The first rays of the gentle spring sun lure even the most avid homebodies outside. What could be more pleasant than a walk through the streets and parks awakened from hibernation, filled with bird chirping and the aromas of primroses? However, the warm, friendly sun does not please everyone, because with increased solar activity, numerous spots appear on the faces of many people - freckles, which evoke very contradictory feelings among their owners. Some call them “sun kisses” and believe that golden, brown and light yellow specks give the appearance a special charm and charm, others, on the contrary, do not see anything touching in freckles and dream of getting rid of them.
Red-haired and blond people with fair skin are most susceptible to the appearance of freckles, scientifically called ephelides. Less often, such pigmentation is observed in people with light brown hair, as well as in dark brown-haired people. Typically, freckles form in childhood and persist throughout life, while their number and intensity of color can change depending on the time of year - in winter the spots fade, and with the arrival of warmth they become brighter. The place where “sun kisses” are most often located is the face, but they often “decorate” other parts of the body: hands, shoulders, upper back and even legs.
Ephelides themselves are not a disease - it is just an individual feature of the skin that does not cause any physical discomfort to a person. And yet, the overwhelming majority of the fair sex treat them as a serious cosmetic defect that significantly spoils their appearance. Especially if we are not talking about a few specks that appear from time to time on the nose and cheeks, but about a generous scattering of “sun kisses” covering almost all exposed areas of the body. So is it possible to fix this annoying problem? It is possible, but before taking any action, you need to understand the reasons for its occurrence, because freckles are not always harmless spots. They may also indicate some problems in the body.
People's attitudes towards freckles
Due to increased pigmentation, characteristic of people with fair skin types, melanin production fails. It is distributed unevenly. It is because of this that the skin becomes covered with a small rash that has a different color. These spots do not pose any serious threat to health. Only when they combine into large spots (lentigo) is it necessary to visit a dermatologist. After all, such a disease requires constant monitoring by doctors, because there is a risk that lentigo will cause inflammatory processes.
But ordinary, small spots do not pose any threat. But another problem appears - psychological. After all, not all people perceive the uneven distribution of melanin as their personal characteristic. This especially applies to young girls who always want to look better than others. They are picky about any of their innate characteristics and often consider them their shortcomings.
Cosmetics against freckles
There are various cosmetic methods and remedies for freckles at home or in specialized private institutions. But the personal properties of the skin often take precedence over any attempts to get rid of age spots. And the effect of such is only temporary. But for those people who want to make their skin clear, even this is not an obstacle. The main thing is that all these “drastic measures” do not harm your health. And the easiest way to ensure such safety is with face masks against freckles or specialized creams.
Freckles can be removed with face masks
Contraindications and frequency of use
Products containing lemon as one of the ingredients should be used with caution by those with dry skin, maximum once every 2 weeks.
For this type of skin, it is better to avoid masks that contain hydrogen peroxide and soda.
Owners of oily skin can use the above products 2-3 times a week . Girls and women with normal skin can limit themselves to using folk remedies 1-2 times a week .
General rules for applying masks to the skin of the face
A person who wants to hide his skin problem from prying eyes must be careful both with the choice of product and with its application. There are general rules that must be followed with any mask used. These include:
- The mask is applied to clean skin. Before applying this product, you must wash your face with soap or wipe with lotion.
- Choosing the best time. Cosmetologists say that the skin is most susceptible only at certain hours of the day. So, the most favorable times are: from 10:00 to 12:00, from 16:00 to 18:00, from 22:00 to 23:00.
- Relaxation. The time allotted for the procedure should be spent as much as possible on rest and relaxation. During this period, it is better to lie in the bathroom or on the sofa.
- Proper removal of a mask from the skin of the face. After removing the product, you need to wash your face with warm water and apply moisturizer.
- Frequency of procedures. For freckles, one-time use of a mask will not bring a significant positive result. For those with dry skin, 2 treatments per week are sufficient. And for oily skin – 3 procedures. Moreover, the courses must be conducted every other week. That is, for one month there are 6-8 masks.
- Ultraviolet ban. With a mask, the skin is cleansed and receives beneficial substances. And direct exposure to sunlight can negatively affect the condition of the upper layers of the epithelium. Therefore, after the procedure, it is better to avoid walking outside for 2-3 hours.
