Dark spots

Dark spots on any part of the body are unwanted, but they are of special concern when they appear on the face and people go to great extents to get rid of them by visiting dermatologists and investing in expensive medicated creams which can cause several side-effects and not always help to get rid of the dark spots. It is important to recognize the reason behind the dark spots before starting any treatment. The red or brown dots appearing on the skin can be caused due to some other skin condition such as acne and blemishes, but very often they are a natural reaction of the skin to prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultra-violet rays. Sometimes the brown spots that appear on the skin are a direct result of advancing age and are also known as age spots. Home Remedies For Spots There are several simple home remedies that can help to lighten these spots over time and also prevent further appearance of the dots. 1 Honey is known to have excellent antibacterial properties and it is beneficial for healing all kinds of skin conditions and leaving the skin soft, smooth and glowing. A simple method to lighten the dark spots on the face and obtain a glowing complexion is to gently warm 2 tbsp of honey and apply it evenly across the face, washing it off after 15 to 20 minutes using warm water. Since lemon is an excellent natural bleach, the face can be wiped daily using a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice. 2 Similarly cucumber juice can also be used to wipe the face since it not only helps to cleanse the skin, but also reduces dark spots and leaves the skin soft and smooth. 3 A mixture of lemon juice, cucumber juice and honey applied on the face and washed off after 15 to 20 minutes is highly recommended. Application of sour cream or plain yoghurt on the face is also said to be beneficial for reducing dark spots. 4 Apart from this a face-pack prepared using sandalwood powder or fuller’s earth and rose water can be applied regularly on the face and washed off after 15 minutes using cold water. This helps to treat and prevent acne, improves the complexion of the skin and gradually lightens all dots and dark spots on the face. 5 Daily application of aloe Vera juice, obtained by slicing the fleshy leaf of the aloe Vera plant is also beneficial for removing any dark spots and improving the skin tone and complexion. 6 Finally it is important to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of liquids in the form of water and fresh fruit juices in order to keep the body well hydrated.