Many men and women who are looking to achieve a smooth, blemish free look will ask, ‘how can I get rid of a freckle?’  Freckles are a very common occurrence for most individuals; genetics and heredity play a part in the condition of the surface of our skin, however sun exposure and other daily elements can also cause our skin’s pigment to change and alter.  While freckles are generally harmless to the overall health of our skin, more and more individuals are undergoing skin rejuvenation procedures to remove them for aesthetic reasons.  Removing unwanted freckles can help you to restore clear, blemish free skin with lasting results.

Freckles are easy to identify on the skin because they are small, flat, round, usually uniform in color and appear darker than the pigment surrounding them.  Freckles form due to cells called melanocytes; these cells generate increased amounts of melanin in the skin and when this melanin collects abnormally in specific areas of the skin, the formation of freckles is the result.  Freckles usually begin development around the age or two, however while some freckles can be genetic, repeated sun exposure also factors in the initiation of their appearance.  Freckles are generally never cancerous in nature which means it is hardly ever medically necessary to have them removed; however men and women choose to undergo freckle removal for aesthetic reasons.

When undergoing freckle removal, it is important for individuals to know that there are two distinct types of freckles.  There are simple freckles which are also known as ephelides, and there are sunburn freckles which are also called solar lentigines.  The appearance of simple freckles is due to genetics, this makes it harder, but not impossible, to remove them.  On the other hand, freckles caused by sun exposure are easier to remove.  While freckles most often appear on, the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, arms and hands, men and women can have them anywhere.  If you are one of the many individuals looking to remove unwanted freckles, consider the treatments below.

Chemical Peels: Chemical peels can reduce the outward appearance of freckles and rejuvenate the face by removing the outer layers of skin.  Removing dead and damaged skin cells reduces the visible signs of blemishes and allows the skin to take on a more uniform appearance.

Bleaching Agents: Bleaching agents for freckle removal are not designed to bleach the skin; instead they are designed to inhibit the production of melanin.  Applying bleaching agents to the skin stops freckles from forming on the face and body.

Laser/IPL Treatments:  Laser and Intense Pulsed Light treatments for freckle removal are the most advanced and effective way to remove unwanted freckles.  The laser and light wavelengths when attracted to the melanin in the freckles, transform into heat which effectively fragments the melanin particles.  Once fragmented, these particles can be re-absorbed and naturally expelled by the body’s immune system.  A series of treatments can drastically reduce the visible signs of unwanted freckles.

Knowing how to get rid of a freckle will help you to decide which treatment option will get you the results you are looking for.  While many treatments can get you smoother, blemish free skin, the best freckle removal technique is, and will always be, prevention. Stopping freckle formation before it starts is very simple, just wear sunscreen.  Protecting your skin from overexposure to the sun and other daily elements is the surest way to stop the formation of unwanted freckles.   So whether you are interested in preventative methods or are looking for ways to reduce unwanted freckles, consider all of your alternatives so that you can find the freckle removal technique that will get you the results you’re looking for.