Foods That Can Help You With Age Spots
by Cheryl Bond-Nelms, AARP, February 28, 2018
We all know what age spots look like — tiny brown dark spots that can develop on your hands and face. We think they come from growing older, but they are actually a sign of sun damage or fluctuations in hormones.
The medical treatments that can effectively fade or permanently remove dark spots include lasers, chemical peels and microdermabrasion, but you can also remove those spots naturally with items in your kitchen.
Here are seven products that may already be in your pantry or refrigerator that can naturally and effectively fade dark spots or age spots on your hands and face.
Take one lemon, water and a cotton ball. Squeeze the lemon into a bowl and add equal parts of water. Use the cotton ball to apply the mixture directly to the areas with dark spots on your face and hands. Leave on for about 20 minutes and then rinse with water, but don’t use soap. Do this at least a couple of nights a week to allow the lemon juice time to fade the spots and even out your skin tone.
The starch and sugar in potatoes can work wonders on the skin due to their exfoliating ability to remove dead skin and boost the growth of new cells. The potato's vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, potassium, zinc, vitamin C and phosphorus, all work to rejuvenate the collagen in your skin.
To use a potato on dark spots, just cut the potato into thin slices. Take the slices and apply a little water to moisten, and then place it on your skin over the age spots. Leave it on for about 10 minutes. You can apply potato to your skin every day. It’s that mild, and it’s best to apply at night to give the vitamins and minerals a chance to work on your skin tone.
The wonderful properties of cucumbers have been used for years to moisturize the skin, and they are also a cool and soothing cover for your eyes while relaxing on spa days. Cucumbers have a high water content, contain antioxidants and multiple vitamins, and can be used against several skin discolorations including dark circles and acne scars.
You can slice a cucumber, rub the juice from the vegetable on the dark spots and leave the slices on your skin for about 20 minutes. You can also create a cucumber mixture listed on stylecraze.com. Put one cucumber, a half-teaspoon of aloe vera gel and a tablespoon of lemon juice into a blender. Blend the ingredients to a pulp and apply to your face and hands where needed. Leave on for 30 minutes and wash off with just water, no soap. The suggestion is to use this mixture daily.
It’s not just a breakfast food anymore. Oatmeal is great for exfoliation and clearing away dead skin cells. It also has an anti-inflammatory quality and can be soothing to irritated skin. To make a gentle, exfoliating mixture that can reduce the appearance of age spots, combine 3 tablespoons of oatmeal, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of milk in a bowl to make a paste. Apply to your face and hands and leave it on until it dries completely, then rinse off with just water. The oatmeal exfoliates, the honey moisturizes and the milk works to remove the dark spots. You can apply this mixture three times a week.
Milk, yogurt and buttermilk all contain high amounts of lactic acid, which can exfoliate and lighten the skin. Their vitamin D, vitamin B12 and lactic acid can remove the dead skin cells and lighten pigmentation. Vitamin A, vitamin B6 and biotin can boost collagen production. You can apply buttermilk or yogurt directly to the skin to fight age spots. Saturate cotton balls with the milk to make it easier to apply. Leave it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing off. You can use milk or yogurt on the skin daily or until you see the results you are looking for.
Used in medicine and cosmetics for thousands of years, honey has many beneficial qualities for the skin. Honey is a natural antibacterial agent, is full of antioxidants and is credited with slowing down aging. The best honey is one that contains over 80 percent sugar. It will act as an exfoliator to remove dead pigmented skin and will also facilitate the growth of healthy new cells. For best results use raw or organic honey. Raw honey contains all of the nutrients that are beneficial to your skin. Apply the honey with your fingertips, rub into the skin and leave on for 20 minutes. Honey is so mild that it can be used daily or until you see results.
Don’t throw out your orange peels. They contain high levels of vitamin C and calcium. Their vitamins and antioxidants can rejuvenate the skin and create new skin cells while fighting free radicals. Orange peels can draw toxins and impurities out of your skin and lighten the dark pigmented areas. Apply the juice from the orange peel directly to the age spots. Let it dry for about 20 minutes and rinse off with water.
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