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Freckle prevention is obviously better than developing them and then
needing to treat them. Therefore, anyone with an hereditary tendency
to freckle -- who freckles easily -- should wear sunscreen
whenever appropriate and also minimize their sun exposure.
The aim here is twofold -- to suppress their tendency to produce freckles
and, much more importantly, to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer.
The tendency to freckle easily goes along with the tendency to
sun-sensitive skin cancer.
Freckles are a warning to people who have them that their skin is
highly vulnerable to sunburn and to skin cancer.There are steps that can be
taken to prevent them, lessen their appearance, and fade them considerably.
Use sunscreen: Wear a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
The product should contain one or more of the following active ingredients:
Parsol® 1789 (avobenzone), titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Apply the sunscreen every day when you get up,
and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
Wear a hat: Get a broad-brimmed hat without mesh or weave
that could let light through. A hat is a great way to take
shade with you everywhere, and it will keep the sun
from directly hitting your face.
Avoid peak sun hours: If you can, don’t go outside
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., as this is when the sun is most intense.
Stay out of tanning beds: These devices expose your skin to
lots of pigment-inducing UV radiation, and it’s only inches from your skin.
One tanning bed session is equal to a whole day spent at the beach.
Check your medications: Some things you take internally or apply
to your skin can cause skin sensitivity. Among the medicines that can
cause this are certain antibiotics and birth control pills.
Topical products that can cause sun sensitivity include alpha hydroxy
acids and benzoyl peroxide. You need to be especially careful in the sun
if you use these. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to determine
if what you use on your face or take internally would make your skin
more sensitive to the sun. Don’t stop taking any medications
without your doctor’s consent.
Try fading creams: Look for over-the-counter fading creams
containing hydroquinone. Make sure to buy a preparation that comes
in a tube or pump so the product is not repeatedly exposed to air and light.
This would cause the ingredients to break down and become ineffective.
Follow the directions and precautions on the package.
Be consistent: Even a few minutes of unprotected sun exposure
each day will add up, such as the rays your skin absorbs from
walking to the mailbox and getting in and out of your car.
Don’t rely on your car or house windows to shield you from the rays,
because most of the pigment-causing UV rays still come through them.
You will set yourself back in your skin-lightening endeavor
if you aren’t consistent in your efforts.
For more info, download Freckle Prevention, a free ebook.
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