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Home > Skin & Beauty > Skin Conditions > Home Remedies for Age Spots and How to Use Them

Home Remedies for Age Spots and How to Use Them

December 22, 2020 - Updated on August 17, 2021
8 min read
By Akanksha Shah Sanghvi, MD, Clinical Dermatology

In this article:

  • Home Remedies for Age Spots
  • Preventive Measures for Age Spots
  • Final Word

Age spots refer to hyperpigmented areas that appear on the face and hands. Also known as liver spots, they generally develop due to natural aging or sun damage.

at-home remedies for age spots

While various medical treatments such as chemical peels and lasers can be used to remove age spots, you can also follow some home remedies. This article discusses different at-home interventions that can help manage and prevent the development of age spots.

Home Remedies for Age Spots

You can try the following home remedies to help reduce and lighten age spots to a certain extent. However, keep in mind that while some remedies may work for an individual, some may not.

Disclaimer: Since your facial skin is extremely thin and delicate, it can get easily irritated by any new topical ingredient. So, to avoid any adverse skin reactions such as burns and rashes, perform a patch test of the ingredients on the underside of your arm. If irritation occurs, avoid its use.

Needless to say, people who are allergic to any of the ingredients in the remedy should not use it. Those with sensitive skin are advised to take special precautions before trying out any topical remedy.

1. Use topical vitamin C

topical application of vitamin C can help reduce age spots

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant that can inhibit melanin production by curbing the action of the enzyme tyrosinase. (1) It is said to help reduce age spots by various users.

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How to use:

  • Apply vitamin C serums on your age spots.
  • Dilute 1 tbsp of lemon juice with water, and apply the solution to the affected areas. Rinse after 15 minutes and apply a moisturizer. You can also add vitamin E for a higher efficacy. (2)

2. Apply aloe vera gel

Aloe vera gel contains aloin that can help lighten the skin. (3)

How to use:

  • Apply aloin-based skin whitening creams directly on the age spots.
  • Extract fresh aloe vera gel and apply it to the affected areas. You can also add lemon juice to the gel. Wash your face after 20 minutes of application.

Caution: Avoid ingesting the gel as it can cause severe side effects.

3. Use natural sources of alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids, including lactic, malic, and glycolic acids, work by inhibiting the activity of tyrosine, thereby inhibiting melanin production and giving a skin whitening effect. (4)(5)

While glycolic acid is commonly used for clinical chemical peels, lactic acid (6)(7) is more common in households. Lactic acid can be commonly found in yogurt, milk, milk cream, and antioxidant berries such as Indian gooseberry. (8)

How to use:

Mix any of these natural ingredients with 1 tbsp of rose water or lemon juice, and apply the mixture to the age spots.

Note: The use of apple cider vinegar is a popular anecdotal remedy. However, it mainly contains acetic acid, with minimal amounts of alpha hydroxy acid. Therefore, it might not be effective.

4. Try oils

certain oils can prove helpful in treating age spots

Various oils, such as almond, rose hip, vitamin E, sandalwood, (8) and castor oil, can help inhibit melanin production, thus proving useful in the treatment of age spots. Rose hip oil contains quercetin, which is useful in depigmentation. (9)

How to use:

Dab any of the oils on the age spots using a cotton ball.

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5. Dab pomegranate juice

Pomegranate juice has been shown to decrease the number of melanin-producing cells by blocking the activity of tyrosinase. It can therefore help lighten age spots. (10)

How to use:

Simply apply it to your age spots and let it dry before rinsing it off.

6. Apply rose extracts

Rose extracts have been known to block tyrosinase, thus helping lighten skin. (11)

How to use:

  • Soak a few rose petals in milk for 1 hour and grind the mixture. Add honey to the paste and apply it to the age spots for 15 minutes.
  • Use commercially available alcohol-based extracts as they are more effective. (12) Avoid making alcohol-based extracts at home.

7. Use honey

honey can help lighten your skin

Honey contains several polyphenols that act against tyrosinase. Various kinds of honey, such as manuka, Thai, and Sardinian honey, are observed to have skin-lightening effects. (13)(14)

How to use:

Apply raw honey to the age spots or mix lemon juice, milk, or yogurt to prepare a face mask.

8. Apply a turmeric mask

Turmeric is observed to inhibit tyrosinase activity to a large extent. (8)

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How to use:

Mix 2 tsp of turmeric with milk and lemon juice to form a paste. Apply the mask to the affected areas and wash it off after 20 minutes.

9. Rub a tomato

tomato can help fade age spots

Tomato juice is a popular and safe anecdotal remedy, but its direct effect on age spots has not been studied in any research. Tomato contains lycopene that can help manage radiation damage. (15)

How to use:

Rub a slice of tomato on the affected areas for 10 minutes and allow it to dry before rinsing. Extract fresh tomato juice and use it to prepare a mask with turmeric, honey, milk, or yogurt.

10. Use OTC creams

You can apply nonprescription creams and lotions for skin lightening. Apply a cream containing vitamin E, glycolic acid, ionic acid, niacinamide, or licorice extracts. (16) These products need to be applied for months before the desired effect is achieved.

