How to get rid of freckles

The two main factors in developing freckles are heredity and skin type. If freckles run in your family or you have fair skin, there's a good chance you will also have freckles. True freckles are harmless, but many people would rather not have them. Here are some tips on how to get rid of freckles.

Fading Creams

There are creams containing hydroquinone and kojic acid on the market. They come in both over-the-counter and prescription strength. These creams can lighten freckles somewhat if used over long periods of time. Avoiding the sun while using them is important because sunlight brings freckles out. Creams containing retinoids can also be used, but they take several months of use to work.

The problem with these products is they tend to lighten the entire area of skin and not just the freckles. Retin-A provides better results because it makes the pigmentation of the skin more even and the freckles less noticeable.

The FDA is proposing studies on the safety of products containinghydroquinone because they received reports of the substance causing cancer in rats.

How to Get Rid of Freckles With Laser Treatment

After you have a dermatologist verify that what you have are just common freckles, laser treatment is an option for their removal. It is an effective way to remove those little dots on your skin that are annoying you.

A laser light passes over your skin removing the dark pigment that causes the freckles. Green light lasers are the most effective. It is painless and the worst side effects reported are some dryness and minor bruising to the skin. The cost of laser treatment can be high, so be prepared. Your dermatologist may be able to give you a ball-park figure on the cost of getting rid of freckles this way.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery is another option you may want to consider. It involves a light freezing of the skin with liquid nitrogen. Cryosurgery is used more for the removal of dark spots on the skin than for common freckles.

Overexposure to the nitrogen can cause white spots on the skin that would be more noticeable than the freckles. Another downside is avoiding the sun to keep the freckles from coming back.

How to Get Rid of Freckles Using Home Remedies

There are home remedies for everything, and freckles are no exception. Buttermilk applied to freckles is said to lighten them. Fruit or vegetable masks made with apricots, strawberries, or cucumbers used regularly will lighten freckles.

Common sense tips are to use a sunscreen with a high SPF when going out in the sun, wearing a wide-brimmed hat to shade the face from direct sunlight, and drinking plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated and healthy.