Will Lemon Juice Lighten Freckles

If your freckles are peeking out again thanks to the summer sun, you may wonder, will lemon juice lighten freckles, or what natural remedy will lighten them? Lemon juice is just one natural treatment for freckles.

Lemon juice is an old home remedy for freckles.

Concentrated clusters of melanin, the pigment that colors human skin, are called freckles. These brown, light brown or reddish marks are most common in fair-haired people. They usually appear on the face, neck, and shoulders of people prone to freckles. Sun exposure makes freckles darker and more plentiful, and they may fade or disappear during the winter months.

Freckles are caused by a genetic mutation on a dominant gene affecting skin pigmentation. If your parents have freckles, you're more likely to have them than someone whose parents don't freckle easily. You can also pass the likelihood of having freckles on to your children, since it's a genetic trait. If someone is prone to freckles, the freckles most often appear during late childhood, become more prominent during the teenage and young adult years, and fade with age. By the time people reach retirement age, their freckles have usually faded a great deal, naturally. Very fair-skinned people and people with red or blond hair are more likely to have freckles.

Freckles aren't dangerous, nor are they evidence of skin cancer. While it's always a good idea to see a dermatologist for a skin cancer check, most freckles are harmless.

Although many people hope the answer is yes to the question, "Will lemon juice lighten freckles?", the answer is only maybe at best. Lemon juice is a time-tested natural lightener most often used on hair. The combination of lemon juice and sunlight is a natural bleaching agent to be sure. The problem is that freckles occur deep within the skin and are actually made by melanin clusters. Lemon juice cannot reach deep enough nor will it change the genes that cause freckles in the first place.

Since there's little harm in trying the natural treatments for freckles, and they may possibly lighten skin temporarily, here are some natural remedies for freckles, including the lemon juice method. If you have sensitive skin or known allergies to any of the ingredients, don't use them. If you notice stinging, burning, itching or redness, stop using the natural remedies, rinse thoroughly, and seek medical treatment if the discomfort persists.

To use lemon juice to lighten freckles, start with a clean, makeup free face. Wash your face with plain soap and water or just rinse with water. Slice open a fresh lemon. Squeeze a bit of juice onto your fingertips and rub it in a circular motion onto the freckles. If it stings, burns or itches, stop immediately and rinse it off. If you can sit outside in the sun after applying the lemon juice, do so as it is reputed to work faster and better.

Do not use the fake lemon juice concentrate that comes in a bottle or a plastic container shaped like a lemon. Most contain additives and preservatives that may not be suitable for the face.

Another old home remedy for freckles is the use of a sour cream mask. The theory is that the lactic acid found in soured dairy products lightens freckles. To try this remedy, simply wash away all traces of makeup from your face and rinse with cool water. Apply sour cream and let it sit for a few minutes. Gently wipe it off with a tissue and rinse with cool water. Like aloe, it is said to be moisturizing and soothing to the skin.

Two other home remedies for freckles include masks made with apricots and cucumbers. Mash up the fruit or vegetable with a little water, apply to a clean face, then rinse off. It may be messy so be ready to rinse the gook off and into a bowl to avoid clogging the sink. Commercially made apricot or cucumber facial masks are also available at pharmacies nationwide and may be useful for skin treatments. Organic salves and skin care items containing apricot and cucumber may also be beneficial.

Some people with extensive freckles feel so self conscious they seek permanent remedies. Dermatologists now use a variety of in-office procedures to lighten freckles. These may include laser freckle removal or commercial creams. Laser therapy appears to be the better, more long-lasting choice. If you're plagued by freckles and want them removed, consult with a dermatologist about laser removal. He or she will also check your freckles, moles, and skin to make sure you do not have any signs of skin cancer or other skin conditions.

While lemon juice may seem like the answer to a freckled person's prayers, at best it provides only a temporary solution. Staying out of the sun will prevent new freckles from forming or existing ones from darkening. For permanent treatment however, a dermatologist's professional care is probably the best solution.

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