Different people have different amounts of melanin in their skin. Fair-skinned people have less melanin, while dark-skinned people have more melanin. UV rays can do severe damage to the skin, which is why our body has melanin to absorb these harmful rays. Unfortunately, too much exposure from the sun can cause an overproduction of melanin, leading to pigmentation such as Freckles.
Freckles themselves are not harmful, but they can give you an uneven skin tone – which is why most people prefer to get rid of them. Here are recommendations from an experienced and expert doctor to effectively get rid of freckles.
How to Remove Freckles on Face?
The face is one of the most common areas where freckles and other brown spots develop. Freckles are caused by genes, sun exposure, and hormonal imbalance. It is best to have professional treatments when getting rid of freckles on your face due to its delicate skin.
This treatment uses intense light to target affected areas with freckles. The advanced technology used allows the laser energy to reach deep into the skin and break the pigmentation into smaller fragments. There are different types of laser treatments to remove freckles from the face.
This uses a high powered device that can target severe cases such as freckles, tattoos, and melasma. Professionals can easily switch between wavelengths and pulse durations depending on the patient’s needs. Lutronic PicoPlus works in nanoseconds, which means it can fracture pigments at a faster rate, this minimizes heat exposure, which in turn makes it safe for the face’s delicate skin.
Pico Plus Laser + Brightening Peel Price starts from $150
Ruvy Touch uses 660nm wavelength, which makes it a safer wavelength compared to other laser treatments due to the lower absorption of melanin. You can notice a reduction in skin pigmentation, even with just a few sessions. Ruvy touch safely gets rid of freckles on the face with its lower wavelength.
Price starts from $280
Pro Yellow reduces the appearance of freckles on the face and other types of pigmentation safely and effectively – targeting and fragmenting affected areas without causing damage to the surrounding tissues. The Pro Yellow emits laser energy that is absorbed by the melanin and underlying blood vessels.
Price starts from $180
Chemical peels contain acids that influence melanocytes leading to improved skin texture and reduced appearance of pigmentation. A superficial or deep chemical peel can help you get rid of freckles on your face. Superficial chemical peels only target the outer layers of the skin but may require a number of repeated sessions before seeing drastic results. Deep chemical peels are highly concentrated and can penetrate deeper into the skin for complete removal of freckles – this may require fewer sessions but more extended downtime.
Price from $120 per session
Topical Creams
Topical pigmentation creams can be bought over-the-counter or through a prescription from a dermatologist. Different ingredients work in different ways. Kojic acid targets melanocytes and stops the production of melanin. Ascorbic acid is rich in antioxidants, which makes it an effective solution for depigmentation of brown spots. Azelaic Acid targets active melanocytes and can make the skin paler naturally. However, there are two effective depigmenting and whitening agents widely used when it comes to pigmentations.
Cysteamine contains active ingredients that quickly reached deep into the skin to heal damaged cells. It helps reduce melanin from the outer layers of the skin, leading to lighter pigmentations.
Cysteamine (Cyspera) in Singapore costs from SGD$250 to 300.
Hydroquinone is found in some skin care products like topical creams. This acts as a bleaching agent on the skin, which helps lighten pigmented spots. Hydroquinone reduces the number of melanocytes that are responsible for producing melanin. Tri-Luma is a topical cream containing 4% of hydroquinone, making it an effective pigmentation treatment for freckles.
Hydroquinone/ Tri-Luma in Singapore costs from $150 to $250 per tube (15g)
How to Remove Body Freckles?
Apart from growing on the face, freckles also show up in other parts of the body. The arms and hands are two of the most exposed body parts, which makes them prone to pigmentation. While some freckles go away on their own, some can get worse and stay with you longer because of sun exposure and minimal skin protection. There are also ways to prevent these pigmented brown spots from getting worse, such as applying sunblock for extra skin protection. For an effective way to to get rid of freckles on the body, treatments are offered by specialists.
