Sunspots on the skin or face (solar lentigines) are something that nobody likes to have.
Sunspots are red, flat, scaly spots on the skin.
‘Liver spots’ is another name commonly used for spots on the skin caused by sun exposure. But they have nothing to do with the liver or liver functions.
Some people mistake them for freckles because of the resemblance they share.
These spots or small reddish or dark bumps on the skin usually occur in people above 40.
Most often, they occur on skin areas regularly exposed to the sun, like the face, neck, legs, hands, forearms, ears, and bald head.
In this article, we shall analyze the causes and characteristics of sunspots on the skin. You can also learn how to get rid of sunspots on the face and skin fast with natural remedies and preventive methods.
Causes of Sunspots on Skin?
A combination of factors like aging skin, exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, tanning beds, diet habits, and genetic factors are all possible causes of sunspots on the skin and face.
However, the prime reason for age spots or liver spots is the skin damage caused by the sun’s UV rays.
As a person ages, the skin tissues become weak, and they find it hard to repair the skin damage caused by the sun. For this reason, the skin produces an excess amount of skin pigment known as melanin to repair the damaged skin.
Reddish or dark spots on the skin develop when excess melanin starts to gather together in a particular area of the skin.
In other words, the uneven distribution of excess melanin produced to repair the damaged skin causes spots on the skin.
Why hyperpigmentation on skin forms into numerous spots is not scientifically verified yet.
Normally, sunspots appear on areas regularly exposed to sunlight, like the face, neck, bald head, shoulders, hands, and arms.
If you are bald, sunspots can appear on your scalp. Sunspots tend to increase with age as the skin has a harder time repairing the damage of ultraviolet light.
Sunspots on the skin are also known as ‘liver spots.’ A few decades ago, age spots on the skin were thought to be tied to the liver’s health or some disease affecting the liver, hence the term, liver spots.
Later research and studies showed that sunspots on the skin have no connection with liver issues.
It is also good to mention that sunspots and freckles are not the same, though they appear similarly.
Freckles are much smaller than sunspots. Freckles are a hereditary skin disorder.
How to Prevent Sunspots on Face or Skin?
Is there a way to prevent sunspots on the skin?
Yes, not one, but many.
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of sunspots on the face and skin to a great extent. Here are a few practical steps for preventing age spots.
1. Take Protection from Scorching Sun
The main cause of age spots is the damage caused to the skin by the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Avoiding direct exposure to sunlight is a practical solution to prevent the occurrence of liver spots on the skin. Most importantly, protect your skin from the harsh sunlight during the day from 9 am to 3 pm, which has strong UV rays.
2. Wear SPF Makeup Products and Sunscreen Lotions
Apply a protective layer of sunscreen lotion on the skin (especially the face, hands, neck, and legs) to shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Using any good sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more is best.
Apply the sunscreen lotion 15 minutes before you go out into the sun.
3. Cover Up Your Skin
You can prevent sunspots on the skin by wearing clothes and accessories that cover your body from exposure to sunlight.
Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunshade cap, cooling glasses, head veil, and umbrella are some of the best ways to protect your skin from the sun.
Wearing long-sleeved shirts with a spread collar, full-length trousers, and shoes can protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays.
Clothes made of white or light-shaded cotton linen are best for protecting your body from the heat and UV rays of the sun.
4. Stay Hydrated
To prevent the occurrence of age spots on the skin, keep your body and skin well hydrated.
You should drink at least 8 cups of water every day.
Keep your skin well moistened with moisturizing lotions with SPF above 30.
5. Quit Smoking
There is no doubt that Smoking is harmful to your health and skin.
Smokers are prone to get sunspots on the skin and face more than nonsmokers.
If you are addicted to smoking soon, your skin will get aged with wrinkles and spots. Faster skin aging can help trigger age spots or liver spots.
6. Have Rich Antioxidant Diets
Eating sufficient antioxidant diets daily is one of the finest ways to repair sun damage naturally.
Eating a flavonoid-rich diet also helps reduce the spots and wrinkles on the skin, which is beneficial for preventing common types of cancers.
Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants readily found in many fruits, vegetables, and grains; they also exist in tea and soy-based foods.
Simple Solutions for Sun Spots on Skin
You can prevent sunspots on your skin to some extent, but completely not preventable.
In most cases, it is also not easy to get rid of age spots or liver spots completely from your face and body as they keep recurring over and over again.