After applying the mask, do not sunbathe
Preventing the appearance of freckles
For women who consider freckles to be a serious cosmetic problem, it will be useful to know that in most cases, you can get rid of “sun-kissed” eyes with the help of simple preventive measures:
- Before the onset of spring, make sure that your body receives a sufficient amount of vitamin C, which reduces melanin synthesis. To do this, you need to introduce into your daily diet foods rich in ascorbic acid (citrus fruits, sauerkraut, berry juices, rosehip decoction) and additionally take vitamin preparations.
- When going outside, be sure to apply cosmetics with UV filters to exposed areas of the body (this rule applies not only to the summer, but also to the spring and autumn months, when solar activity is quite high). For additional protection of the facial skin, you can use a special powder, which should be applied on top of the photoprotective cream.
- Remember that for people with fair skin prone to pigmentation, getting used to ultraviolet radiation must be gradual, otherwise you will not only be covered with a huge number of freckles, but also get a severe burn.
- During the summer heat, always wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses before going outside. Try to visit the beach only during safe hours (before noon or evening) and do not forget that it is better to sunbathe not in the open sun, but in the shade.
- In the spring and summer, it is recommended to replace your usual daily face creams with special ones designed to eliminate pigmentation. The same goes for eye creams.
- Before spending a long time outside, it is better to wash your face not with plain water, but with whey or herbal infusion of chamomile or linden - this will help provide your skin with additional protection from the sun.
People who have a genetic predisposition to the appearance of pigmentation on the skin should think about taking preventive measures in adolescence, when the body undergoes serious neuro-endocrine changes, since it is during this period that the peak activity of ephelide formation occurs.
Vitamins and substances that will help get rid of freckles
The anti-freckle mask is sold in many cosmetics stores. But the price for such funds is high. Don't despair. After all, you can make masks yourself. There are many recipes that will help you make a healthy and effective mask against freckles. Most often, these recipes contain ordinary food products that we eat daily. So, for masks against freckles they use:
- Products containing vitamin A. These include: chicken egg yolk, carrots, parsley, tomatoes, persimmons, fermented milk products and peaches.
- Products with vitamin B. These include: cabbage, peas, beans, almonds, yolks and potatoes.
- Foods containing vitamin K: tomatoes, cabbage, green tea, oatmeal, avocado, olive or corn oil, etc.
- Acids of fruits, vegetables and berries: citrus fruits, apples, tomatoes, grapes, etc.
If the found mask recipe contains some of these products as components, then it will be effective not only for combating freckles.
And they are also suitable for everyday use. The result will not take long to arrive. The skin will be clean, healthy and beautiful after just a few sessions.
Persimmon contains acids that whiten the skin
What effect does it have?
Why does parsley whiten skin? This remarkable property is due to its rich and varied composition.
Greens contain:
Do you have freckles?
Of course there is! No and there is no need!
- Ascorbic acid or vitamin C. This substance is an active natural antioxidant that protects the skin from harmful influences, including ultraviolet radiation.
- Carotene. Provides skin whitening and prevents the formation of excess pigment.
- B vitamins. Promote skin cell renewal and stimulate regeneration.
- Pectins and flavonoids. Evens out skin tone, eliminates not only freckles, but also acne spots and age spots.
- Minerals. Helps improve cell nutrition and improve complexion.
Cosmetic compositions based on parsley can whiten the skin, improve complexion, moisturize the skin, and make the skin more elastic.
Simple and effective recipes for masks against freckles
A mask that will be effective in the fight against freckles does not necessarily have to include exotic fruits or some expensive products. It's worth checking your supplies. Maybe some of the following products got lost on the shelves of the closet or refrigerator:
- soda,
- cucumber,
- oatmeal,
- Fresh berries (currants, raspberries or gooseberries),
- vinegar and lemon.
All of these products that most people use on a daily basis, adding them to their diet or preparing delicious meals, can be useful for other needs. There are simple recipes for masks, which are often called “budget” ones. All you need to do is prepare a homogeneous mixture. And what recipes to use to do this can be determined based on the following facts verified by the people:
- By mixing six teaspoons of baking soda in a glass of water, you can obtain an effective solution for wiping the skin. If you do this daily, you can get the first results in 1-2 weeks - age spots will become paler.
- Turn cucumber into porridge. It can be finely chopped or grated. This product can be applied daily.
- Grind any berries you have into a homogeneous mass. It is applied to the skin for 15 minutes, then washed off with water. The most useful for this cosmetic operation are: raspberries, gooseberries, black or red currants.
- Mix apple cider vinegar, water and lemon juice in equal proportions to create an effective facial toner. By rubbing it daily on problem areas of the skin, you can notice results within 10–14 days.