Preventive Measures for Age Spots

Follow these self-care tips to help prevent the development of age spots:

1. Apply sunscreen

apply sunscreen before venturing out in the sun

The WHO recommends wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher 20 minutes before stepping outdoors. Moreover, the sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours or after exercising, swimming, or playing. (17)

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Select sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Take note that sunscreens should be applied every day, even when it is not sunny, as UV radiation levels are not dependent on temperature.

2. Protect yourself from UV rays

Apart from wearing sunscreen, you must cover your skin with full- length clothes and wear large-brimmed hats and sunglasses to prevent sun exposure. Moreover, avoid going out during midday.

Since UV radiations are higher at higher altitudes, and snow effectively reflects UV rays, activities such as snowboarding and skiing can increase the risk of sunburn. Therefore, make sure to cover yourself well.

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3. Avoid the use of tanning beds

Tanning beds use UV rays that can cause age spots and wrinkling. Instead, use self-tanning products, but make sure to continue using sunscreen with it.

4. Include antioxidants in your diet

including antioxidants in your diet is good for the skin

Since sun exposure can cause oxidative stress and cause photoaging, it is suggested to consume high amounts of antioxidants.

Consume leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, berries, bell peppers, beans, Brazil nuts, dairy products, oysters, whole grains, freshwater fishes, and flaxseeds for their antioxidant minerals and bioactive compounds.

Final Word

Developing age spots due to sun exposure can make you look older than you are. You can try different home remedies to help lighten these unwelcome spots and give your skin an even tone.

Moreover, you must take preventive steps to avoid the development of age spots in the first place. It is advised to consult a doctor if the age spots are large and irregular, as they may be indicative of cancer.

Continue Reading Continue ReadingAge Spots: Causes, Symptoms, and Medical Treatment
References
  1. De Dormael R, Bastien P, Sextius P, et al. Vitamin C Prevents Ultraviolet-induced Pigmentation in Healthy Volunteers: Bayesian Meta-analysis Results from 31 Randomized Controlled versus Vehicle Clinical Studies. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6415704/. Published February 2019.
  2. Schagen SK, Zampeli VA, Makrantonaki E, Zouboulis CC. Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging. Dermato-endocrinology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583891/. Published July 1, 2012.
  3. RK; ASAGJMC. On the novel action of melanolysis by a leaf extract of Aloe vera and its active ingredient aloin, potent skin depigmenting agents. Planta medica. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22495441/.
  4. I; KAN. [Use of organic acids in acne and skin discolorations therapy]. Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25811473/.
  5. Usuki A; Ohashi A; Sato H; Ochiai Y; Ichihashi M; Funasaka Y; The inhibitory effect of glycolic acid and lactic acid on melanin synthesis in melanoma cells. Experimental dermatology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14756523/.
  6. Sharquie KE, Al-Dhalimi MA, Noaimi AA, Al-Sultany HA. Lactic Acid as a new therapeutic peeling agent in the treatment of lifa disease (frictional dermal melanosis). Indian journal of dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3519251/. Published November 2012.
  7. Singh R, Goyal S, Ahmed QR, Gupta N, Singh S. Effect of 82% Lactic Acid in Treatment of Melasma. International scholarly research notices. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4897467/. Published July 17, 2014.
  8. Sharma K, Joshi N, Goyal C. Critical review of Ayurvedic Varṇya herbs and their tyrosinase inhibition effect. Ancient science of life. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4623628/. Published 2015.
  9. Mármol I, Sánchez-de-Diego C, Jiménez-Moreno N, Ancín-Azpilicueta C, Rodríguez-Yoldi MJ. Therapeutic Applications of Rose Hips from Different Rosa Species. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5485961/. Published May 25, 2017.
  10. Kang SJ, Choi BR, Lee EK, et al. Inhibitory Effect of Dried Pomegranate Concentration Powder on Melanogenesis in B16F10 Melanoma Cells; Involvement of p38 and PKA Signaling Pathways. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4632747/. Published October 13, 2015.
  11. Song YR; Lim WC; Han A; Lee MH; Shin EJ; Lee KM; Nam TG; Lim TG; Rose Petal Extract ( Rosa gallica) Exerts Skin Whitening and Anti-Skin Wrinkle Effects. Journal of medicinal food. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32609563/.
  12. Choi E-K, Guo H, Choi J-K, et al. Extraction conditions of white rose petals for the inhibition of enzymes related to skin aging. Laboratory animal research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4602082/. Published September 2015.
  13. Jantakee K, Tragoolpua Y. Activities of different types of Thai honey on pathogenic bacteria causing skin diseases, tyrosinase enzyme and generating free radicals. Biological research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4417269/. Published January 16, 2015.
  14. Chang T-S. An updated review of tyrosinase inhibitors. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705500/. Published May 26, 2009.
  15. Evans JA, Johnson EJ. The role of phytonutrients in skin health. Nutrients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257702/. Published August 2010.
  16. Sarkar R, Arora P, Garg KV. Cosmeceuticals for Hyperpigmentation: What is Available? Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3663177/. Published January 2013.
  17. Radiation: Sun protection. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/radiation-sun-protection.
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