However, several home remedies may help you remove the sunspots to a considerable amount.
Home remedies require patience, persistence, and regular usage to get the desired results you are looking for.
Here are some of the proven DIY solutions that may help lighten or eliminate the sunspots on the face and skin.
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera gel is a fantastic option to overcome sunburn damage on the skin. It helps to repair damaged skin tissues.
Aloe vera gel helps to rejuvenate and moisturize the skin. It helps lighten the spots and reduces the wrinkles on the skin.
It is best to apply the fresh aloe vera gel on the sunspots-affected areas of the skin twice daily. Use aloe vera gel regularly for a long time to get the best results.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is high in acetic acid, which is beneficial for cleansing and repairing damaged skin tissues.
It is possible to lighten the brown or dark spots on the skin by gently rubbing diluted ACV regularly for two months.
Using a mixture of ACV and lemon juice is very effective in removing freckles and skin spots. This also helps rejuvenate and lighten the skin.
3. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an essential vitamin required for the nourishment of skin and hair.
Vitamin E helps rejuvenate and repair damaged skin tissues. It benefits spots, freckles, and scars removal or reduction on skin.
You may find that most quality skin care lotions or creams contain this vitamin as their main ingredient.
Open the Vitamin E capsule and rub its content on the sunspots-affected skin area. You can rinse off the application after 15 minutes.
Repeat the topical application of Vitamin E capsule on the skin twice daily. It may take more than 30 days of regular treatments to start seeing diminishing sunspots and scars on the skin.
4. Buttermilk
The lactic acid found in buttermilk is useful for lightening and removing the sunspots on the skin. It is also very effective for skin exfoliation and deep pores cleansing.
According to some reports, it removes spots and freckles on body parts like hands, neck, chest, and legs.
Using a cotton ball, gently rub the sunspots-affected areas of the skin with buttermilk; wash it off after 15 minutes with cold water.
Continue with buttermilk treatment on the skin till the age spots fade away from the skin.
5. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a traditional remedy for skin brightening and reducing the freckles and spots on the skin. It is most effective for sunspot removal when combined with apple cider vinegar.
Vitamin C and other nutrients in lemon juice repair and nourish the skin while its citric acid fades away the spots and freckles.
Apply the fresh lemon juice on the spotted area of the skin and wash it off after 15 minutes. Repeat the treatment twice a day and continue with the treatment till you get the desired results.
6. Papaya
Papaya contains enzymes that are effective for skin whitening and exfoliation.
Regularly applying the mashed papaya pulp on the skin can aid in reducing the liver spots and freckles on the skin.
Mash a piece of fresh papaya and apply this paste to the spots affected region. Wash off the application after 20 minutes.
Repeat this natural therapy twice daily till you achieve the desired result.
7. Castor Oil
Castor oil is well known for its effectiveness in treating several common skin and hair issues.
It is a traditional home remedy for treating stomach issues to hair fall.
Castor oil is also effective for removing age spots on the skin.
Apply the castor oil to the sunspots-infected skin region with a cotton ball. After 2 hours, you can wash off the oil remnants on the skin.
Repeat this treatment once daily until the sunspots fully disappear from the skin.
8. Oatmeal
Colloidal Oatmeal expands greatly in water, and its actives effectively soothe sensitive and dry skin when applied topically.
Oats contain polysaccharides, which have a gel-like texture for moisturizing the skin.
Oats contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and itch-healing properties beneficial for repairing the sunburnt skin.
Apply an oatmeal mask on the skin with freckles and spots once daily.
This treatment can help gradually fade the freckles and skin spots.
9. Cucumber
Cucumber contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and caffeic acid, which soothe skin irritation, moisturize, and lighten spots and freckles on the skin.
Cucumber applied topically can heal sunburns and repair skin damage.
Use it as part of a mask or apply it directly to your skin.
Final Thoughts
Sunspots on the skin and face are a part of life.
The sunspots – age spots, lentigines, lentigos, or liver spots – are sharply defined, rounded, brown or black, flat patches of skin.
According to approximate estimates, over 60% of people who have crossed 40 years suffer from sunspots.
It is possible to prevent and remove sunspots on the skin by adopting preventive measures and natural remedies.
The most important remedy for age spots is avoiding direct exposure to intensive UV rays of sunlight. You can also take up natural remedies at home to get rid of sunspots, which must be followed up daily with patience and consistency.