They are known as age spots, dark spots, liver spots and other names, and although they aren’t harmful to our health, they definitely are an eyesore. These brown spots appear mainly in old age, as a result of long-term exposure to sunlight. Exposure to sunlight leads to overproduction and accumulation of Melanin, which causes a change in skin tone. These nuisances appear even if you minimize sun exposure, but, fortunately, can be lightened with 9 natural ingredients, most of which we already have in our pantry.
These natural remedies will help turn back the clock and rejuvenate the appearance of your skin around your neck, shoulders, hands and other places that are exposed to the sun and prone to brown spots.
Lemon juice has many properties, such as a high concentration of antioxidants, which benefit physical health and can improve your appearance. The citric acid in lemon is used as a whitener and therefore helps combat the phenomenon of annoying age spots.
To take advantage of these benefits, mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of white sugar in a small bowl until a paste is formed (add sugar or lemon juice if necessary to reach the consistency of a paste). Apply this salve to your age spots and wash it off after 5 to 10 minutes. If you suffer from dry skin, don’t use this salve more than 3-4 times a week, as lemon juice may dry your skin out even more.
The aloe vera plant contains vitamin A, which helps to rejuvenate the skin, relieves burns and improves the appearance of stains, especially those caused by sun exposure. The results of a study at the University of Michigan showed the rejuvenating properties of this vitamin, so it is recommended to use products that are rich in it, such as simple aloe vera gel, to treat various skin lesions.
To do this, apply aloe vera gel to the stained areas, leave it on the skin for 30 minutes and rinse with cold water. Repeat twice a day and a change in the appearance of the skin will be noticeable after a month.
This special oil is made from seeds of the castor plant, and because it penetrates deep into the skin and stimulates the production of substances such as collagen and elastin, which improve the appearance of the skin, it is used as a great treatment for liver spots. Drip the castor oil onto a cotton ball, gently apply to the dark areas, massage the liquid into the skin, leave it for a few hours, and rinse off. Use this treatment twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, to clear your skin. To learn about castor oil’s many other uses, click here.
This oil is produced from a special tree, known as Sandalwood, and has many medicinal properties, including anti-aging and disinfection. Sandalwood oil contains molecules of various substances, such as Alpha-santalol, which help reduce excessive pigmentation in the skin and fade out the liver spots. To enjoy the benefits of this amazing oil, drip 3-5 drops into a tablespoon of olive oil or almond oil, mix well, spread over the affected areas, and let it sit overnight. Wash in the morning and over time you will notice the improvement and lightening of your skin's dark spots.
Besides being incredibly tasty and loved by many, honey also has properties that are beneficial to the skin; it contains many antioxidants that slow aging of the cells, preventing the formation of new skin spots and lightening those already formed. In a study conducted in 2011, researchers found that honey is a powerful anti-inflammatory, so it can prevent pimples and improve the appearance of the skin even more. You can make a wonderful mask by combining honey and potatoes, which will refresh the appearance of your skin: grate a medium potato into a bowl and add honey as needed until a uniform paste is created. Apply the mask to your skin spots, leave it on the skin until it hardens (about 15 minutes) and rinse with water.
The next time you go to the supermarket, buy horseradish! You can use it to make a natural remedy to improve the appearance of your skin. The bitter horseradish contains vitamins A and C that help to rejuvenate the skin, so it’s no wonder that this vegetable is a popular ingredient even in commercial cosmetics. To prepare a cheap and effective horseradish mask, finely grate it, apply to the problem areas and rinse after 15 to 20 minutes. This will clarify the stains using a home-made salve at a fraction of the cost of commercial cosmetic products with the same amazing effect.
This wonderful and fragrant fruit contains various enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids, which gently peel the top layer of the skin which in turn, lightens brown spots. Another benefit of this special fruit lies in the fact that it helps to get rid of other skin imperfections, such as pimples, thus giving the skin a clean and healthy look. Grate one teaspoon of papaya, apply it directly to the stained areas and rinse after 20 minutes with lukewarm water. Do this twice a day and expect a significant improvement in the appearance of your skin.
Yogurt bleaches the skin and is therefore excellent for use as a natural stain remover. In addition, the probiotic bacteria found in this food help fight skin infections and keep skin smooth and healthy. To take advantage of its beneficial effect, apply natural yogurt to the skin spots, let it dry for about 20 minutes and rinse off using cold water. For even faster results, apply yogurt overnight and wash it in the morning.
Using pineapple juice will keep your skin fresh and give it a fruity and pleasant scent. To get the best stain lightening results, use pineapple juice that is 100% natural and without any additives. Apply it to the problem areas with a cotton ball and leave it on your skin. After the juice has dried, wash it with cold water. Another option for using pineapple as a spot lightener is to grind the fruit, apply the crushed paste to all spotted areas, and finally dry and rinse, just as you would with the juice.