The first effect that will be obtained from using such masks is not related to getting rid of freckles. After a few sessions, there will be a noticeable improvement in the overall condition of the skin. And for a stronger and better result it takes more time.
So, it may take several months to get rid of freckles. It is difficult to determine the exact period, because each person’s skin has its own unique properties.
The process of cell regeneration and their ability to properly distribute in tissues is a complex process that is very difficult to understand on your own. But if there is a need to “shorten” the waiting time for results, then you can contact qualified specialists - a dermatologist or cosmetologist.
Grated cucumber can be used daily
Why do freckles appear?
Freckles are small pigment spots on the skin, the appearance of which is caused by the accumulation of melanin, a coloring substance secreted by cells (melanocytes) under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The main functions of this pigment are to protect tissues from sunburn and prevent malignant degeneration of cells. Normally, melanin is distributed evenly in the surface layers of the skin, but sometimes it happens that in certain areas of the skin the pigment is synthesized in excess, as a result of which freckles appear.
Multi-component masks for freckles
Many women who are constantly looking for effective remedies for freckles opt for multi-component masks. These are easy to do yourself at home. Just before this, you should visit the grocery store to purchase all the components of the selected recipe.
The most popular “fighters for clear skin” are:
Yeast-kefir mask
To prepare the mask you will need:
- 15 grams. lemon juice,
- 15 grams. aloe juice,
- teaspoon dry yeast,
- a tablespoon of low-fat kefir.
All components are added to the fermented milk product (kefir) in stages. Each new addition to the mixture requires careful mixing. When all the ingredients are mixed, you need to give the mask some airiness, beat it with a fork and fluff it up.
The prepared mixture is applied to the problem area of the skin for 15 minutes, after which it is washed off under running warm water.
Curd mask
The mask is prepared from the following products:
- two teaspoons of cottage cheese,
- one teaspoon of low-fat sour cream,
- 5 ml hydrogen peroxide.
The time of one session (exposure to the skin) is no more than 30 minutes.
After its completion, the mask is washed off with warm boiled water.
Parsley remedies
A decoction will help whiten your face, for which you will need:
- Chopped parsley - 4 tablespoons.
- Water – 0.5 liters.
Fill the grass with water. Place on the fire and let it boil. Cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Cool. Dampen a cotton pad and wipe it over pigmented skin. The procedure must be repeated several times a day.
It is important to pay attention to the fact that the finished broth is stored in a cool place for no more than 3 days.
Other equally effective parsley-based remedies:
- Infusion. Boil 1 liter of water. Fill a bunch of medium-sized plants with it. Let stand for 3 hours. Strain through cheesecloth. Wipe your skin 2 times a day - morning and evening. The shelf life of parsley infusion is no more than 3 days if stored in the refrigerator.
- Compress. A very effective remedy against freckles, because it uses natural freshly squeezed parsley juice. Heat the juice a little and soak a gauze bandage in it. Place on freckled area of skin. Leave for 15 minutes.
- Tincture. For preparation you will need: finely chopped leaves of the plant (30 g), lemon juice (70 ml), vodka (200 ml). Pour lemon juice and vodka over the parsley. Place in a dark place for 14 days, then filter. Wipe areas of the body with pigmentation, and after half an hour, rinse with plain water. You can use the tincture no more than 2 times a week, otherwise there is a risk of dehydration of the epidermis.
A wonderful way to rid your skin of freckles are masks with parsley with the addition of other ingredients. There are several most effective recipes:
- From different parts of the plant. In the spring months and in the first half of summer, stems and leaves are taken, at the end of summer and early autumn - the root. Chop the parsley parts and place on the skin for half an hour. After time, remove with cool water. In addition to the fact that this recipe can remove freckles, it makes the skin elastic, therefore it is especially recommended for people over 40 years old.
- With kefir. Grind the leaves to make 30 g of product. Add 2/3 cup of kefir to them. Leave the components to interact with each other for 3 hours. Apply the resulting mixture to freckled skin. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse off the mask with water. If the skin is dry, you can use light sour cream instead of kefir.
- With honey. Finely chop the parsley leaves or grind them in a blender. Add an equal amount of natural honey. Make a mask. Leave it on the skin for 45 minutes. If the skin is very oily, it is permissible to add lemon juice. But in this case, keep it for no more than 15 minutes.
Any of the listed masks must be applied immediately after production.
Before using a parsley-based folk remedy, check your tolerance. To do this, apply a little of the prepared product to your wrist, and if after an hour there is no redness or discomfort, then there is no allergy.