Note this publication is not a medical consultation.
The sun is a source of warmth and sunlight, but it can also leave marks on your skin in the form of sunspots. These discolorations are the consequences for people who experience prolonged exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays.
While they are benign, and non-cancerous, sunspots are a common cosmetic concern, making people look for ways to manage and reduce their appearance. This article will explain how to reduce sunspots by understanding their causes and treatment.
Causes of Sunspots on Skin
Also known as liver spots or age spots, sunspots are flat, harmless spots that develop on skin exposed to the sun, like your arms, face, shoulders, back, feet, and legs. It’s important to note that although they are known as liver spots, they have nothing to do with the liver.
Sunspots are common in people over 50 but can also occur in younger individuals who spend much time in the sun without sun protection factor (SPF). According to the Mayo Clinic, prolonged exposure to UV lights speeds up melanin production.
Melanin is a pigment responsible for skin color, and continuous exposure to the sun makes melanin clump together or be produced in higher concentrations. This hyperactivity in the pigment cells causes sunspots. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Society (ASDS), some people are genetically predisposed to developing sunspots.
5 Home Remedies for SunSpots
Age spots are not dangerous, and while some people may embrace them, others may feel inclined not to have them. There are natural products or home remedies that can lighten the spots. Some of these products include:
1. Cleome and Haloxylon Extracts
A laboratory study investigated the effects of six different plant species used in African folk medicine flower to see the anti-aging effects. In this study, Cleome arabica or Mnitna was able to block tyrosinase activity.
Haloxylon articulatum, or Remeth, was also seen to have a significant effect on reducing tyrosinase activity.
2. Aloe and Harpephyllum Leaf Extract
There are four different Aloe species that inhibit the production of tyrosinase in vitro. These were Aloe aculeata, Aloe sessiliflora, Aloe ferox, and Aloe pretoriensis. Out of the four, A. Ferox showed the greatest inhibitory effects, according to a study report by the National Library of Medicine.
However, the Harpephyllum caffrum leaf extract had the highest antityrosinase activity, making it an ideal sunspot treatment.
3. Licorice Extract
Licorice’s main component is a chemical known as glabridin. According to a study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, glabridin has an antityrosinase activity that can prevent UBV-induced pigmentation.
Traditional Chinese doctors recommend licorice extract to lighten the skin by dispersing the clumped melanin. People who use licorice extracts may notice improvement in sunspots without having significant side effects.
4. Soybean Extract
Soy extract is a promising natural marin skincare ingredient that reduces hyperpigmentation like sunspots, controls oil production, moisturizes skin, and enhances skin elasticity.
Some of the active components of soybean extract are Polyphenols, which have been shown to have biological activity such as anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. Flavonoids have an estrogenic activity that can result in reversed signs of photoaging, like reduced aging and improved skin texture.
How Fast Will My Sunspots Heal??
The treatment duration will depend on various factors, like the type of treatment. Generally, it may take weeks or months to notice noticeable changes in your sunspots. For example, if you’re using natural remedies for skin-lightening effects, it may take six to eight weeks.
The treatment period may take longer using dermatological techniques like:
- laser resurfacing
- Dermabrasion
- Chemical peels
- Cryosurgery.
For chemical peels, you may need the procedure repeated every 6 – 12 months.
Summary
Sunspots, liver spots, or age spots are non-cancerous blemishes on the skin and will develop in areas frequently exposed to the sun. Although harmless, some people may want to eliminate them for beauty purposes. Work with a dermatologist when using anything on your skin, even if you opt for natural remedies. They will give you a better understanding of what to expect when you use a particular product to reduce the appearance of sunspots.
References
- Lea, C.S., Craft, N.E., Butler, J.L. et al. Cumulative exposure to the sun and associations with actinic keratosis and number of nevi in the Jugular Molecular Epidemiology of Skin Cancer Study. J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(3):743-751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2021.06.035
- Duteil, L., Cardot-Leccia, N. et al. Factors involved in hyperpigmentation: a review of cumulative data 2014–2020. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2021;20(4):487-499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-021-00043-3
- Pillay, S.S., Ziqubu-Page, T.T., Aremu, O.A. et al. Composition and Antityrosinase Activities of the Essential oils from Medicinal plants Growing in Gauteng, South Africa. Phytother Res. 2018;32(6):1057-1065. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6055
- Alachkar, A., Juhaimi F., Ghafoor K., Özcan M.M. The chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils from the endemic medicinal plants of Oman. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017;207:53-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.06.002
- Chalermchai, T., Owatari, K., Omiya, M. et al. Efficacy and Safety of an Oral Supplement Containing Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon) Seed Extract, Black Garlic, and Other Active Compounds for Skin Whitening in Humans: A 12-Week Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Phytother Res. 2020;34(12): 3120-3128. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6782
