How to Get Rid of Spots on Skin Naturally
Dark spots on the skin vary in color. The color usually depends on the person’s skin tone and the main cause of the spots. Dark spots that usually appear blackish, brownish or grayish in color are called age spots. Age spots usually appear on the area of the body, which is regularly exposed to the sun like the face, shoulders, forearms and the back of the hands. Age spots are known by many names. They are also called sun spots, solar lentigines and liver spots.
Age spots are common to the middle age people especially to those with fair complexion. The dark pigmentation results from the overproduction of melanin. This is the natural reaction of your body to protect you from harmful UV rays. For some, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which refers to dark spots that appear after a trauma on the skin, causes hyperpigmentation or dark spots.
Trauma is usually caused by pimple breakouts or acne. These spots are usually pinkish, purplish or brownish in color. They are flat areas of skin discoloration that may look like discolored freckles. For many people, excessive dark spots on the skin are not a pretty site. One’s self-esteem can be affected by such skin condition, which is the reason why he needs to attend to it immediately.
The good news is that there are numerous solutions on how to get rid of spots on the skin that are cost-effective and free from side-effects.
One way on how to get rid of spots on your face is through the use of oatmeal powder. Oatmeal powder is a good ingredient for skin exfoliation. You can turn the oatmeal powder into a facial mask in just three easy steps. The first step is to grind at least half cup of the powdered oats. Second, mix 3-4 tablespoons of lemon juice to the ground oat powder. This will produce a paste-like mixture. Lastly, scrub a small amount of the paste into your face. You can do this for at least once or twice a week. Make sure to use a clean cloth soaked in warm water to remove the mixture from your face.
Using lemon juice as an astringent is another way on how to get rid of spots fast on your skin. Lemon juice is a popular natural astringent. It is rich in vitamin C, which lightens dark areas of your skin. You can use it by applying the juice directly on your skin with cotton. Do not immediately wash the lemon juice from your face. Leave it there to dry and then wash your face with water afterwards. You can do this daily for at least 2 weeks. You will notice how your dark spots start to get lighter as the days go by.
Almonds is another effective natural remedy to lighten dark spots on the skin. You just need 8-10 pieces of almonds. What you need to do is to soak the almonds in a cup of fresh milk overnight. The next day, peel of the skin and grind them. Mix a half teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of sandal wood to the ground almond to make a paste-like mixture. Apply it on your face and leave it there for 30 minutes before washing.
You don’t need to get out of your kitchen to remove those dark spots naturally. Potatoes that are commonly found in your kitchen can also be a solution on how to get rid of spots on your skin. You just have to slice up a potato and put a chunk directly on the affected area. Leave it there for a few minutes and then wash your face with lukewarm water. Another way to use the potato as a skin regimen is to make a facial mask out of it. Grind the potatoes and then mix them with honey. You can also use tomato as a substitute in case you don’t have a stock of potatoes at home.
Aloe Vera is another popular ingredient for beauty products. Its natural form is useful in removing dark spots on your skin. You just need to apply the Aloe Vera juice or gel on the dark patches on the face and gently massage with your fingertips. You can do this regimen for at least twice daily for a few weeks until the dark spots on your skin begin to fade.
Turmeric is a known quick remedy for sun spots. To be able to make the mixture, you just need turmeric, lemon juice and milk. Mix the 3 ingredients until a pasty texture is achieved. Apply the mixture on the sun spots and leave it there for a few minutes. Wash the area with lukewarm. Another option is using honey and olive oil instead of milk and lemon juice. All you have to do is to massage this mixture gently on the affected area. Leave the mixture on the area until it dries and then wash it with warm water.
Papaya is a well-known skin whitening agent. Papaya is usually used as the main ingredient for whitening products such as lotion and soap. The papaya contains a special enzyme called Papain. Papain exfoliates the skin and promotes production of new skin cells. There are actually two ways on how you can use the papaya as a skin lightening agent.
First option is to apply the pulp of a ripe papaya over the area where skin discoloration is noticeable. Leave the pulp on the skin for at least 20 minutes and then wash it off. The second option is to use green papaya instead of the ripe ones. Grate the green papaya and then mix it with lime juice. Apply the solution to the skin for 15 minutes before completely rinsing the area. Aside from its pulp, you can also use its skin as a whitening scrub for your elbows and knees.
