‘Tis the season—for bare skin that is! For those of us riddled with hyperpigmentation/sunspots on our face, arms, chest or legs, the summer months can leave us feeling a bit self-conscious. First of all, there’s no reason to be embarrassed by your multi-toned skin. Hyperpigmentation, aka sunspots, can show up as early as your twenties. They aren’t so much signs of age as of sun damage, so try to associate your hyperpigmentation with memories of fun in the sun! In the meantime, you can go to work on sunspots with your choice of the following at-home, natural hyperpigmentation remedies.
The Milk and Honey Trick:
Lactic acid, found in sour milk and unsweetened, natural yogurt, has an exfoliating effect on the skin. As a humectant honey locks in moisture, as an antioxidant it helps defend against oxidative stress, and as a disinfectant it helps accelerate wound healing. Make a paste of milk and honey (or milk and yogurt) and apply to pigmented areas two times a day.
Bleach Spots Away with Vegetable Juice:
Ever used lemon juice as a cheap, at-home alternative to expensive blond highlights? Turns out, lemon juice works the same magic on hyperpigmented skin! Cucumber, tomato and potato juice also contain bleaching properties. Rub your favorite vegetable oil onto sunspots every day and you should notice a gradual lightening of pigment.
For a double whammy, mix vegetable oil with turmeric powder, which is stronger than both vitamins C and E. Apply the paste to affected areas for 30 minutes a day.
Vanish Hyperpigmentation with Vitamin E:
Two sources of vitamin E are especially effective when it comes to fading hyperpigmentation: Avocadoes and almonds. To use avocadoes, mash them up and mix with milk. Apply to skin for 20 minutes a day.
Almonds take a bit more effort to prepare. You’ll want to soak de-shelled almonds overnight, mash them up in a blender, mix with milk and apply for 15 minutes a day.
Hydrogen Peroxide: The World’s Safest, Natural Sanitizer:
Not just a disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide can also fade problematic pigmentation. Combine a 20-volume solution of hydrogen peroxide with dry milk powder and glycerin. Apply the solution for 20 minutes every day. The peroxide can be a bit rough on skin, so be sure to apply lotion after every treatment.
Drink Away Sun Damage:
Natural health practitioners swear by gotu kola steeped as a hot tea and drank daily. Gotu kola is a swamp plant indigenous to India, China and Indonesia that has been used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including psoriasis. If you don’t like the taste of the tea, combine a liquid extract of gotu kola with a teaspoon of ginseng and a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and apply topically to skin.
Hyperpigmentation can also signal a deficiency in selenium or potassium, so fortify your health with plenty of bananas, figs, cantaloupes, apricots and avocadoes! And don’t you dare forget that SPF 15 next time you decide to create a new memory of fun in the sun.
