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In childhood, funny freckles on the face cause a smile of affection, but with age, a scattering of small specks on the skin becomes a real problem, causing their owners to ask the question – how to get rid of freckles? According to dermatologists, “kisses of the sun” are an exclusively aesthetic problem, they do not pose any threat to health. But if you really want to get rid of freckles, then modern cosmetology knows many ways how to do this.
Freckles on the face, according to many influential people from the world of fashion, art industry and cosmetology, are by no means any visible skin defect. On the contrary, freckles are often perceived as a special touch of “childishness” and cuteness.
They highlight your personality and charm. So maybe you should put all thoughts of how to get rid of freckles out of your head?
Freckles on the face: red, red, freckled …
In the cartoon of the same name, scripted by Eduard Uspensky, the main character – a red-haired freckled little boy with a dummy on his shoulder – was always teased by his peers. The boy was very worried about the freckles on his face and did not know how to make the guys friends with him. The sun itself came to the rescue, which simply made everyone around the same red and freckled. And it became uninteresting to call names.
But if this option of “getting rid” of freckles clearly suited the boy, then many girls suffering from ephelids – this is the scientific name for freckles – they want numerous spots to disappear forever. But first, let’s figure out why some are constantly looking for a way to get rid of freckles on their face, while others simply do not have such a problem.
Freckles (ephelids) are small pigment spots of yellow or yellow-brown color, round, oval or irregular in shape, located mainly on open areas of the body (face, shoulders, neck, décolleté). Most often, freckles first appear at the age of 3-5, reaching a peak concentration by 25 years. As a rule, new spots no longer appear, and those that exist remain for life.
The appearance of freckles on the face is caused by a violation of skin pigmentation. According to the expert Ulyana Ramazanova, a dermatovenerologist, the mechanism of the appearance of pigment spots (they are – freckles) is as follows: with an increase in the activity of ultraviolet radiation, the enzyme tyrosine awakens in the skin, which activates melanocytes – cells containing the coloring pigment melanin.
If melanin is evenly distributed throughout the body, then an even tan lays on the exposed areas of the skin. If it is uneven, freckles appear in places where melanin is concentrated. Most often, freckles are a family problem that occurs in light-skinned blue-eyed and green-eyed people, as well as in redheads.
The first freckles on the face are the harbingers of spring
A large number of freckles on the face and body is a purely aesthetic problem. Rashes do not pose any threat to health if they appear with the first bright sun rays and disappear with the arrival of the autumn cold weather, as well as if the freckles are no larger than the tip of the nail, not dark (brown-black) and not bright red.
Ulyana Ramazanova, dermatovenerologist: “If you are a brunette, no one in your family had freckles, and you suddenly began to appear in adulthood, this is most likely a sign of health problems.
Freckles (especially on the face) can be caused by hormonal changes (for example, during pregnancy), metabolic disorders, radioactive and chemical exposure, severe stress, liver and biliary tract diseases. Such sudden freckles should cause alertness and become a reason to check the work of your body.
How to get rid of freckles at home
There are many alternative methods for getting rid of freckles on the face, based on the use of products with a whitening effect. For example:
dairy products brighten the skin well. Rinse your face twice a day with kumis, kefir or yogurt.
lemon is a natural brightening agent. Wash your face with lemon water (a few slices of lemon in a glass of cool water) and the freckles will fade noticeably.
cucumber brightens the skin well. You can use cucumber juice by cutting the vegetable in half and rubbing your face. Or apply cucumber gruel to the skin. After 10 minutes, wash with warm water.
parsley also fights well with age spots. You can wipe your face with parsley infusion. To do this, finely chop a bunch of grass, pour a liter of boiling water, let it brew for a couple of hours, then cool. A mixture of parsley, lemon and orange juice is also an effective brightening agent.
