All Your Questions About Freckles and Making Them Work – Answered!

Ever spent a day at the beach only to take home more than seashells and sand? Freckles.

Here’s the lowdown on what they are, how to tackle them, and even how to love them for what they are! Kick back girlfriend, cause we got you.

Freckles are skin cells (keratinocytes) that contain melanin which protects your skin by absorbing or reflecting harmful UV rays. Sun exposure stimulates melanin production so the pigment seeps out to surrounding skin cells. This gives you spots, especially on the face, upper shoulders, and other sun-kissed areas of your body.

It all depends on your skin type. People with fairer skin are more likely to get freckles. Also, the more time you spend soaking up the sun, the more freckles you’ll have! Genetics also play a part; if your parents have freckles, you would have them too.

Freckles aren’t dangerous, so you don’t have to worry. They’re also easy to rid or lighten. Here’s how:

1. Head To Your Kitchen
   

   There are many natural remedies to make freckles disappear. You can use lemon juice, sour cream, or even fruit peels (made out of strawberries and kiwis)! A honey and yogurt mask can work wonders as well as rubbing slices of onion twice a day on the freckles. You should see visible results within a week.

2. Use Lightening Creams
   

   
   Head to your nearest pharmacy for lightening creams that are specifically designed to remove freckles and other dark spots. Creams with ingredients such as licorice extract and aloe vera double as good skin moisturisers. Most creams contain chemicals like hydroquinone and oxybenzone which effectively lighten skin but can be damaging with prolonged use.

3. Seek Professional Help
   

   If you want an instant fix, try the laser freckle removal which breaks up the melanin pigments in your skin. It’s a fast and sure way to be freckle-free but there’s a catch! Laser procedures are expensive and might also be painful with temporary side effects like red and puffy skin. Ouch.

   A cheaper alternative would be microdermabrasion. A non-invasive treatment, this technique uses rough grains to remove the skin’s surface layer. Depending on your skin and freckles, it takes a few treatments for the freckles to disappear.

4. Chemical Peels
   

   Chemical peels work to peel away the top layer of skin. This reduces the appearance of freckles, eliminates lighter freckles that you’ve yet to notice, and evens out irregular pigmentation. Chemical peels are harsh on the skin so do not do this too often. Do it with a medical professional and make sure to find out about the risks and side effects!

5. Use The Magic Of Makeup
   

   
   You can always turn to make up if you want to look flawless for a special occasion. Foundation is great to conceal and blend freckles with your natural skin tone. Don’t be too generous when concealing, however, as you might end up drawing attention to the areas you are trying to hide. 

As they say, prevention is better than cure. Here are a few precautions you can take:

1. Protect Yourself From The Sun
   

   The sun is your skin’s greatest enemy. Make sure you cover all exposed parts of your body with sunscreen before going out. Also try hats and protective clothing like light and airy long-sleeved shirts and pants.

2. Up Your Vitamin C
   

   
   Vitamin C lightens freckles so make sure you get plenty of it in your diet. Fruits like kiwis and oranges have lots of Vitamin C – you can eat them as they are or pop a few into a blender to make smoothies! Alternatively, you can also get Vitamin C supplements from the pharmacy.

3. Embrace Your Freckles

   Strictly speaking, there is nothing wrong with having freckles. In recent fashion conversation, the term ‘freckle face’ has become a compliment. You can even see models like Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne drawing fake freckles on their faces! So don’t let those angel’s kisses drag you down!