Freckles
Freckles are small, non-prominent circular spots that appear on the surface of the skin exposed to the sun: the face, neck, upper chest, arms and hands. These patches are skin cells containing a large amount of pigment called melanin. Melanin is a darker color than normal skin Or two degrees, secreted by a type of cells called pigmented cells in order to protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays that reach us from exposure to the sun, by absorbing or reversing the rays to prevent absorption of the skin, the rate of secretion of melanin increased exposure to the sun causing the emergence of freckles or increase the limit Color, and freckles is not a disease and does not cause pain.
Freckle color
The color of freckles varies between red, yellow, light brown, and dark brown, and these spots appear dark in summer and pale in winter.
Causes of freckles
There are two main reasons for freckles:
- Genetic causes, and most of what we see in people with light skin, light hair and colored eyes, here the spots of freckles circular small, faded, and irregular edges.
- Direct and continuous exposure to the sun, freckles caused by sunburn appear darker, larger, and irregular.
Treatment of freckles by medical means
The main solution is to solve the problem of freckles by avoiding exposure to the sun as much as possible. The medical treatments used to treat the problem of freckles vary as they arise. The most important treatments can be summarized as follows:
- The use of skin whitening creams containing hydroquinone and kojic acid. These creams can be purchased without a prescription unless the concentration of hydroquinone is higher than 2%. It requires a prescription. These creams can lighten the color of freckles if used continuously for months. These creams look more effective. Avoid sun exposure and use the appropriate sun visor.
- Freezing therapy, using nitrogen liquid, can cure a certain type of freckle and not all patches respond to treatment.
- Chemical Peeling Skin peeling is used to treat irregular skin pigmentation and to brighten the color of freckles.
- Intensive pulsed phototherapy, exposing the skin to an intense light source that brightens or removes freckles.
- Laser therapy is one of the most effective ways to lighten freckles. It is a safe treatment where lasers work to break down melanin into very small parts swallowed by white blood cells.
Treatment of freckles in natural ways
There are many home remedies prepared from natural materials present in every home to help eliminate freckles or lighten the color, and these treatments:
Lemon
Lemon is one of the best natural ways to get rid of freckles because it contains citric acid, where fresh lemon juice is used directly on the freckle area. The lemon mask can be prepared by bringing a lemon and orange juice in a bowl and adding a tablespoon of yogurt and apply the resulting mixture to the freckle area and leave to dry, then rinse with cold water.
Yogurt
The presence of lactic acid in yoghurt works to exfoliate the skin naturally without irritating the skin or causing it to dry. By placing the milk on the skin for 20 to 30 minutes and then rinsed the skin with water, and use this recipe on a daily basis until the result.
Eggplant
Eggplant is a substance rich in vitamins and minerals useful for the skin and can be used to reduce the freckles, by bringing the fruit of fresh eggplant and cut into slices of a quarter inch, then placed slides on the affected skin and massage using the fingers gently circular motion for three to five minutes, Leave the slices on the skin for at least a quarter of an hour, then wash with warm water. The results can be observed within one week. Regular application of the eggplant will open the freckles but will not hide them completely.
Strawberry or cranberry
Strawberries and cranberries can eliminate freckles because they contain Citric acid by crushing strawberries or cranberries into a bowl, then apply to the skin to be treated and leave to dry, then rinse the skin with cold water.
Protective Tips
We have mentioned that the basic treatment for freckles is to avoid exposure to the sun, prevention of freckles easier than cure, and if the person forced to get out in the sun, he should follow the following tips:
- Use sunscreen for exposed face and exposed areas, but not less than 50 (SPF).
- Avoid sun exposure at peak times between 10 am and 4 pm to avoid the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.
- Cover sun-exposed skin areas whenever possible, wearing long-sleeved clothing.
- Wear broad hats.
- Stand in the shadow areas.