Sunspots on skin look flat and brown and show up on the areas that are exposed to sunlight. These are also called liver spots but aren’t related to the organ in any way. Sunspots are harmless, noncancerous, but do look unlikely and change your physical appearance.
There are several home remedies that you can use to wipe off the dark spots. This blog will help you know all about sunspots and other relative marks that you can confuse it with. We will also tell you how to get rid of spots on skin.
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Types of skin spots
When you find a dark spot on your skin that changes the natural look and draws in attention for the wrong reasons, you cannot help but get concerned. You need to detect what kind of spot it is and how you can remove it. Check out different types of spots that indicate what they are:
1. Birthmarks
Birthmarks are either vascular or pigmented. These can be raised or flat, small or big, and come in various shapes and colors. You can expect brown, tan, red, and black birthmarks. Most of these are harmless but some can be related to health issues.
2. Sunspots
Sunspots are a form of discoloration that makes a flat area of your skin get tanned. It can turn into various shades of brown. These happen due to excessive sun exposure and usually show up on your face, back, shoulders, and hands. Most people have sunspots after they cross 40 years of age. Some people can have them earlier or later. Since sunspots are more or less inevitable it is wise to take preventive measures beforehand.
3. Skin cancer
As reported by Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 out of 5 Americans will have skin cancer by the time they reach 70 years of age. This condition happens due to the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells caused by the UV rays. It leads to tanning beds also known as a form of genetic mutation.
Skin cancer can be of several types – basal cell carcinoma is the most common one while melanoma is most dangerous. A new form of changing and growing spot or mole can be a warning sign of skin cancer. It usually itches, bleeds, and doesn’t seem to heal. Skin cancer can have irregular borders.
4. Melasma
Melasma is another skin condition that happens due to sun exposure. The marks show up on your cheeks, forehead, upper lips, and nose. It creates visible brown spots on skin and makes fair-toned people look unlikely.
Melasma usually happens in women compared to men. The condition can be hormonal and common during pregnancy. Melasma is also called the mask of pregnancy due to this reason. The spots are harmless and noncancerous but definitely an aesthetic concern.
5. Freckles
Freckles are a common condition that reflects most on fair-skinned people who have red hair. Darker skin tones have this skin condition toned down as the spots are dark too. Although many people are going in for fake freckles because is it a new makeup trend, women who have it naturally might not like them at all.
Freckles are tiny brown spots on skin that dominate the faces of dry-skinned people during summers. People with oily skin tend to have fewer or no freckles and more chances of acne. Freckles usually disappear during winter but you can treat it with home remedies to fade away sooner. Freckles happen with age but even growing teens can have them.
Now that you know the different types of spots, you can detect what problem you are facing. Sunspots can happen quickly and change your appearance. It is smart to try home remedies and cure the condition as soon as it happens.
How to get rid of spots on skin?
Since sunspots on skin are harmless and easy to cure, you can try home remedies. If these don’t seem to gradually reduce the condition, you can turn to professional help. Check out the best sunspot home remedies to choose from:
1. Lemon
The acidic quotient in lemon helps you wipe away the extra layer of unwanted sunspots on your skin.
How to use?
For this remedy you need to:
- Use a lemon and cotton ball
- Extract the lemon juice by squeezing it
- Take a cotton ball and soak it in the juice
- Apply directly on the affected area
- Let it sit for 20 minutes
- Wash off with tap water
- Pat dry with a clean face towel
- Apply a skin-softening moisturizer
Follow this treatment once every day until you don’t have the sunspots anymore. The bleaching powder in lemon reduces the sunspots and brings back radiance.
2. Cucumber face pack
Cucumber packs are a must-have for dry skin. You must include it in your diet as it comes with cooling properties. The ingredient makes your body feel refreshed and relaxed – both internally and externally. The remedy includes vitamin C and helps the depigmentation of sunspots.
How to use?
For this remedy you need to:
- Mash ½ a cucumber
- Add 1 tablespoon of yogurt
- Mix well and apply it on the sunspots
- Let it sit till it seems to dry up
- Scrub off the face pack and rinse well with cold water
You must repeat this once every day till you find the sunspots fade away. The results should show within a week or so.
3. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is loaded with healing agents that not only lighten dark spots but also make your skin supple. It improves skin quality and promotes skin regeneration.
How to use?
For this remedy you need to:
- Extract fresh aloe vera gel from a leaf
- Apply it directly on your dark spots
- Let it sit for 30 minutes
- Wash it off with cold water
Repeat this remedy every day until you find visible results.
4. Fuller’s Earth
Using Fuller’s Earth for skin is an old Indian home remedy and beauty secret. It not only helps you cure spots and marks but also brightens skin. You can gradually find your sunspots lighten.
