There is a lot of pressure in today’s society to have a perfect, flawless complexion. Culturally things like age spots, moles, skin tags, blackheads, and warts are simply not desirable. While there are many remedies that your doctor or dermatologist can give you for these things, natural skin care products and techniques can be just as effective for much lower cost and fewer side effects. This is how to take care of these common skin problems naturally.
Natural Skin Care For Common Skin Problems
For many skin problems, there are treatments available from your doctor or dermatologist that are very effective. The only problem is that they can be costly and can even sometimes do damage to the healthy skin around them. Perhaps these traditional treatments can even leave scars. Thankfully, natural skin care has many options to first try to address these conditions at home before. As always, monitor your skin for signs of unwanted side effects. If the problem doesn’t go away, go see your doctor or dermatologist.
Age Spots and Hyperpigmentation
Over the course of our lives, we are exposed to many elements. The most prominent of those is our own sun. Though we need sunshine for our health, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can be highly damaging to the skin. Often that damage we don’t see until decades later, in the form of what colloquially we call age spots. Age spots are simply hyperpigmentation of the skin, aka the darkening of certain patches or spots, caused by sun exposure and damage.
The first, and most important, aspect of age spots is prevention. From the time you are young, you should be using sunscreen with a minimum SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 every day, even in the winter and when it’s cloudy. On top of that, you should be wearing sun-protective clothing, like hats and sunglasses. Once you’ve already got some age spots showing up, however, there are a few natural skin care remedies that you can use to help decrease them.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Studies show that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar (AVC) may lighten skin pigmentation. To use ACV on the skin, you first need to combine it with equal parts water, otherwise, it will be too harsh. Apply the mixture to dark patches and leave on for two to three minutes. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and repeat twice daily.
- Aloe Vera: A 2012 study found that the aloin in aloe vera is a natural depigmentation compound. Apply to the affected areas before bed and rinse off the next morning.
- Green Tea Extract: Research shows that green tea extract can provide effective depigmentation for the skin. Purchase green tea extract and apply according to the directions. Some say you can use green tea bags, but there isn’t any evidence that this actually works.
- Black Tea: A study done on guinea pigs found that black tea lightened dark spots. There have been no human studies. If you wish to try, soak black tea leaves in a cup of boiling distilled water for two hours. Strain and use a cotton ball to apply to your face once per day.
- Licorice extract: This extract has been shown to lighten hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure. This is because of its specific active ingredients. Look for licorice-containing creams and apply as directed.
- Orchid Extracts: Apply orchid extracts to dark spots for eight weeks noticeably reduced the size and appearance of them. You can find products that contain orchid extract, such as masks, creams, and scrubs.
- Lactic Acid Peels: Lactic acid, which is found in milk products, is an effective lightening agent. It works like a glycolic peel but is better for sensitive skin. You will need to apply sunscreen after often after a lactic acid peel. It is also not recommended for people with eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis.
There are other options as well, including retinol-based skin care products or those containing hyaluronic acid. You can also see a dermatologist about medical procedures such as microdermabrasion, freezing (cryotherapy), chemical peels, and laser treatment. These should all be done by licensed dermatologists.
Skin Tags
Skin tags are non-cancerous, soft growths on the skin. They are caused by loose collagen fibers that become lodged inside thicker areas of the skin. Usually, they form in the folds of the skin, such as the folds of the neck, armpits, breasts, groin, and eyelids. They are fairly common, and also fairly easy to remove, should you wish to. Most of the time you can safely remove them at home without having to go to the doctor. It is important to note that home remedies can take longer to produce results than going and seeing a doctor. Do not ever try to speed up the process by cutting off a skin tag yourself. You can cause bleeding, infections, and scarring.
