Top 10 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Age Spots

What are Age Spots?

Age spots, also known as solar lentigines and liver spots are painless, flat, dark brown or black blemishes on the skin. They mostly appear on the face, back of the hands, neck, shoulders and sometimes on back and feet due to sun exposure. Age spots commonly occur in older adults more than 50 years of age, but an early appearance of these dark spots are associated with greater exposure to the UV rays of the sun (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Molecular and histological characterization of age spots

Go to source). Age spots are caused by over active pigment cells.

Age spots are harmless, lesion-free spots occurring in varied sizes. They do not need any medical treatment and people sometimes misunderstand them as cancerous growths. Age spots can be reduced by using bleaching agents and cosmetic products, but it is always better to prevent them by reducing sun exposure or using sunscreens before stepping out in the sun.

There are many permanent age spot treatments offered by skin clinics these days and various age spot creams are available in the market.

Causes of Age Spots

Wondering why are you getting such discolorations all over your face and neck? The answer lies in the upper layer of skin, which contains melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. Overexposure of skin to sun rays causes increased production of melanin to protect the inner layers of skin from harmful UV rays. Clustered melanin particles generate skin tan that eventually develops into age spots.

Prolonged use of electronic tanning lamps and tanning beds can also cause skin darkening. Aging, chronic illness and poor nutrition are also contributing factors for age spots.

Disclaimer: The home remedies suggested here are not a substitute for treatment by doctors. It is highly advisable to seek an expert’s opinion. All the remedies listed here may not be suitable for everyone. It is recommended to check for allergies or do a patch test before using the remedy.

Home Remedies for Age Spots

It is a strenuous task to remove age spots completely, but various creams and permanent age spot treatments are available in the market today. Clinical treatments such as laser age spot removal, and other cosmetics are effective but may cause side effects. There are some natural remedies that can be easily followed at home to get rid of age spots. Some of them are: Some of them are:

1. Lemon Juice:Lemon juice may help to reduce age spots. lemon juice contains citric acid and a high concentration of antioxidants, which act as a bleach to help fade tans and thus reduce age spots. Many cosmetic and herbal skin creams contain lemon juice as a prime ingredient to aid spot removal. Many cosmetic and herbal skin creams contain lemon juice as a prime ingredient to aid spot removal. A published article shows that the citrus-based juice mixture is a potentially healthy beverage for the prevention of oxidative stress-induced premature skin aging (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Antioxidant and anti-ageing activities of citrus-based juice mixture

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How to use?

• Soak a cotton ball in fresh lemon juice and apply it over the affected area, twice a day. Allow it for 20 minutes then rinse with cold water. Follow this routine for two months for a considerable reduction in age spots.

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2. Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar can be used for lightening age spots. A high amount of natural alpha hydroxy acids in apple cider vinegar vinegar may help remove dead cells and rejuvenate skin. Not just that, apple cider vinegar may also help in removing age spots and minimize fine lines and wrinkles.

How to use?

• Add a few drops of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink once a day. Add a teaspoon of honey to make it taste better.
• Mix a few drops of apple cider vinegar to onion juice or rose water and apply directly on spots.

3. Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera juice or gel is a natural home remedy for age spots. It helps clear marks and diminishes dark spots effectively. Active compounds in aloe vera control aging of skin cells and induce the growth of new cells, making the skin free from wrinkles and spots. According to a study, aloe vera gel has a protective effect against radiation damage to the skin. It also has a moisturizing and anti-aging effect on the skin by making the skin more elastic and reducing wrinkles (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Aloe Vera: A Short Review

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How to use?

• Mix 2 tsp of aloe vera juice in water and drink it each morning to improve your overall skin and digestive health.
• Massage a little fresh aloe vera gel or juice directly over the face, neck, hands and back daily to reduce age spots.

4. Almond Oil: Almond oil has emollient properties which may help in improving the complexion and tone of the skin. According to a study, the topical application of almond oil on the skin helps in preventing structural damage to the cells caused by UV rays (4^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils

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How to use?

• Apply almond oil to the affected area after cleansing your face. Leave it overnight for maximum effect..

5. Buttermilk: Buttermilk is available as a staple in most houses. Buttermilk is rich in lactic acid and may help remove dead skin and lighten the skin (5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Get the Upper Hand On Age Spots

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How to use?

• Apply buttermilk over the darkened area on face and neck with cotton swabs. Keep it for some time and then wash off with cool water. Repeat it daily for effective results

6. Onion: Onion is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that naturally lighten skin color. Thus it is effective in reducing age spots and making skin clearer. Dried red onion on skin may help lighten age spots.

How to use?

• Rub the sliced onion directly on to the spotted area for some time and rinse.
• Blend the onion and strain its juice. Mix it with apple cider vinegar juice or 2 tablespoons of honey and apply it to the age spots.

7. Cucumber Juice: Cucumbers contain high water content. Cucumber juice may also show some bleaching effects against age spots. It contains antioxidants and multiple vitamins, which may help in lightening the age spots(5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Get the Upper Hand On Age Spots

Go to source). Organic compounds and natural acids in cucumbers also help reduce pigmentation and clear spots.

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How to use?

• Blend sliced cucumbers in a juicer. Strain the juice and apply it all over the face, neck and other affected regions. Let it dry and rinse. Follow this remedy daily until you get the desired results.

8. Papaya: Papaya contains a special enzyme called papain, which may help eliminate dead skin cells and improve skin quality. Vitamin A present in papaya acts as an antioxidant, preventing cell damage. According to a study, the fermented extract of papaya resulted in a significant improvement in skin complexion and more evidence is required to ensure their efficacy in reducing skin aging (6^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Effect of a quality-controlled fermented nutraceutical on skin aging markers: An antioxidant-control, double-blind study

Go to source, 7^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Beneficial Role of Carica papaya Extracts and Phytochemicals on Oxidative Stress and Related Diseases: A Mini Review

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How to use?

• Rub fresh papaya pulp on spotted area. Keep it for some time and rinse with water. Follow this daily till results began to appear.

9. Yogurt: Yogurt contains lactic acid, which may help in skin lightening. According to a research article, there is limited evidence for fermented dairy products when applied topically and consumed orally, which may provide benefits for skin health. However, further research is needed to assess the efficacy of the fermented dairy products in improving skin health (8^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Effects of Fermented Dairy Products on Skin: A Systematic Review

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How to use?

• Make a face mask of yogurt with rose water and apply on cleansed face. Let it dry for some time and wash off. Practice this remedy daily for two months.

10. Orange Peel: The vitamins and antioxidants in the orange peels may help rejuvenate skin. Orange peels can draw out the toxin and impurities from the skin and help in overall skin lightening (5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Get the Upper Hand On Age Spots

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How to use?

• Grind the orange peel into a paste and apply the paste to the age spots. Let it dry for 20 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water.