Getting rid of freckles?

Nov 8, 2011

Lydia T.

Hi! I've always liked my freckles, but now I want to get rid of them, or at least to control them, they're multiplying!. I use neutrogena ultra sheer SPF 50 evreyday, and I've tried some whitening creams, wich have caused an uneven tone in my skin.

Can you recommend a product that works? 

Nov 9, 2011

Yasmin K.

From http://www.medicinenet.com/freckles/article.htm

Freckles are flat, tanned circular spots that typically are the size of the head of a common nail. The spots are multiple and may develop randomly on the skin, especially after repeated exposure to sunlight. These are particularly common in people of fair complexion on upper-body skin areas like the cheeks, nose, arms, and upper shoulders. They may appear on people as young as age 1 or 2.

Most freckles on a person's skin are usually uniform in color. On different people, freckles may vary somewhat in color -- they may be reddish, yellow, tan, light brown, brown, or black -- but they are basically slightly darker than the surrounding skin. They tend to become darker and more apparent after sun exposure and lighten in the winter months. Freckles are due to an increase in the amount of dark pigment called melanin and are not due to an increase in the total number of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. The word freckle comes from the Middle English freken, which, in turn, came from the Old Norse freknur, meaning "freckled." (Some speakers of Old English and Old Norse must have had a tendency to developing freckles.)

What types of freckles are there?

There are two basic types of freckles: simple freckles and sunburn freckles. Simple freckles are usually tan, round, and small -- about the size of a common construction nail head. Sunburn freckles are often darker, have irregular jagged borders, and may be larger than a pencil eraser. Sunburn freckles are more common on the upper back and shoulders where people frequently get their most severe sunburns.

Ephelides (singular: ephelis) is the Greek word and medical term for freckle. This term refers to flat spots that are tan, slightly reddish, or light brown and typically appear during the sunny months. They are most often found on people with light complexions, and in some families, they are a hereditary (genetic) trait. People with reddish hair and green eyes are more prone to these types of freckles. Sun avoidance and sun protection, including the regular use of sunscreen, may help to suppress the appearance of the some types of freckles.

Lentigines (singular: lentigo) comes from the Latin word for lentil and is the medical term for certain types of darker freckles and sunburn freckles. Lentigines tend to be darker than the common freckle and do not usually fade in the winter. This kind of spot is referred to as lentigo simplex. Although occasionally lentigines are part of a rare genetic syndrome, for the most part they are just isolated and unimportant spots.

How can freckles be prevented?

Since we cannot change our own genetic component of freckling, our main prevention measures are aimed at sun avoidance and sun-protection, including

use of sunscreens with SPF (sun protection factor) 30,
use of wide-brimmed hats (6 inches),
use of sun-protective clothing (shirts, long sleeves, long pants),
avoidance of the peak sun hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and
seeking shade and staying indoors.

Ideally, freckle prevention is more effective than later trying to remove freckles that have already developed. Freckle-reduction treatments are more difficult and not always satisfactory.

People with known hereditary tendencies of freckling should start sun protection early in childhood. Much of the sun and UV skin damage occurs often while children are under age 18.

Fair-skinned people who are more prone to freckling and sunburns are also generally more at risk for developing skin cancers. Freckles may be a warning sign of sensitive skin that is highly vulnerable to sunburn and to potential skin cancer.

How can freckles be treated?

Several safe and effective methods are available to help lighten or reduce the appearance of freckles: Frequently, multiple or a combination of treatments may be required for best results. Not everyone's skin will improve with similar treatments and freckles can easily recur with repeated UV exposures.

Bleaching or fading creams: Products containing hydroquinone and kojic acid can be purchased with and without a prescription. Higher concentrations of hydroquinone (over 2%) require a prescription. These products can help lighten freckles if they are applied consistently over a period of months. Bleaching or fading creams are most effective in combination with sun avoidance and sun protection.

Retinoids: Sometimes used in conjunction with other bleaching creams, tretinoin (vitamin A acid, Retin-A), tazarotene (Tazorac), adapalene (Differin) also may help lighten freckles when applied consistently over a period of several months.

Cryosurgery: A light freeze with liquid nitrogen in the physician's office can be used to treat some types of freckles. Not all spots respond to freezing or burning.

Laser treatment: Multiple types of lasers may help lighten and decrease the appearance of freckles safely and effectively. Like cryosurgery, this is a simple and safe procedure with a high success rate and a low risk of scarring or skin discoloration.

Photofacials or Intense Pulsed Light treatments are another method to lighten and remove freckles. This is not a true laser technique but an intense light source.

Chemical peels can also help lighten freckles and improve irregular pigmentation.

Nov 9, 2011

Zoe C.

:O now why would you want to go and do that? I love my freckles, I don't know what I'd do without them. I think freckles are beautiful, embrace what you have, because you'll realise what you lost once they're gone! :)

Nov 9, 2011

Lydia T.

@Smashley That recipe sounds really good, I'll give it a try, I have all the ingredients at home, and I'll check the ingredients in my creams to check if it contains alpha hydroxide. Thank you very much!!

@Yazmin wow! I didn't know there was a lasr surgery to remove freckles, sounds scary and extreme, maybe I should start with chemical peels?

@Zoe I really like my freckles too! but I live in a sunny city, and this past summer, I don't know if I'm getting older (haha obviously I'm getting older haha) or due to this past summer was too sunny and hot, but my freckles multiplied, and I want to stop them before they grow and 2 or 3 form a bigger freckle. 

Nov 10, 2011

Yasmin K.

@Lydia - I say leave your freckles alone. Freckles are cute in my book but if you really, REALLY want to get rid of them talk to a dermatologist before doing anything extreme like facial peels, laser or even bleaching cream.

Nov 11, 2011

Evy Johnson K.

go to dermentologist

May 7, 2013

Barbara M.

Natural parsley juice mixed with equal amounts of lemon juice, orange juice, and red currant juice under your favorite cream will also aid you keep your freckles invisible.