Fuller’s Earth improves blood circulation on skin, unclogs pores, and removes a dull layer of skin cell that ruins complexion. It slowly fades away the sunspots you have as well.
How to use?
For this remedy you need to:
- Make a paste with 2 tablespoons of Fuller’s Earth with 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel
- Add rose water to the paste and mix well
- Apply in on your sunspots and let it sit for 20 minutes
- Cleanse with cold water
You must repeat this 2-3 times a week for quick results.
5. Green tea
Green tea is famous for promoting fat loss and higher metabolism levels. But it also comes with various other benefits. The tea is full of antioxidants that fight several skin conditions like spots and tans.
How to use?
For this remedy you need to:
- Place a green tea bag in a cup of warm water for 10 minutes
- Remove tea bag and wait it is not warm anymore
- Apply it on the sunspots
You can try this remedy twice a day and drink the tea as well.
Professional treatment for sunspots on skin
If your sunspots have grown old with you, chances are that they won’t fade away with home treatments. You might try home remedies at first, but if it doesn’t heal, you could take professional help. The following treatment must be performed by trained dermatologists. You need to know the type of treatment you will like to choose among:
1. Chemical peels
Chemicals peels are like an acid solution for the skin that gradually peels off dark spots. It makes way for new skin and removes the stubborn sunspots along with other marks. These peels can be painful and cause burning sensation for a few minutes. You need to apply cold compress on the treated area to relieve it from pain.
2. Laser resurfacing
Laser resurfacing needs experts to use a wand-like tool to deliver beams of light and remove sun damage in the skin. It works layer by layer to help new skin grow in place. Laser resurfacing can take around 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the number of sunspots on skin. The healing process can take around two to three weeks.
3. Cryotherapy
The process of cryotherapy helps you remove sunspots and other types of skin lesions by freezing them with liquid nitrogen solution. Dermatologists use Nitrous oxide instead of liquid nitrogen to treat superficial dark spots and sunspots. But it is not aggressive and less likely to cause blistering as the myth goes. You just need to bear with the treatment for a few minutes and it is pretty quick to cure.
4. Intense pulsed light
In this method, the skin experts use light energy to target the dark spots on your skin. It puts heat to destroy the melanin and removes the discolored spots. The treatment takes around 30 minutes and causes little pain. You might need more than one session depending on how much sunspots you have.
5. Microdermabrasion
In this form of skin treatment, the expert removes the outermost layer of the skin with the help of a special applicator. The tool has an abrasive tip and suction to remove dead skin. The treatment takes around one hour and causes little pain to heal. Initially, the skin looks pink and feels tight. Gradually it becomes normal and eliminates sunspots entirely.
Tips to heal sunspots on skin
- If you have a marketing job or a job that needs you to go to places, you will have to step out under the sun. However, we recommend you to take preventive measures to keep away from direct sunlight. From using sunscreens to wearing hats and shades, you can take every possible way to protect your skin.
- Sunspots on skin might bother the most when it shows up on the face, but it can happen in more places. Whenever you expose your body under the sun, it gives you a possibility to have a spot.
- Act quickly when you find brown spots on your body and don’t wait for it to grow bigger. If you can heal the condition with home remedies, it will be much better than spending on professional treatments.
Risks due to sunspots on skin
Sunspots are harmless as it doesn’t affect your health in any way, apart from the change in physical appearance. You might not want to try home remedies and go to a doctor as soon as you see them on your skin. This is perfectly fine because they might recommend creams that gradually heal the condition.
It is smart to have a medical checkup because you might confuse a spot with skin cancer symptoms and vice versa. To be sure of what you are facing and what you should do about it, take an expert’s help. You should also consult a doctor before trying home remedies.
If you choose to turn to professional skin treatment, make sure that the clinic is certified by the board and is genuine. This minimizes the chances of risks and promises the best results.
You need to show a doctor if you have spots on your skin:
- Look dark
- Seems to grow in size
- Have irregular borders
- Feels itchy
- Becomes red
- Bleeds
- Feels painful
- Is unusual in color
How to prevent sunspots?
You might be able to prevent sunspots on the face by limiting exposure to the ultraviolet rays. To be specific you need to:
- Try and avoid sunlight between 10 am and 3 pm
- Apply sunscreen higher than SPF 30 every time you step under during the day
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours
- Use makeup that includes sunscreen
- Cover your skin as much as possible and use hats and sunglasses
Final thoughts
Although sunspots are harmless you are likely to be bothered by them. We don’t like any unwanted marks or spots showing up uninvited and tend to look for remedies immediately. However, it is best to consult with a dermatologist before trying to do anything or your own. It is inevitable to feel confused about what your skin is trying to show you, so expert recommendations are crucial.
