How to Remove Age Spots & Sun Spot Naturally
Sunspots on the skin are tricky to treat.
Why? Because they often fall under different guises:
- age spots
- liver spots
- solar lentigo
- pigmentation
- sun-damaged skin
Sunspots appear as round, brown, flat patches, where the top layer of skin expands with pigment.
While some people have a hereditary predisposition to sunspots, most appear due to too much exposure to UV rays.
The important thing to note is that sunspots are stubborn to remove, especially when you’re up against controversial ingredients like Hydroquinone.
The important tyrosinase inhibitor
Before we begin, we need to get a bit technical and explain the term “tyrosinase inhibitor“.
The key to the regulation of skin pigmentation is melanotropin, often referred to as Alpha-MSH. Melanotropin controls Tyrosinase activity, along with melanin synthesis – tyrosinase is the key enzyme involved in producing the skin pigment melanin.
Many of the extracts listed below contain molecules that antagonize alpha-MSH and inhibit tyrosinase; reducing this activity helps lighten pigmentation and improve skin tone.
Understanding pigmentation
These dark patches are caused when melanin – what gives our skin and hair colour – is overproduced in certain spots on the skin, causing them to look much darker than your natural pigment (skin tone.)
There are a couple of common causes for getting these; age spots that are often exposed to the sun; melasma, often as a result of hormones during pregnancy; and then there is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which occurs after a pimple, bite, or other trauma to the skin once it heals a mark is left behind.
This is why we encourage you never to pick or squeeze your skin, especially your face, where the skin is thinner than anywhere else on the body.
This article on derm NZ does a great job of breaking down different pigmentation disorders.
Naturally treating sunspots on skin.
Alpha-Arbutin
- this ingredient comes from yeast extract
- it promotes skin lightening by blocking melanin
- it is considered one of the safest ingredients for removing pigmentation
Bearberry Leaf Extract/Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi
- a popular skin brightener
- it is also considered an anti-bacterial and antioxidant
Antioxidants
- these ingredients address the connection between inflammation and pigmentation formation
- they also help to slow down the oxidation that is involved in the formation of melanin
Bio white
- contains four plant extracts: Saxifrage, Grape, Mulberry, and Skullcap
- inhibits the production of tyrosinase
- plant extracts exfoliate dark surface cells, promoting healthy cell renewal
- white also offers protection from UV radiation
Daisy Flower Extract/Bellis Perennis
- a potent skin lightener and antioxidant
- bellis Perennis influences the pathways involved in the formation of melanin
Diacetyl Boldine Extract/Lumiskin
- this extract comes from Chilean bark
- it inhibits pigmentation induced by cellular stress; lightening and brightening sunspots on skin
Giga white
- developed from alpine plants
- giga white has strong antioxidant properties
- it is considered a potent anti-inflammatory and skin lightening extract
- it naturally inhibits tyrosinase
Kojic Acid
- this extract is sourced from mushrooms
- it prevents melanin production by inhibiting tyrosinase
Hydroxy Acids
- hydroxy acids un-bond corneocyte cells that contain melanin – the cells responsible for skin colour
- 5% concentration of lactic acid can help to inhibit the formation of the tyrosinase enzyme, slowing the process of melanin synthesis
Mulberry Bark Extract/Morus Alba
- a natural tyrosinase inhibitor
- morus Alba has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Niacinamide
- this is the equivalent of a non-hydroquinone treatment for hyperpigmentation
- perfect for overall brightening and fading of sunspots on skin
N-Acetyl Glucosamine
- another great skin whitening agent
- it works in synergy with niacinamide
Poria Cocos Polysaccharide
- increases skin thickness
- improves luminosity and microcirculation
- decreases the appearance of wrinkles caused by ageing
Rumex Occidentalis Extract/Tyrostat
- this botanical extract comes from a plant native to Northern Canada
- regarded as one of the best all-natural skin whitening bio-actives
- it has a strong inhibitory effect on the tyrosinase enzyme
Undecylenoyl phenylalanine/Sepiwhite
- a potent sun spot fader
- made from natural amino acids
- hailed as a breakthrough in reducing pigmentation
- it works as an MSH antagonist, preventing the production of melanin synthesis
- n-acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide, and sepiwhite are proving to be very effective in reducing melanin production without damaging skin cultures
Not so naturally
Oligopeptide-34
This is a good example of a peptide that can control pigmentation; it is a synthesised peptide that can inhibit tyrosinase activity within the skin.
It visibly brightens sun-induced hyperpigmentation in half the time of many other popular skin lightening ingredients. It is considered one of the most effective and safe ways to treat hyper-pigmentation.
Melanostatin-5/Aqua-Dextran-Nonapeptide-1
This peptide works by antagonising the alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.
It prevents the hormone from telling the melanocyte to produce melanin, thus helping to lighten hyperpigmentation areas on the skin.
Hi Samantha
I have suffered with warts most of my life. Are warts a sign of something not functioning well in the body. Could warts be a sign of depression…or cause it?
Hi Pat I’m sorry we just don’t know the answer to this, it could possibly be a question for a naturopaths…
pls how can I treat my chemical burn causing my face to be dark
Hi Bella
This is very very difficult to correct as the chemical burn is taking place deep in the dermis, it is nothing something that I can advice remotely I really am sorry and topically nothing is going to pull this pigment out of the skin and beware of hydroquinone – look up my article on this ingredient. Good luck
hi i just bought some daisy extract and am having a hard time finding info on how to use….do u know any ratios for use in a serum or moisturizer? does it have to be used in carrier oil?
I’m sorry I wish I could advise but have no experience with this ingredient, have you tried contacting the supplier
Thanks so much. Surprisingly understandable.
No problem Lise glad you enjoyed the article
Very eductive thank so much
If you have a website would love to join.
Hi Katherine thankyou for the message yes my site is thenakedchemist.com if you click on a blog page a window will pop up and you can join thank you for reaching out samantha
Very important information offered. I want to order
Hi ola
Thankyou for your feedback, products will be available to purchase in the next 4 weeks once released i will let you know. regards samantha
Great guide of ingredients thankyou
Hi Samantha thankyou for this comprehensive overview of lightening ingredients
Great article appreciate you sharing your knowledge Samantha
I have been using a formula with Undecylenoyl phenylalanine in for sometime now, and I have found that it significantly lightened my pigmentation.
I found this article so informative. I have heard about the dangers of hydroquinone and was looking for a natural alternative, so really appreciate this article.
Hi Jane so glad you found it useful, and i agree it is so important to become your own label detective.