Black spots on the face can be embarrassing. Even though your facial dark spots are completely harmless, they can make you look unappealing, and you may end up damaging your skin by trying many commercial treatments to get rid of them. But more than a few natural ingredients can help you ditch those dark, ugly spots on your skin successfully. We have listed them below:
Causes Of Black Spots On Face
Dark spots or black spots on the skin mainly result from the overproduction of ‘melanin’ (a pigment found in our skin). When melanin accumulates in a specific skin area, it causes hyperpigmentation and a localized patch that looks dark or black. There is more than one reason behind such spots, including excessive sun exposure, aging, old scars, internal health issues, hormonal imbalance, etc. (1)
Home Remedies For Black Spots On Face
1. Lemon Juice
Being highly acidic (it remains just below the stomach acid on the pH scale), lemon works as a natural bleaching agent. This natural bleaching property of lemon juice helps fade the ugly black spots away quickly and effectively. (2)
How to use:
Squeeze out the fresh juice of half a lemon, dip a cotton ball or Q-tip into it, and apply the juice directly to the black spots on your face. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Then, wash off with plain water.
Also Read – Check Out These Best Creams To Treat Dark Spots. They Work!
2. Buttermilk
Be it small dark spots or hyperpigmentation, buttermilk can reduce everything slowly over time. The lactic acid in the product helps lighten the marks and gently exfoliates the skin to reveal the fresh layer of skin underneath.
How to use:
Take a tablespoon of fresh buttermilk, dip a cotton ball into it, and apply it to the spots on your face. Let it sit for half an hour or so. Then, wash off with lukewarm water.
3. Yogurt
Just like buttermilk, yogurt also contains lactic acid and is acidic. Therefore, regularly using it on your black spots will help you eliminate them effectively.
How to use:
Take a teaspoon of fresh yogurt and gently massage those affected areas of the skin. Leave it on for half an hour and then wash with plain water. Ensure that your skin and fingers are clean before you start the process.
4. Castor Oil
Castor oil comes packed with fatty acids (primarily omega-3 fatty acids), which penetrate the skin and pierce the scar tissue in the affected area to pump it out gradually and promote healthy tissue growth. This rids you from pigmentation, blemishes, and dark spots over time.
How to use:
Apply a few drops of pure, organic castor oil onto the black spots directly. Massage gently with your fingertips until the oil gets absorbed into the skin thoroughly. Wash off after an hour and repeat twice a day.
5. Sandalwood Powder
Sandalwood is rich in several phytonutrients and antioxidants, which keep the skin healthy and eliminates pesky marks and pigmentation. The antimicrobial properties of sandalwood powder help repair scar tissues, too. (3)
How to use:
Include sandalwood powder in your regular face packs, and be consistent with your weekly skincare routine. Otherwise, prepare a mix by combining it with glycerin and milk. Massaging the troubled parts of the skin with this mixture daily will help you immensely.
6. Potato Juice
The juice extracted from potatoes contains a specific enzyme named ‘catecholase,’ which turns the ingredient into a natural bleaching agent. Hence, it can significantly lighten dark spots, marks, or blemishes on your face.
How to use:
Place thin and freshly cut potato slices on your black spots for half an hour and repeat it 2-3 times daily. You can also extract nearly one tablespoon of juice from raw potato and apply it to the troubled areas of your skin by using a cotton ball. Let it dry for half an hour, then rinse with water.
7. Onion Juice
Being slightly acidic, onion has good bleaching properties. However, it also removes the layer of dead cells from the skin’s surface, which stimulates dark spot removal to a great extent.
How to use:
Either dab some freshly extracted juice on your face and black spots or rub those areas with a few onion slices. Once it dries, wash it off thoroughly.
8. Tomato Juice
Tomato is a highly acidic vegetable that comes with excellent bleaching properties. So, it can lighten the dark spots on our faces quite effectively. (4)
How to use:
Strain the juice to discard the seeds and apply it to the affected parts of your skin regularly. Please keep it for 30 minutes before washing it off with plain water.
9. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is considered a ‘wonder product’ for lighting the skin as it contains certain elements effective in clearing away dark/brown spots and blemishes.
How to use:
Get some fresh aloe juice and dab it onto your facial dark spots. You can also massage them gently with some fresh aloe gel. Practice it 2-3 times every day.
10. Turmeric
The ‘curcumin’ in turmeric is known to inhibit the pigmentation of the skin, contributing to its excellent skin-lightening properties.
How to use:
Add turmeric extract or powder to your regular face pack or mask and apply it regularly, focusing on the troubled parts of the skin. The result will be visible in a few weeks only.
Also Read – Lip Pigmentation Causes And Home Remedies
11. Almonds
Almonds’ anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties are beneficial in treating scars and blemishes. Hence, regular use of this ingredient can fade those annoying black spots away over time.
How to use:
Prepare a paste by blending 1-2 soaked almonds, raw milk, and pure honey, and apply it on your black spots. Let it sit for 25-30 minutes, then rinse with water.
12. Papaya
Papaya contains the enzyme ‘papain,’ making the fruit a natural bleaching ingredient effective on pigmentation, blemishes, and signs of aging, giving us spotless skin.
How to use:
Mash the pulp of ripe papaya and massage the affected areas of the skin with it for a good 5 minutes. After 15 minutes, wash off with tepid water.
13. Rose Water
Rose water’s anti-inflammatory and astringent properties help lighten up those ugly marks.
How to use:
Include rose water in your face packs or apply it to the skin. However, it would be best if you used it daily either way.
In rare cases, black spots or brown spots can turn out to be carcinogenic. So, if these home remedies are not helping you out even after a few months, visit your physician to get them checked medically.
Also Read – Black Spots On The Teeth? Not Anymore! Know The Causes And Home Remedies
Summary –
Dark spots are annoying and harmless although they can reflect underlying medical conditions. Caused by the overproduction of melanin, these dark spots can be treated with the help of natural ingredients like lemon, buttermilk, yogurt, castor oil, and sandalwood powder. While there is no shortcut available to treat these dark spots, consistent usage of home ingredients may lead to fading of the spots.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What removes dark spots?
Numerous home remedies exist for treating dark spots, but Hydroquinone or creams infused with Hydroquinone are commonly employed. Hydroquinone works by inhibiting melanin production, effectively diminishing hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
Does vitamin C help with dark spots?
Like Hydroquinone, vitamin C is also used for treating dark spots and pigmentations. It controls breakouts, prevents inflation, and removes dark spots on the skin.
Do dark spots from acne go away?
Yes, dark spots typically fade way over some time. However, topical application of home ingredients like lemon juice sandalwood powder may expedite the process.
References –
- “How to get rid of dark spots on the face” – medicalnewstoday.com
- “13 Dark Spot Remedies You Can Find In Your Kitchen” – mindbodygreen.com
- “A Simple DIY Spot Treatment: Banish Your Blemish Now!” – self.com
- “Are Natural Ingredients Effective in the Management of Hyperpigmentation? A Systematic Review” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
