Living in a tropical country like Singapore comes with the risk of getting freckles. That’s why it’s necessary to know how to remove freckles to keep your skin fair and healthy.
Though some people consider freckles to be a bother, there are others who feel that they are a form of beauty.
In recent years, some people have dotted their bodies with eyeliner or pencil in order to elevate their beauty.
Such satisfaction cannot be felt by those who feel uncomfortable with freckles covering their skin.
In contrast to those who feel the need to put dots on their skin, there are some who choose to get rid of freckles through various methods, including facial treatments, instead.
So, what does it take to learn how to remove freckles and achieve a fair complexion? Let’s explore everything you need to know about freckles below!
What Are Freckles?
Freckles are tan or light-brown spots that appear on your skin. They’re usually flat and not painful when you touch them.
Note that no one gets freckles from birth. Though the condition can be genetically inherited, freckles are not formed in an instant.
In children, freckles may appear as early as two or three years of age and will become less noticeable as they grow up.
But, what about freckles that don;t go away? As mentioned earlier, freckles are not considered a dangerous condition. So, it’s entirely up to you whether to remove them or not.
What Causes Freckles
We’ve briefly mentioned genetics and sun exposure that trigger the appearance of freckles. But how do the two factors contribute to the formation of freckles themselves?
To put it simply, our skin cells produce extra melanin in response to sun damage. Moreover, the type of melanin that your body produces determines the likelihood of someone getting freckles.
Aside from sun exposure, freckles can easily appear based on the production of certain genes that depend on a gene called MC1R.
Melanin itself is categorized into two, which are eumelanin and pheomelanin. The former protects skin from ultraviolet rays, but the latter doesn’t.
People who have dark hair, eyes, and skin produce more eumelanin, so they’re less likely to get freckles.
However, people who have red, blonde, or light brown hair with light-colored eyes and skin produce more pheomelanin, which makes them more prone to sun exposure and freckles.
Read also: How to Naturally Whiten Underarms: 10 Tips to Do It
How to Remove Freckles
If you want to know how to remove freckles, make sure to check what your beauty needs first. Is it very necessary for you to get rid of freckles or not?
It’s worth noting that not every skin type can handle the side effects of freckle removal treatment, so bear that in mind before we go further.
Generally, there are effective ways to remove freckles, such as:
1. Laser Treatment
When it comes to dealing with skin conditions, laser treatment always offers something new. Aside from laser hair removal, there’s also a specific laser treatment for freckles.
Removing freckles requires intense and targeted laser treatment of the damaged areas of the skin. Due to the intensity, there may be side effects following the treatment, such as:
- Redness.
- Itchiness.
- Swelling.
- Skin peeling.
- Infection.
- Changes in skin color.
To avoid such skin irritations, make sure to consult with your doctor or therapist prior to undergoing the treatment.
2. Topical Fading Cream
If you prefer a safer treatment option, you may want to try topical cream to remove freckles. You can use fading cream over the counter or by prescription.
Many fading creams contain hydroquinone, which works to suppress melanin production and lighten the darkened area of the skin.
However, applying fading may cause burning sensations, inflammation, dryness, blistering, and discoloration.
Check the cream before you use it. Make sure it has no more than 2% hydroquinone.
3. Topical Retinoid Cream
Another way to figure out how to remove freckles is to apply topical retinoid cream. It’s basically a vitamin A compound that works to improve the skin’s complexion and lighten freckles.
Retinoid helps provide photoprotection. It absorbs ultraviolet B radiation and prevents new freckle formation.
However, there’s a chance that you may experience skin redness, dryness, peeling, sensitivity, and irritation after applying the cream.
Read also: Get to Know the Right Asian Skin Treatment for You!
4. Chemical Peel
If you want to know how to remove freckles easily, you may want to try chemical peels. This method uses a chemical solution to exfoliate and peel off damaged skin that contains freckles.
While they may be quite effective, chemical peels may come with side effects such as stinging, redness, irritation, and swelling.
Normally, it takes two weeks to heal after undergoing chemical peeling. During the healing process, you are also required to continuously soak up your skin and apply topical ointment.
It’s also important to stay inside and not expose your skin to direct sunlight until it’s properly healed.
5. Natural Remedies
For those who want to remove freckles but cannot handle burning sensation, natural remedies may work for them. It’s a safe treatment, though it may take quite a while to provide the result you want.
Here are some of the natural remedies that can help you remove freckles:
- Onion: A natural exfoliant that helps lighten darkened areas on your skin.
- Buttermilk: Contains lactic acid, which is good for lightening skin.
- Honey: Combine it with salt or sugar to produce a natural scrub that helps lighten skin.
- Lemon juice: Can help tighten and lighten skin.
- Yogurt:: Contains lactic acid that may accelerate skin lightening.
You can simply rub or apply the natural remedy of your choice to the darkened areas of the skin. But you should stop the treatment immediately if you experience any skin irritations.
How to Prevent Freckles
It’s better to prevent than to treat a skin problem. In order to reduce the likelihood of getting freckles that prevent you from achieving a fair complexion, you may want to apply the following tips:
- Give extra protection to the skin by applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Wear long sleeves when you go out.
- Don’t forget your hat and sunglasses when you do outdoor activities for a long time.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours when you do outdoor activities.
That’s brief but concise information about how to remove freckles. It’s an unavoidable skin problem, but ultimately, it’s your choice to remove them or not.
The same case goes for removing body hair. Shaving and waxing come with potential side effects, like razor burns or razor bumps. You manage to remove your hair, but at what cost?
Lucky for you, there’s a safe hair removal service to help solve your hair issues, and that is Super Hair Removal (SHR) at Clean & Tidy.
At Clean & Tidy, we use advanced technology to remove hair follicles. Instead of intense pulsed light, SHR delivers low-energy light through rapid pulses to target each hair follicle on your skin.
It’s a pain-free laser hair removal treatment with minimal potential for skin irritations. If you want to experience it yourself, feel free to contact Clean & Tidy Bugis or Jurong whenever you need.
Read also: How to Get Clear Skin Effortlessly: 10 Ways to Do It
