These are more commonly found in people over the age of 40 or younger people who spend a lot of time in the sun. The areas most commonly affected are those parts of the body that receive maximum exposure form the sun such as the face, neck, hands and feet. There are different treatments available for these unsightly marks including several that can be attempted at home to heal sun damaged skin.
Home remedies for sun damaged skin including sun spots may help to fade them away if not make them disappear altogether.
One of the popular home remedies uses alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) derived from natural sources such as fruits and dairy products. Examples of these acids include glycolic acid and lactic acid. There are also numerous skin products that contain high concentrations of AHAs, but these are expensive and may not always be the best option. Studies conducted show that creams containing AHAs are superior to placebos in the removal of sun spots. AHAs can have side effects such as burning, blistering, swelling, redness, bleeding and rashes and for this reason their use is under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration.
Antioxidant based creams may also help in the treatment of sun damaged skin. Antioxidants help to neutralize the effects of free radicals formed by UV radiation from the sun. Studies have been conducted on different antioxidants such as lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamin E suggest that they can improve skin roughness, scaling and other signs of skin damage. Other antioxidants that have shown encouraging results include alpha-lipoic acid and vitamin C.
Other skin care products that may help in treating sun damaged skin include those containing cocoa, vinifera extract, milk thistle and zinc while topical application of niacinamide can significantly improve skin elasticity and appearance.
Another product that has shown promise in treating sun damaged skin as well as fine wrinkles near the eyes is a purified soy isoflavone product. This product also helps improve skin elasticity.
There are also a number of herbal remedies that are recommended for the treatment of sun spots and sun damaged skin. These include aloe, arnica, calendula, chamomile and thuja but the effectiveness of these remedies do not have any validation.
Some herbalists recommend the use of lemon juice to decrease the pigmentation of sun spots. However, this is a slow acting remedy so you will need to have patience. Apply fresh lemon juice 2 to 3 times every day to the sun spots or sun damaged areas. Rinse the juice off after 15 minutes. If any redness develops, cut back on the number of applications. You will need to continue this treatment for at least two months before you will notice any appreciable difference.
Apple cider vinegar in combination with onion juice may also help to fade sun spots. Both should be mixed in equal proportions and applied directly to the sun spots. The mixture should be left on the skin for at least half an hour before rinsing. Apply 1 to 2 times every day for at least 6 weeks. Discontinue if you develop any allergic reaction.
Break a capsule of vitamin E and apply the contents directly to the sun spots. It will nourish the skin and may help to fade away sun spots. In addition to this, moisturize your skin using aloe vera every morning and night. Well hydrated skin responds better to treatment with vitamin E and other pigment fading compounds.
Consult your dermatologist before trying any of these home remedies.
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