How to Fade Dark Spots With Home Remedies
As we age, our skin's pigmentation may change, especially on the portions of our bodies regularly exposed to the sun. Dark spots (hyperpigmentation) may appear anywhere, but they are most common on the face, neck, shoulders, arms and the backs of the hands. Also called age spots and liver spots, these patches of discoloration are usually flat and harmless, reports Medline Plus, a branch of the National Institutes of Health. Home remedies may help fade dark spots, but you must take care of them to ensure that they don't return.
Things You'll Need
- Lemon juice
- Red onion
- Apple cider vinegar
- Fresh horseradish
- Dandelion
- Aloe vera
- Cotton balls
- Small bowl
Instructions
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Apply the juice from a fresh lemon twice a day to the dark spot. Mothernature.com suggests dipping a cotton ball into the juice and dabbing it on, allowing the juice to dry on your skin. The lemon juice acts as a mild bleaching treatment to fade dark spots, but don't expect to see results before six weeks.
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Rub a small section of red onion directly on the darkened skin. The juice from the onion contains bleaching properties and it may act as a gentle exfoliant, sloughing away dead skin cells and allowing the juice to reach the new skin, hastening the fading process, according to Mothernature.com.
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Combine one part of either lemon juice or orange juice to two parts of apple cider vinegar in a small bowl, and dab the mixture on the dark spots. For variety, add 1/4 tsp. of grated fresh horseradish to the solution for extra fading power, recommends Healthguidance.org.
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Pick a common dandelion from your yard and dab the sticky sap from the torn stem directly onto the dark spots. Another plant substance, aloe vera, may help fade dark spots by breaking off the tip of an aloe vera leaf and dabbing its clear gel onto the dark spots.
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Tips & Warnings
Apply sunscreen before going outdoors, and reapply it every couple of hours to prevent further skin discoloration.
Once liver spots develop, they may return if you expose unprotected skin to the sun. In addition to using home remedies to fade dark spots, avoid harsh midday sun rays, and wear a wide-brim hat and protective clothing.
Dark spots that change color or size should prompt a visit to your doctor, advises the Mayo Clinic.
References
- Photo Credit lemons image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
