Introduction
Freckles fall into the category of benign skin disorders, which do not bring any consequences in the body. These roundish brownish spots represent, for all intents and purposes, only a problem of appearance, which afflicts many people, particularly women, with fair complexions and blond or red hair.
Below, we will list the main methods currently available to remove or otherwise mitigate this type of skin manifestation as much as possible.
Chemical peels
Chemical peels are among the most widely used aesthetic treatments to combat freckles and skin spots of various origins and nature.
This aesthetic treatment makes use of particular substances that exert an exfoliating action of a chemical type. Among the substances most commonly used in this area we mention glycolic acid and trichloroacetic acid.
The execution of these chemical peels manages to "burn" the surface freckles, since it chemically exfoliates the most superficial layers of the skin which will then be reconstructed with new cells lacking the melanin pigment. However, such treatments should only be performed by experienced medical personnel, as if performed by unqualified persons they could cause serious side effects and serious complications.
Exfoliating Cosmetics
As an alternative to peeling, for the elimination of freckles it is possible to use cosmetics (creams, gels, masks, etc.) with an exfoliating and depigmenting action (lightening). These cosmetics are generally formulated with substances such as kojic acid, glycolic acid and mandelic acid.
However, in the presence of freckles, although they do not show pathological manifestations, the opinion of the doctor is always very important: an excessive or wrong use of the substances mentioned could in fact lead to unpleasant undesirable effects.
Laser therapy
Laser therapy is also a technique that eliminates freckles, acting directly on melanocytes, which are destroyed without affecting the tissue: melanin will then be reabsorbed by the skin. Before the treatment an ointment could be applied to anesthetize the area, although the session is not painful. After laser therapy, the skin generally suffers inflammation and tends to discolor; the skin will be new after about a week.
Cryotherapy
If the affected person thinks that the freckles are a serious problem of appearance, the dermatologist could recommend a treatment with liquid nitrogen ( cryotherapy ). Applied in the speck, it generates a cold burn, consequently ephelis disappears but leaves a small scar that dissolves in a short period. Cryotherapy is a relatively expensive treatment, both in terms of money and time: a single operation is not sufficient, in fact, for a definitive elimination it is necessary to undergo several sessions.
diathermocoagulation
Among the remedies against freckles, we also remember the DCR ( radiofrequency diathermocoagulation ): no lightening substances or lasers are used, but the ephelis is treated with an instrument called electrosurgery: high-frequency microwave beams literally burn the skin, thus the ephelis disappears, detaching itself. It is also a technique used for the treatment of angiomas, warts, keratoses and for permanent hair removal.
Diathermocoagulation is undoubtedly one of the most invasive techniques for the removal of freckles and, as such, it must necessarily be performed only by medical experts and professionals in the sector.
Also worth mentioning is the contraindication to the execution of this intervention for patients with peacemakers or other implanted electronic devices and for patients suffering from coagulation disorders.
Natural remedies
Although the medicinal plants do not completely solve the disorder, some natural remedies are considered very effective in lightening the colored spots: among the "miraculous" plants we remember the heather, the calendula, the horseradish, the cucumber, the lemon, the oats, the dandelion and the hazel.
Erica (Erica arborea)
The decoction of heather, applied directly on the freckles, has the ability to lighten them slightly: its phytocomplex is essentially characterized by tannins and arbutoside with astringent power.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
The drug extract is characterized by triterpene saponins, flavonoids, triterpene alcohols, phenols, mucilages and pigments, including carotenoids with antioxidant properties. The phytocomplex is therefore rich in various active ingredients that give the plant anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and healing properties; moreover, calendula has stimulating and protective properties against the skin.
Horseradish ( Raphanus sativus )
Typically, horseradish is cultivated to take advantage of its acrid-tasting roots, used raw or preserved in grated (cren) pickle. Among the ancient natural remedies to lighten the freckles, horseradish was also used: after having grated it and placed it in vinegar for a few days, it had to be filtered: in this way the liquid obtained is enriched with glucosinated active principles, which exert a lightening action at the level of the skin.
Certiolo (Cucumis sativus)
Cucumber is a vegetable belonging to the Curcubitaceae family and is native to India. It consists of water, few carbohydrates, and salts such as calcium, sodium, phosphorus and potassium. We should also mention the presence of vitamin C.
From the cosmetic point of view, instead, the cucumber is a natural remedy that is placed in products suitable to lighten the freckles, thanks to the properties: regenerating, moisturizing, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictor. Already in ancient times, cucumber was used to relieve skin disorders: grated pulp was applied directly to the skin to take advantage of the refreshing effect of the vegetable. In this regard, the spots caused by the sun were treated with this remedy.
Lemon (Citrus limon)
Lemon, rich in antioxidant vitamins, is sometimes useful in the treatment of freckles as a skin stimulant. Furthermore, it seems that the lemon juice, applied directly on the ephelis, is able to reduce its intensity: for this reason, this citrus fruit is often considered "lightening".
Example of Natural Cream against Ephelus
We will now analyze an example of a natural remedy consisting of three plants that perform their action directly on the imperfection. The main constituents of this cream against efelidi are: the hazel, the dandelion and the oats, associated with wheat germ oil and sweet almond oil (eudermic elements).
Hazel (Corylus avallena)
The phytocomplex obtained from the leaves of the hazel is rich in tannins and phenols with astringent, healing and depurative properties; for the same reason, the oil extracted from the leaves is useful in treating acne and oily skin.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
The extract obtained from the infusion of dandelion flowers is useful to make purifying wraps of the spotted skin. In a cream, however, it is exploited for the lightening properties of triterpenes, inulin, pectins, phenols: it seems that the dandelion is also able to restore the natural color of the skin. This drug could be replaced by chicory, burdock or saponaria.
Oats (Avena sativa)
Used in this formulation as a depurative and healing agent, oats enhances the action exerted by the hazel and the dandelion, also carrying out a mild anti-inflammatory activity.
Sweet almond oil and wheat germ oil
Sweet almond oil and wheat germ oil are eudermic substances that give the skin softness and elasticity; furthermore, they are useful for dispersing the liposoluble active ingredients derived from drugs with a specific action for freckles.
The cream should be applied a couple of times a day, for a relatively long period, in order to allow the active ingredients to perform its action. As already mentioned, natural remedies cannot act by completely eliminating freckles, but they are a good help to whiten and soften them.
Prevention
Unfortunately, there is no prevention of freckles. In fact, the tendency to develop this disorder is inherited by parents as an autosomal dominant trait.
Considering, however, that they become more pronounced in the summer - due to exposure to the sun and UV rays - it is advisable to limit exposures and always use creams with high protection UVA and UVB filters, since the skin is more sensitive and delicate . Furthermore, these sunscreens could prevent the growth of freckles and other types of skin spots (sun lentigo).
