What are freckles?

Freckles are just a high concentration of melanin in small areas of the skin, caused by genetics or sun exposure. Some of us start out as freckle-faced kids, while others develop spots later on due to sun exposure or aging.

Options for fading freckles

No matter how you got your freckles, you have a number of options for getting rid of them. The best option for you depends on the amount of money and time you're willing to dedicate to the cause of a freckle-free face.

• Natural remedies: Yes, these methods are mostly based on old wives’ tales, but many swear by their efficacy. The most popular homemade remedy requires applying lemon juice directly to your face. You can also make facial masks from yogurt, cucumber or parsley. These are cheap and safe solutions, but there hasn’t been any research to prove that these methods actually work.
• Creams and bleaching agents: Certain over-the-counter products can fade facial spots. Products like alpha hydroxy acids and retinoids facilitate the shedding of outer skin cells, remove older, darker-pigmented layers of skin and make freckles appear lighter.

  Bleaching agents are also popular and generally well-tolerated. However, hydroquinone, the active ingredient in many skin lightening creams, can cause allergic reactions. Recently, the FDA has also raised some concerns about hydroquinone.

  In general, use these creams with care, since they can lighten the skin around the freckle rather than the freckle itself. It can take several months before you see any real improvement, and the ultimate results can be disappointing.

  Your doctor might prescribe a stronger product with hydroquinone. Keep in mind, prescription creams come with a heftier price tag and higher risk of side effects.

• Chemical peels or freezing: Doctor-performed peels can smooth and firm your skin while gradually lightening freckles. These range from superficial peels — with little recovery time and few side effects — to deeper peels, which offer more dramatic results along with bigger risks and more downtime. Some doctors also use liquid nitrogen to literally freeze off freckles and age spots.

  Though these treatments are more expensive than over-the-counter remedies, you’ll get the advantage of medical-grade products applied by expert hands. Your local medi-spa might offer similar treatments, but make sure that a licensed, experienced professional will be performing your treatment.

• Laser resurfacing: The Rolls Royce of freckle removal, laser resurfacing, removes the outer layer of the skin, causing some pain, redness and peeling. While extremely effective, laser treatments can cost between $1,000 and $5,000 and involve some risks.
• Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL): IPL uses intense, broadband light to treat the skin. Unlike with lasers, the outer layer (epidermis) of skin is unharmed, so there’s little to no recovery time or side effects. But treating freckles with IPL may take several treatments, while laser resurfacing can zap those spots in one fell swoop.

Picking your products

If you’re seeking a hydroquinone-free way to lighten your freckles, look for products with alternative ingredients like azelaic acid, bilberry extract, kojic acid and arbutin.

Try Yonka Solution 46 to fade freckles and provide a smoother, more even complexion. With a combination of effective skin lightening agents, Donnel Super Skin Lightening Gel improves the appearance of age spots (also called lentigines).

Bottom line

Nili Alai, M.D., on MedicineNet, recommends combining various types of treatments for the best results. And no matter what treatment you choose, maintaining your freckle-free look means staying out of the sun and wearing sunscreen consistently. After all, you don’t want new freckles reappearing on your spot-liberated, clear complexion.

See also:

Treating Sun Spots with Lightening Products

The Appeal of Peels

Alternatives to Hydroquinone