Red onion provides freckles well. To do this, wipe the skin with a cotton swab dipped in onion juice, or a cut fresh onion.
honey together with lemon will reduce the number of freckles and prevent new ones from appearing. Two tablespoons of unsweetened honey should be mixed with squeezed and strained juice of 1 lemon. Soak gauze napkins with the mixture and apply on face for 15-20 minutes. Wash with warm water.
How to get rid of freckles once and for all? At the beautician!
If you do not trust folk methods or do not want to mess around making tinctures and lightening juice, then you can try other effective ways to remove freckles on your face. True, getting rid of age spots once and for all will not work, any lightening effect is temporary. Modern cosmetology centers offer the following methods for getting rid of freckles:
Laser treatment or laser resurfacing. Areas of the skin are irradiated with a laser, the energy of which destroys melanin in the skin. This method is practically safe, since the laser beam acts strictly on the areas from which the spots are removed. There are two types of laser peeling used:
erbium, which is less traumatic, since it affects only the surface layers of the skin;
CO2 laser working in the deeper layers of the dermis.
Quartzization. This method causes peeling of the upper layer of the epidermis. Freckles disappear, moreover, the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet light decreases.
Phototherapy. A safe and effective procedure that allows you to eliminate cosmetic skin defects, including age spots and freckles. The basis of the technique is IPL technology – high-intensity pulsed light emitting in a certain wavelength range. Melanin absorbs light and is destroyed under its influence.
Chemical peeling. This procedure is good in that it will not only discolor or completely remove freckles from the area of the skin, but also help get rid of the long-term accumulation of dead epithelial tissues.
Special topical formulations based on natural plant extracts (bearberry, celandine, yarrow) and acids (kojic, zinc lactate, lactic acid, etc.) have an exfoliating and whitening effect. In addition, according to research by independent experts in consumer products in the United States, the safe and effective ingredients used to whiten skin are:
alpha-arbutin: blocks the formation of melanin and promotes its breakdown. Freckles and age spots fade with regular use.
octadecendioic acid: Another powerful melanin blocker.
Unshiu Citrus Peel Extract: Extracted from unshiu mandarin peel, one of the main components of which is polymethoxyflavonoid. It has properties to inhibit the production of melanin and protect the skin from UV rays.
Retinoids, Tretinoin (Vitamin A): Reduce wrinkles, maintain skin firmness and elasticity, and lighten skin spots caused by sun exposure.
Chemical whitening creams have a very strong effect on the skin due to their composition. In addition, they may contain ingredients hazardous to health. For example, hydroquinone, which is the most powerful whitening agent, but very unhealthy.
Prevention: Don’t give freckles a single chance!
Most freckle removal procedures (especially on the face) can lead to early wrinkle formation, dryness and premature aging of the skin. Before making radical decisions, think, is it so bad – perky scattered freckles? If you do decide to deal with sun spots, then start with gentle natural remedies. Better yet, take preventive measures in advance. For example:
First of all, do not forget that direct sunlight is dangerous for people with fair skin, namely, they usually get freckles. Blondes and redheads get sunburn faster due to a lack of melanin, so they are strictly contraindicated to go outside without a cream with an SPF filter and without sunglasses, even in early spring.
Try not to go outside in the very heat, from about 11.00 to 16.00, also, be sure to wear light clothes, but with sleeves, a brimmed hat or take an umbrella.
Drink more water in the spring and summer, eat less foods containing beta-carotene (carrots, pumpkin). Increase your intake of foods rich in vitamin C – oranges, lemons, grapes, cabbage, tomatoes.
How to get rid of freckles on her face (and whether to get rid of them at all!), Of course, every woman decides for herself. However, we will not deny that freckles add looseness and spontaneity to the appearance. According to statistics, approximately three-quarters of men find freckles adorable. They argue that the girl, so originally gifted by nature, is already beautiful. And how many world-class stars proudly wear their freckles, knowing full well that this is their trump card. Among them are Courtney Cox, Penelope Cruz, Lindsay Lohan, Christina Aguilera, Neve Campbell and many, many others. Maybe you should take an example from them?
Interview
Would you start removing freckles on your face if you had them?
Yes
No