On the hunt for the most effective home remedies for dark spots? Who can blame you. After all, dark spots are the worst. They take up valuable real estate on your face and instantly put a dull factor on your complexion, making you appear older and a little less polished.
And they’re surprisingly common – in fact, we’d go so far as to say that the majority of the world’s population has struggled with a dark spot or two in their lifetime.
So what causes these unwanted yet popular, pesky little buggers? Dark spots can appear due to a huge range of various factors such as sun exposure, aging, lack of vitamins, stress, lifestyle habits, and improper skin care, among others. Although they are usually not a cause for concern, they can be unsightly and a hindrance to getting that clear, perfect complexion.
So what can you do about them? Well, there are a bevy of over the counter products and professional procedures that reduce or eliminate dark spots but these can be quite costly. Which is where home remedies for dark spots come in – these natural remedies are a great way of dealing with dark spots on your face and body because not only are they all natural and effective, they also won’t require you to spend too much of your hard earned money.
Plus, you probably already have several of the ingredients lying around already – here are the most effective home remedies for dark spots to check your cupboards for!
Lemon juice
Lemon juice has natural acidic properties that work as bleaching agents which when applied to dark spots can reduce their appearance.
All you have to do is squeeze out the juice of a lemon and apply this juice directly on your dark spots with a cotton ball. Let it rest for around 30 minute before rinsing off with cold water. You can also choose to add sugar into the juice before applying on your skin. Repeating this at least twice a day guarantees results in just around 2 months.
Buttermilk
Aside from making for excellent pancakes, buttermilk can also be applied topically on the skin to eliminate dark spots. Buttermilk has lactic acid that is good for the skin and prevents hyper pigmentation.
All you have to do is apply buttermilk on your dark spots with the help of a cotton swab. Let it rest for a few minutes before rinsing off with water. You can even add this with the previous ingredient mentioned, lemon juice, for an even more effective solution. Doing this regularly will help fade spots in no time.
Oatmeal
Not only is oatmeal a healthy food choice and a staple for dieters, it can also work as an exfoliant that helps in eliminating dark spots. Bowie State University once conducted a study that revealed instant oatmeal, prepared and cooked, helps slough off dead skin cells. Plus, the saponin found in oatmeal gently and naturally removes toxins that can cause discoloration.
Simply cook a batch of plain unsweetened oatmeal and let it cool for around 15 minutes. After this you can proceed with massaging it onto your dark spots. Leave it on for around 15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. You can do this at least once daily and in just a few weeks your dark spots will have disappeared.
Potato juice
Potato juice is effective in eliminating skin problems such as dark spots because they are rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C. They also have mild bleaching properties that whiten the skin and removes dead cells. Plus, it is a super easy remedy to use.
You need but one peeled potato sliced into inch sized pieces. You can then rub these pieces onto your dark spots and let the transferred juice sit on your skin for around 15 minutes before rinsing off with water. Do this at least once daily to see results.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are loaded with antioxidants and exfoliating acids that help in eliminating dark spots. They also contain beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin C, which all help lighten the skin. Lastly, they are loaded with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that promote cell turnover.
You can make a pumpkin mask at home that will help you with your dark spots. Start by boiling pumpkin pieces then putting these in an immersion blender to form a puree. Mix two teaspoons of this puree with ½ teaspoon of honey and ½ teaspoon of milk to form a paste. Proceed with applying this paste onto your dark spots and leave on for about 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Do this religiously once daily to say goodbye to your dark spots in just a few weeks.
Don’t want to go through the bother of boiling and pureeing pumpkin? Yeah, we feel you – it’s a lot of work. Simply opt for the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask – it’s the best of its kind.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is popularly used for healing burns as well as other skin problems such as dark spots. The gel of aloe vera contains lignin, anthraquinone, anti fungal properties, and anti bacterial properties that all help in eliminating these pesky spots.
You can either by products with aloe vera gel as one of the base ingredients or use the plant itself. All you have to do is cut out the layers of an aloe vera leaf and squeeze out the gel like substance found inside. Apply this gel onto your dark spots and leave on for around 20 minutes before rinsing off with cold water. You’ll find that doing this regularly is super effective and in no time you’ll be saying hello to clearer skin.
Castor oil
Castor oil is another all natural remedy in removing dark spots. It has strong healing properties and when used regularly can clear up your skin in just a few weeks.
Simply apply castor oil on your dark spots with a clean cotton ball once in the morning and once in the evening. It is readily available in the market and is safe to be used daily. Castor oil can also be used to treat acne.
Papaya
Ever wonder why so many skin lightening products – like skin lightening soaps – feature papaya as one of the base ingredients. This is because papaya is rich in the enzyme papain which decreases skin pigmentation and vitamin A which further reduces dark spots.
You can choose products in the market or you can make a remedy yourself at home. It is super easy and even more effective. All you have to do is crush papaya into a paste and apply on your dark spots. Let it rest for around 15 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water. You can even enhance it by adding ingredients such as honey, milk, egg white, or aloe vera, among others.
Applying papaya paste on your dark spots at least once a day will eliminate them in just a few weeks.
As you can see, the most effective home remedies for dark spots can be just as effective as anything you find in the stores, as long as you’re willing to be patient. Take any of the ingredients we have mentioned to help you get rid of those pesky spots and say hello to a clearer brighter complexion!
