Freckles are a very common skin condition that appear on the face or other areas of

the body dr arrivo. They can be a nuisance for some people and others embrace them as a

sign of beauty. They tend to fade naturally with less sun exposure or as you age, but

there are some steps that can be taken to help them lighten and dissipate even

faster.

Frekles are actually raised spots of pigmentation called ephelides and they occur in

people with all skin tones, but are more commonly seen in people with lighter

complexions. They are the result of overproduction of melanin by your skin cells and

can be caused by sun exposure or inherited genes that predispose you to freckle

formation.

There are a few over-the-counter products that can be used to lighten the

appearance of your freckles. These include a variety of skin tone lighteners and

chemical peels. The skin tone lighters can be found in the form of toners and creams

and they work by dispersing the excess melanin, thereby lightening your freckles.

The chemical peels can be performed in a dermatology office and can range from a

mild peel using alpha or beta hydroxy acids, to medium peels using trichloroacetic

acid or phenol and deep peels with glycolic acid which penetrate deeper into the

skin to remove more of the top layer.

Another popular option to eliminate freckles is laser treatment. This can also be

done in a dermatology office and works by targeting the darker melanin in your

freckles and breaking down the visible pigment. It is an effective method to remove

unwanted pigmentation, but can be a little expensive and it may take some time for

your freckles to completely disappear after undergoing this treatment.

The best way to get rid of freckles is to prevent them from forming in the first place,

which means a strict regimen of sunscreen use. This can be achieved by wearing a

high-SPF broad spectrum sunscreen daily, even when it is cloudy. This will not only

prevent freckles from getting darker, but will keep them from forming altogether.

There is no surefire way to permanently get rid of your freckles, but some

treatments can be very effective and help to dramatically reduce their appearance.

Chemical peels are an excellent option that can be done in a dermatology office and

have been shown to effectively lighten and sometimes erase the darkened freckles

on the face, arms and hands. They are often followed by laser therapy which can be

very effective as well.

Lastly, bleaching your freckles with a strong home bleach like lemon juice is an

effective way to diminish them and can be done at home. It is important to note that

this will not permanently remove them and you will need to continue to be careful

with your sun exposure and use the proper sunscreen to keep them from re-

appearing. It is also a good idea to consult with a dermatologist before any invasive

treatment to be sure there are no underlying concerns.