One off the biggest skin complaints in women who are past 30, other thank fine lines and wrinkles, are something that you increasingly see after the age of about 25-27 due to years of sun exposure. I’m talking about age spots, otherwise known as brown spots, liver spots and an array of other colorful pet names we’ve heard.
Ways to internally combat age spots
While sun exposure is a large culprit, especially if you’ve been exposed over a prolonged period of time, which it often takes these deeply rooted spots to permanently take up residence, there is another as well. One big one is hormonal birth control pills and other methods of birth control using hormones.
It is of course not always feasible for women to come off these types of birth control, so there are other courses you can take to help remedy the darker spots that result on the skin from these types of hormonal birth controls.
Diet can be one as well. The higher your antioxidant intake, the more likely your skin is to resist the darkened pigmentation that results from sunlight exposure. This is especially true of foods containing lycopene, like tomatoes.
Tomatoes actually help boost your skin’s resistance to UV damage, and daily intake of tomatoes or tomato paste can really improve the odds you won’t get age spots, or at least they won’t be as large or as dark.
Topical natural remedies for brown spots
Castor Oil
While you’ve read about how castor oil can help thicken eyebrows and eyelashes here (see http://aurasensory.com/blog/did-you-know/castor-oil-for-eyebrows-hair-and-skin-what-is-it-used-for-what-are-the-benefits), you may not know this oil has another helpful use when it comes to beauty.
Daily application of castor oil can help to lighten these age spots over time. It helps to really soften the skin, and may help break up the pigment that causes these discolorations on the skin. It may be especially helpful if you apply lemon juice or another acidic fruit juice beforehand, let it dry, then apply the castor oil to the spot.
You could even put a small bandage over the area to help prevent the castor oil from rubbing off during the night. Since castor oil helps enhance the absorption of just about anything into the skin, it will not only help break up and soften dark spots on its own, but it will also enhance the absorption and effectiveness of anything applied before it or with it, so it can magnify its effects and help it to penetrate the deeper layers of skin, which is where the more stubborn spots are hardest to reach.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Dab any brown discoloration spots with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice daily, or even several times daily. The acids and enzymes that naturally occur in ACV can really help to lighten and break up these dark spots. Be sure to choose the organic kind since the organic kind of ACV retains all the beneficial enzymes and pure fruit acids that really make this an effective remedy when applied faithfully.
ACV also provides a dual purpose for the skin in that it can address other skin issues like acne, rosacea, and an uneven skin tone. Some people find it works wonderfully as a toner after washing and drying the skin. However, for lightening areas of skin, it should be dabbed in full strength right on the affected spot to get maximum results.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C Ester, which is the type of vitamin C we use in our Nourish & Hydrate Cream, is an excellent natural remedy to help break up not only brown spots, but also to help keep your overall skin tone even.
This is because it is not only a powerful natural topical antioxidant for the skin, it also has the ability to deeply penetrate the skin’s layers and help to break up the pigment that forms these irregular brown discolorations. In addition, it helps to keep the skin thicker and more resilient to wrinkles and age spots since it helps maintain the collagen production just below the surface.
The high vitamin C content in both lemon juice and ACV explains partly why it’s also effective at helping to even out these hyperpigmented spots.
MSM
MSM, or methyl sulfonyl methane, is another main active ingredient you should look for if you want a more even skin tone and also have a lot of discolored spots to address. This also happens to be a main ingredient in our face cream.
That’s because it deeply penetrates the skin, softening it dramatically, and thereby helping to break up stubborn age spots over time – and really evening out the skin tone with daily use as well. Because of its non-astringent and non-irritating nature, it makes the perfect “allover” treatment for skin tone because of its dual purpose to deeply moisturize. It also deeply moisturizes the skin, helping to soften lines and wrinkles in the skin.
MSM is a naturally occurring sulfur compound. Sulfur compounds are very important for the skin and hair, both internally and externally. This is why eating a diet rich in cruciferous veggies which contain high amounts of sulfur and MSM, and other foods like garlic and lentil beans that are rich in sulfur, can result in dramatic improvements in the health and appearance of the skin and hair.
Taken internally, it can have wonderful benefits also for the flexibility of the joints and maintenance of healthy cartilage and other connective tissues, and it also can really help keep your skin smooth and supple for years to come. However, as with any other nutrient, it’s best to get your daily dose of MSM via your diet through whole foods.