Much like anything else when it comes to looking younger, there are a lot of theories and products out there that promise to give you that clear, dewy skin you may have once had. What, if anything, really works as an effective age spot remover?
Just the other day, a friend of mine told me that she had picked up something called Bio Oil from the local pharmacy, and she was using it every night on her face to diminish the appearance of her freckles and age spots. I do not know how long you're supposed to use this to see results, but she said she had been using it for the last two months or so. At this point, she didn't appear to be overwhelmed with amazing results, but she told me that she felt it was making a difference.
About three weeks ago, my husband had a very large, deep mole removed from his forehead because it was starting to give him some trouble. He has a very large and noticeable scar, but it is healing very nicely and looks surprisingly good. The dermatologist who removed the mole indicated that it would take months, maybe even up to a year, for the redness of the scar to fade. It may never heal to the point of being faint and completely unnoticeable, but from the looks of things at this point, we're pretty convinced that it blend in pretty well with his skin after a few months. I mentioned to my husband that he should consider using Bio Oil to reduce the redness and diminish the appearance of the scar. He said he discussed that product with his dermatologist, who said not to bother, that it wouldn't do much to help him.
Here’s the thing. There appears to be a very strong connection between products recommended for diminishing the appearance of scars that are used and recommended as an age spot remover.
Earlier today, I was watching TV and an ad promoting cocoa butter said it was great for scarring and removal of age spots.
There are some sources that swear by products used to reduce the look of scars on everything from diminishing acne scars to fading age spots.
I myself have not tried any of these products to diminish the appearance of the many freckles I have on my face. Maybe I should give it a try! I guess I've always had spots on my face so I didn't think to try to fade them, and wouldn't recognize an age spot as anything other than a new freckle. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
I just received an e-mail the other day which talked about some natural remedies for diminishing age spots. The information (from mypureradiance.com) said you could use chamomile, yes, as in the tea. You simply brew up a cup of strong chamomile tea and let it cool, then apply the tea to the age spots.
Also mentioned was the use of plain, unsweetened yogurt on the age spots. Since yogurt could be considered a lactic alpha hydroxyl, I can see it.
Lastly, using the juice from pure lemons on the age spots can reduce their appearance. Because lemons are in the citric alpha hydroxyl family, I can see this working, too. But, the juice might be a little too strong or harsh, especially for those with sensitive skin. The e-mail said you could mix the
strong lemon juice with either the tea or the yogurt to tone down the harshness a bit.
It's also best to use these treatments at night because any kind of sunlight could react negatively with anything you may put on your face, other than sunscreen.
However, I did just hear that using lemon juice can cause pigmentation to
be removed from other areas of the skin, not just the age spot. So, the person I heard this from said they ended up with white rings around the age spots, drawing more attention to them than before. Again, I have not personally tried any of these methods, so I cannot vouch for whether they work or not, or what if any side effects there may be.
I would really appreciate any blog readers out there to comment on results they have had with any of these natural treatments.
You are probably well aware that there are a ton of skin care products out there specifically formulated for diminishing the appearance of age spots. Since I personally haven't tested any of these either, I can't vouch for any of them. I have heard that organic (or mostly organic) products tend to work
well.
I think that no matter what it is you use on your skin, read the ingredients and testimonials to make an informed decision.
You may get along just fine by using an alpha hydroxyl skin cleanser to get rid of the old, dead skin cells lingering on the surface of the face on your skin. You can also take some great vitamins for the skin such as A, E and C.
No matter what course of action you should take, don't expect any miracle or overnight results. Using any kind of treatment will probably take at least 4-8 weeks before you begin to notice any kind of measurable results.
In the meantime, treat your skin right by wearing a sunscreen, drinking lots of water, and keeping it clean and moisturized. Age spot removal can only be easier if you focus on taking good care of your skin at any age.
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