products you may already have at home.

Over-the-Counter Skin Bleach

1. Step 1

   Purchase a skin lightening product, such as Porcelena, Bio Oil or Actifade, at your local beauty supply store or pharmacy. Most products that remove pigmentation come in lotion, gel or cream form. They range greatly in cost.

2. Step 2

   Read the manufacturer's directions completely and use your product accordingly. Most skin lightening products are applied directly to the affected areas once or twice daily.

3. Step 3

   Continue to apply the product as recommended by the manufacturer without skipping treatments. Keep in mind that many products take multiple applications applied over a period of time to achieve the desired results.

4. Step 4

   Apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more to the pigmented skin when you are outdoors. Exposure to UV rays can cause skin to darken or re-darken, thus cancelling out the effects of your skin lightening regimen.

Lemon Juice

5. Step 1

   Purchase pure lemon juice, available from any supermarket. You may also cut and squeeze the juice from a lemon.

6. Step 2

   Saturate a cotton pad with lemon juice. Dab the soaked pad over the affected areas of skin.

7. Step 3

   Rinse skin with warm water after about 15 minutes.

8. Step 4

   Continue to apply the lemon juice often. You may use it once a day or multiple times daily, if desired. Lemon juice will not irritate your skin and works as a natural skin bleach. Keep in mind that desired lightening results could take several weeks.

9. Step 5

   Apply a sunscreen containing SPF 30 or higher to protect pigmented spots from darkening further or re-darkening.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid using lemon juice directly around eyes, as it could cause irritation. Rinse with water if this occurs.
• As with any topical skin products, you should discontinue use if irritation occurs.