It’s only Spring mamas, but the sun is out and before we know it summer will be in full effect! And between those sunny vacations and long days at the pool, your skin is likely to show some signs of sun damage this season. You may even notice that your skin becomes lighter in some areas, somewhat like little light spots here and there. Although these spots are completely harmless, they can be quite annoying and are seen as unattractive to some of us. You are not alone.
One of the most common Spring/Summer skin ailments is sunspots, also known as hyper-pigmentation or age spots. This is a natural occurrence in the skin as the melanin increases overtime, but not always throughout our entire skin. Unfortunately, sunspots are very common and they affect every and any skin type. In addition to sun damage, other cause of hyper-pigmentation include sum allergies, sunburn, hormonal issues (puberty), poor diet and scarring from acne.
The good news is, you can get rid of sunspots with just a few simple ingredients, many of which you can find right on your pantry. I have dark skin and have tried all of these solutions myself throughout the years and some do take longer to work than others, depending on your skin type. But rest assured they are all effective and chemical free! I’ve included four natural remedies and a quick sun spot scrub recipe that you can whip up in less than 5 minutes. I highly recommended using a carrier oil such as Rosehip, Jojoba or Almond oil to moisturize your skin after each remedy.
Lemon Juice
You can use fresh lemon juice as as toner to help fade your sunspots away. Lemon juice is great for the skin and packed with vitamin C to help your skin even back out. Just squeeze out ½ a lemon into a small bowl and apply directly to sunspots with a cotton ball. Leave on for about 10-15 minutes and rinse with cool water. You can do this every day until you see the spots fade away, just stay out of the sun when you do. Simple and effective!
Green Tea
Green tea is pretty much good for everything, sunspots included. The antioxidants in green tea help pull the toxins right out of your skin. So the next time you brew your morning cup of green tea, put some aside for your sunspots. Dip into the tea with a dry cotton ball and apply right to the skin. Just like the lemon juice, you can let it sit for 10-15 minutes everyday until the sunspots are gone.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is amazing for your hair, but it can do wonders for the skin as well. Because aloe vera properties help the skin regenerate, it is a fantastic solution for sun damaged skin. Take a fresh aloe leaf at your grocery store or home garden and cut in half. Apply the gel straight from the plant onto the affected area. Let gel sit on skin for at least 30 minutes before rinsing with cool water. For quick results, repeat this twice a day, in the early morning and after sun down. For me, this was the fastest method to fade my sunspots.
Papaya
You may not know this but papaya is my secret weapon when it come to correcting damaged skin! Often used for whitening, papaya enzymes also help to exfoliate your skin and reduce sunspots naturally. Slice open a fresh papaya and smash it up into a thick paste. Apply on skin and leave sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and repeat twice a day, preferably when the sunlight is low.
Remember, sunspots are completely normal and beautiful! Don’t stress as you wait for them to fade away, embrace them – they are reminders of your journeys in the sun 🙂