Laser Treatments
Just like with freckles on the face, pigmentation on the body can also be removed through laser treatments. This works by using laser energy for targeting pigmented cells on the freckles and breaking them down, without harming the surrounding tissues. Laser treatments may require at least 2 treatments.
Chemical Peels
Another intensive treatment is chemical peel. This treatment usually uses glycolic acid or trichloroacetic acid peels to get rid of freckles and other brown spots effectively. TCA peel is a deep chemical peel that can reduce the appearance of freckles by 70-80% – but requires more downtime compared to superficial chemical peels.
Topical Creams
Fading creams can be massaged on freckles found in the body. Effective topical pigmentation creams usually contain hydroquinone, which helps stop melanin production and lighten the brown spots. The appearance of freckles is gradually reduced and may take up to 3 months before drastic results are seen.
How to Remove Freckles Naturally?
For those who would rather skip on chemical peels, laser treatments, intensive skin care products, and other medical treatments, there are natural ways to get rid of freckles. Ingredients in your kitchen may contain essential vitamins and antioxidants that can be an effective pigmentation treatment.
Honey
Honey has natural skin care properties that are antifungal and antibacterial agents. Besides getting rid of freckles, honey can help slow down the aging process of the skin.
For better effects, add wheat germ or yogurt to the warmed honey. Apply this on your freckles and gently massage with your fingers. Wash it off with warm water followed by cold water.
Lemon Juice
This citrus fruit is rich in antioxidants, which makes it an active bleaching agent. Lemon has skin lightening properties that can bleach freckles.
To use lemon juice for reducing freckles, squeeze some fresh extracts then apply it on the affected areas. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes.
Yogurt
This contains an abundant amount of lactic acid that exfoliates the skin and can remove dead skin cells to give you brighter skin. Additionally, yogurt helps tighten pores and conditions the skin.
Directly apply yogurt on the affected areas and leave for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. A few drops of citric acid that comes from lemon or orange juice can also be added to the yogurt mixture for an extra skin-lightening effect.
Aloe Vera
This natural ingredient’s transparent gel is rich with properties and skin benefits. It helps get rid of freckles, promotes cell regeneration, and moisturizes the skin. Yogurt contains Zinc, which contains anti-inflammatory properties to reduce swelling.
Cut an aloe leaf on one die and extract the gel inside. Apply the aloe vera gel in your freckles and leave for 15 minutes. Wash it off with warm water, and pat dry your face.
Castor Oil
Castor oil has the ability to give you an even skin tone and help reduce the appearance of freckles. It contains omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce pigmentation through stimulating healthy tissue growth and hydration.
Apply castor oil on the areas with freckles. The next morning, wipe it off with a soft cloth and rinse with lukewarm water.
Sour Cream
The lactic acid found in sour cream works by peeling off the outer layer of the skin that is affected with freckles.
Apply some sour cream on your freckles and let it dry for a few minutes. Instead of rinsing it off with water, wipe it with a soft cloth. Apply your preferred moisturizer. Do this once a day for best results.
Buttermilk
This contains bleaching properties that help tighten freckles and reduce the appearance of pigmentation. The mild acids are what helps lighten the complexion. Buttermilk also has a soothing and cooling effect on the skin.
Apply buttermilk directly on the affected area and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water. Do this twice a day for a few weeks to see results.
Papaya
This fruit contains papain, an enzyme that reduces the prominence of freckles. Papaya is rich in Vitamin A, which helps exfoliate dead skin cells, giving you a lighter skin tone.
Apply papaya juice on the affected area using a cotton ball and massage gently. Leave it on for 10 minutes then rinse with cold water. It is best to do this once a day for a few weeks until you get your desired results.
Onion
This remedy contains acids that act as a natural bleaching agent. Onion is filled with nutrients and antioxidants such as Vitamin C, which fights discoloration. Adding some vinegar to onion juice can enhance the skin-lightening effect even more.
Grate some onion and squeeze out the juice. Mix some apple cider vinegar to the onion juice and mix. Apply the mixture on your freckles and keep it on for a few minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
