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How to Combat Freckles

Freckles are a common occurrence on the skin, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you want them there. If you want to remove freckles and dark spots from your skin, here are some freckle facts and treatment options for removing them.

How to Remove Freckles

What Are Freckles?

Before we talk about how to get rid of freckles, it’s important to first understand what they are. Freckles are harmless clusters of brown, tan, or reddish spots on the skin that frequently occur as a result of sun exposure. They can appear in a number of places on the body, but are most frequently found on the face, neck, chest, arms, and back. In the vast majority of cases, freckles only appear seasonally. During the winter when there’s less sunlight, they’ll fade away a bit, but they might not disappear completely. As we said before, sun exposure tends to make them more pronounced on the skin. But of course, genetics can play a role in the appearance of freckles on the skin. For some people, freckles are present all year round. It’s important to note that freckles are different from moles, though. While freckles appear due to sun exposure or genetics, moles develop as a result of skin cells growing in a cluster. That kind of cell growth isn’t a factor for freckles, but how are you supposed to get rid of freckles?

Bleaching Creams

If you want to reduce the appearance of your freckles, skin bleaching creams are a popular option to help you do just that. That being said, you should always consult with your dermatologist before beginning a treatment program with a skin bleaching cream. These creams typically have ingredients like kojic acid of hydroquinone as the main active ingredient. Over time, they can help lighten freckles, but they may not remove them completely.

Retinoid Creams

Retinoids are commonly used as an anti-aging treatment for skin, but they can also be used to reduce the appearance of freckles. Part of the reason retinoids are so popular for anti-aging treatments is that they help promote even skin tone. That same property can help reduce the appearance of freckles on the skin. That being said, it’s important to note that retinoids may cause redness and irritation if you have sensitive skin. Again, it’s always best to consult with your dermatologist before you attempt any kind of topical treatment to reduce the appearance of freckles.

Sunscreen

While sunscreen might not remove your freckles, it can certainly help you prevent the appearance of new freckles. When freckles are caused in part by sun exposure, it makes sense that to prevent freckles, you’d want to prevent sun exposure. At the very least, sunscreen can help you protect your skin from excess UV radiation exposure. So if you’re fine with a few freckles but you don’t want any more, make sure you’re wearing sunscreen with at least SPF 30.

You deserve to feel comfortable in your skin, whether it means removing your freckles or not. If you have questions about how to remove freckles from your skin or you’re ready to book an appointment for a treatment, set up your consultation with SE Dermatology Specialists today.

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