Brown spots on the skin are not something to worry about. However, for some people, these spots can lead to a lack of confidence. If you are one of them, don't worry. Brown spots on the skin can, how come, removed by a certain method.
Brown spots or freckles on the skin is usually found on the face and hands so it is easy to see and makes people not confident. These brown spots are actually skin cells (melanocytes) that contain the pigment melanin in higher amounts.
There are those who have these brown spots from birth due to heredity, but most people have them due to excessive sun exposure. This is because continuous exposure to sunlight will trigger the production of more melanin pigment in response to UV rays.
5 Ways to Get Rid of Brown Spots on the Skin
The most important step is to avoid exposure to direct sunlight, so that brown spots on the skin do not multiply. Use a hat, long sleeves, or umbrella when the sun is hot. If you have fairly light skin, you may need extra protection as you have a greater chance of developing brown spots.
You can use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or 30. Apply sunscreen about 15 minutes before leaving the house, and reapply after sweating or swimming, or every 2 hours.
In some cases, brown spots on the skin will disappear on their own over time. However, if you want to get rid of brown spots quickly, especially on facial skin, there are several ways you can do it. Following are some of them:
1. Chemical peels
Chemical peels can be an option procedure to remove brown spots on the skin. This procedure uses glycolic acid or trichloroacetic acid to exfoliate the skin and trigger the formation of new skin cells, thereby fading brown spots.
However, chemical peel can also cause side effects, such as skin stinging, redness, swelling, and hardening. During the skin healing period after peelingYou need to be diligent in compressing your face with clean cold water and applying an ointment or cream given by the doctor.
2. Retinoid cream
Retinoid creams are made from vitamin A compounds. These creams can repair sun-damaged skin, lighten brown spots, and help prevent them from coming back.
However, this cream can also cause some side effects, such as peeling skin, irritation, dry skin, redness, and sensitive skin.
3. Whitening cream
Ointment in the form of a cream containing hydroquinone can suppress the production of the melanin pigment so that it can brighten the skin and fade brown spots on the skin.
Just like any other procedure, this cream can cause side effects, such as uneven skin tone, inflammation, blistering, dryness, and burning. Therefore, you should not be careless in using it.
4. Laser treatment
Laser treatment uses focused light waves to fade brown spots. However, to achieve satisfactory results, this treatment usually requires more than one session, and each session takes about 2 weeks to recover.
Laser treatment is generally safe to do. Although safe, this treatment can still carry side effects, such as infection, red skin, swelling, itching, peeling skin, and skin discoloration.
5. Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery is also one of the procedures that can help remove brown spots on the skin. This procedure is performed using very cold liquid nitrogen to destroy skin cells that contain excess melanin pigment.
Cryosurgery It is usually safe to perform and the procedure does not require anesthesia. Nevertheless, cryosurgery can also still have side effects in the form of bleeding, hypopigmentation, or skin blisters.
In addition to the various procedures above, you can also try natural ingredients to fade brown spots on the skin.
Although its effectiveness has not been proven medically, some natural ingredients, such as honey, lemon juice, yogurt, and onions, are believed to remove brown spots on the skin. However, if your skin is irritated, stop using it immediately, OK?
Before deciding to do one of the procedures above, you should consult a doctor or skin specialist first about the best way to get rid of brown spots on the skin. You also need to consult a doctor immediately if the brown spot becomes itchy, bleeds, is darker in color, or gets bigger.