Applying onion juice on your skin is another way on how to get rid of spots on face. To make an onion juice, you need to have a blender or a grater. To make the solution, combine 1 tablespoon of onion juice with 2 tablespoons of honey. Apply the mixture over the area where dark spots are visible for 20 minutes. For people with oily skin, mixing vinegar with the solution will be helpful as well.
Castor oil is also an effective solution when planning to eliminate dark spots on the skin. You just have to apply a small amount of castor oil to a cotton ball and gently massage it to the area of discoloration. You can do this regimen once in the morning and another at night. Olive oil, vitamin E and coconut oil can also be used as alternative for castor oil.
Lactic acid is one of the main ingredients used on some of the most powerful skin exfoliating solutions. Buttermilk is rich in lactic acid and can act as a natural skin exfoliating ingredient. You can apply buttermilk on your skin using a cotton ball. Lemon juice can be added to the buttermilk to make a solution that is more appropriate for oily skin. You can also mix it with 2 teaspoons of tomato juice to make a dark spot lightening solution.
For people who are looking for answers on how to get rid of spots on legs, the first thing to do is to determine the main cause of the condition. Some dark spots on the legs are not due to hyperpigmentation or sun exposure. Some are just dark pores called open comedones. These are open pores that have excess oil, dirt and bacteria trapped inside them.
Some people call this skin condition as strawberry legs because the dark pores resemble the tiny black spots on a strawberry. This type of dark spots is usually caused by improper shaving of the hair on the legs. The way to treat it is to learn how to properly shave your legs. Some of the tricks include taking a warm shower to soften the skin and relax the follicles before shaving. Waxing instead of shaving can also save you from having strawberry legs.
If hyperpigmentation is the culprit for your dark spots then horseradish is the right solution for you. Grate the horseradish and mix it with apple cider vinegar in a glass container. Allow the mixture to sit for 2 weeks. After the waiting period, strain the solution and apply it for at least 3 times a day on the dark spots. You will notice that the dark spots on your legs lighten after a month of continuously applying this solution.
For solutions on how to get rid of spots on back area, the answer is simple. Any regimen that you can use for the face is also useful for the back. The spots on the back are usually caused by post inflammatory hyperpigmentation due to acne. The back is also prone to acne and should not be forgotten.
Although there are a lot of natural remedies that can treat skin hyperpigmentation, it is still best to follow a few preventive measures so you can avoid dark spots completely. Dark spots on the skin cannot be completely prevented especially if the causes are sun exposure and the natural course of aging. However, there are ways to lessen your chances of getting them. Since excessive sun exposure is one of the major causes of dark spots, make sure to avoid going out of your home during the time when the sunrays are the most intense. This is usually during 10 am to 3pm.
If you really need to go out during those times, it is best to wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15. Make sure to choose a sunscreen with UVB and UVA protection. The best time to apply the sunscreen is 30 minutes before exposing yourself to the sun. The sunscreen can be reapplied every 2 hours depending on your activity. If you are swimming or perspiring a lot then you should strictly follow the post 2 hours reapplication to your face and body. Sunscreen may not be enough to protect you from the sun. Wearing protective clothing such as hats, long-sleeved shirts and pants can also help you to avoid getting sun spots.
There are effective and natural ways on how to get rid of spots, but proper precautions must still always be observed. There are people who have sensitive skin and who are prone to allergic reactions towards natural remedies. If this is the case, it would be better to visit a dermatologist first before trying any skin solution for your dark spots. For people who cannot be treated through natural remedies, they can try any of the currently available medical procedures that can specifically address their problem.
Laser treatment can destroy cells that cause hyperpigmentation on the skin. Chemical peels, on the other hand, are also used by licensed dermatologists to burn the outer layer of the skin and allow new skin to develop. Dermabrasion is another effective medical treatment for dark spots on the skin. This involves sanding off the outer layer of the skin to give space for new skin cells and replace the hyperpigmented ones.
Cryosurgery is another medical approach to such kind of skin condition. This involves freezing the dark spots on the skin with the use of liquid nitrogen. Dermatologist may also prescribe bleaching creams that can lighten dark areas of the body. Bleaching creams must always be used in conjunction with sunscreens. Although bleaching creams can help in fading dark spots, they can make your skin more susceptible to UV damage.
Consulting a licensed dermatologist can help you choose the right skin regimen for you. The dermatologist will be able to assess your skin type and provide you treatment options based on his assessment. Make sure to be honest in answering questions related to your medical history, so that your dermatologist will be able to find out the main causes of the problem, and therefore provide the right and the most suitable treatment for you.