There's nothing like taking a break from your computer and getting some fresh air outside. It's restorative, it's refreshing, and it's energizing. But sometimes a little too much solar exposure can result in an unwanted surprise: sun spots on your skin!
There's nothing wrong with a little character and uniqueness. However, sun spots on face areas you aren't expecting can be frustrating. We're going to look at some natural sun spot removal and sun spot treatment solutions and products you can use at home to make sure you can look and feel a lot less spotty.
What Are Sun Spots?
Skin Sun Spots (also known as solar lentigines or age spots) are flat, brown, or black spots that appear on the skin due to prolonged sun exposure. They are more common in older individuals and are often found on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, shoulders, and arms.
Sun spots are caused by an overproduction of melanin, the pigment responsible for giving color to the skin. Sun spots on skin have been exposed to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, triggering melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) to produce more melanin, resulting in localized areas of darker pigmentation. Despite the catchy name, sunspots can also be caused by other sources like tanning beds or artificial UV light exposure.
Sun Spots vs Freckles
Ok, so there's a spot you noticed on your skin after a few days of fun in the sun. Is it a freckle? Is it a sun spot?
Sun spots and freckles are both types of skin discolorations, but they have different causes and characteristics.
What Are Freckles?
Freckles are also flat, but generally smaller than sun spots. They show up as light to medium brown spots that most often appear on people with fair skin and are usually genetically determined and not directly caused by sun exposure.
Freckles occur due to an uneven distribution of melanin in the skin. Melanin is produced in response to UV exposure, but freckles are not caused by an excessive production of melanin like sunspots. Instead, they are the result of melanin being produced in small concentrated areas. Freckles do tend to darken when exposed to sunlight and can become more pronounced during sunny months, but they are not solely caused by UV or sun exposure like sun spots.
In sum, the main differences between sunspots and freckles are their underlying causes and the way they respond to sun exposure. Sunspots are caused by the overproduction of melanin due to prolonged sun exposure, while freckles result from a genetic predisposition to uneven melanin distribution, which may be accentuated by sun exposure.
How To Get Rid of Sun Spots on Face Areas
At Eight Saints, we tackle pesky sun spots by offering products formulated with natural ingredients proven to balance skin tone. So if you are seeing a rogue sun spot on skin areas you aren't fond of, give some of these effective ingredients their chance to shine.
Best Skincare Ingredients for Sun Spots
Niacinamide
Found in our amazing and power-packed Up The Anti Anti Aging Cream, niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that has multiple benefits for the skin. Namely among them is its ability to reduce the appearance of sunspots and other forms of hyperpigmentation. Here's how niacinamide can help with sunspots:
- Slowing Melanin: Niacinamide can help regulate the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for the color of our skin. It does this by inhibiting the transfer of melanin to the surrounding skin cells. By reducing the amount of melanin present in the skin, niacinamide can help fade the appearance of sunspots and other forms of hyperpigmentation.
- Anti-Inflammatory: Niacinamide also has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation and redness associated with sunspots. Inflammation exacerbates the appearance of areas where sunspots form, so by calming the skin, niacinamide can even out your skin tone.
- Strengthening Your Skin's Barrier: Niacinamide helps strengthen the skin's natural barrier. A potent skin barrier protects the skin against external forces like UV radiation.
- Collagen Production: Some research suggests that niacinamide might stimulate collagen production, which can contribute to overall skin health and reduce the appearance of sunspots by improving skin texture and elasticity.
So besides all these amazing features our Up The Anti Anti Aging Cream also has an amazing soothing and generally fantastic green tea smell that puts matcha lattes to shame.
Vitamin C
To further reduce the appearance of sun spots, look no further than our Seeking C Vitamin Face Serum. By using the most stable form of Vitamin C available, called SAP (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), our Seeking C Face Serum drastically reduces the appearance of sunspots and hyperpigmentation.
- Antioxidant Protection: Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps protect the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals, which are unstable molecules generated by UV radiation, pollution, and other environmental factors. Free radicals can cause skin damage, including hyperpigmentation. By neutralizing free radicals, vitamin C prevents further damage that can exacerbate sunspots.
- Enzyme Effects: SAP vitamin C can impede the enzymes that create skin pigmentation. By reducing this enzyme activity SAP helps to slow down the formation of melanin, which in turn can lead to a reduction in the appearance of sun spots and act as a hyperpigmentation treatment.
- Brightening: SAP vitamin C can also have a brightening effect on the skin by promoting a more even skin tone and reducing the contrast between hyperpigmented areas and the surrounding skin, giving you a more even complexion.
Our Seeking C Face Serum is a concentrated Vitamin C treatment that works to minimize sunspots. Like most skincare ingredients, consistency is important! Including Seeking C into your skincare routine is a great way to continually combat the appearance of sun spots.
Glycolic Acid
The third ingredient to take down sunspots is Glycolic Acid. Found in our multidimensional, moisturizing Soulmate Brightening Treatment, this skin-rejuvenating ingredient effectively reduces the appearance of sunspots and other types of hyperpigmentation via the power of exfoliation and cell renewal. Let's take a closer look at this skincare match in heaven.
- Exfoliation and Cell Turnover: Glycolic Acid is a natural chemical exfoliant that helps to remove the top layer of dead (RIP) skin cells from the surface of your skin. This exfoliation process encourages the shedding of dull and damaged skin cells, revealing fresher, healthier skin underneath. By removing the outermost layer of skin, glycolic acid can help to lighten the appearance of sunspots and other forms of hyperpigmentation found on the surface of your skin.
- Evening Out: The exfoliation and skin renewal generated by glycolic acid can more evenly distribute skin pigment. By prompting the shedding of unevenly pigmented cells and encouraging the growth of new, evenly pigmented cells, glycolic acid can accelerate the fading process of sunspots leaving you a smoother and more consistent skin tone.
Perfect Harmony
As the name implies, our Soulmate Brightening Treatment works even better with partners. The glycolic acid can improve the penetration and absorption of other skincare ingredients, such as SAP vitamin C or niacinamide.
If the only sun spots you want to see are on NASA's Instagram check out the products above. Building an effective sun spot-busting routine with Eight Saints will have your skin looking and feeling fresh, even, and revitalized.