Freckles are usually harmless, but they affect aesthetics, especially when freckles appear on the face. So how to treat freckles?

1. What are freckles?

Freckles are small spots of hyperpigmentation in the dermis, formed by excessive melanin synthesis. Freckles are usually brown or dark brown in color and appear on the face or can be seen in other locations on the body such as the neck, arms or chest, back.

The main causes of freckles include genetics, hormones, and UV rays in sunlight. Freckles are common in women. Exposure to UV rays is the leading factor that causes and worsens freckles.

Freckles are usually harmless. However, freckles affect aesthetics, especially freckles on the face, making women feel self-conscious and self-conscious.

Freckles are small hyperpigmented spots in the dermis, formed due to excessive melanin synthesis.

2. Signs of freckles

Signs of freckles can be observed with the naked eye, specifically:

• Skin appears with small dark spots of light brown or dark brown color.
• Freckles are usually small in size, 1-5mm, can appear individually or linked together in a large patch on the skin.
• Freckles are symmetrical, scattered in any position on the body.
• The color of freckles can change with the seasons, specifically freckles will be darker in the summer or immediately after prolonged exposure to sunlight and gradually fade in the winter even without treatment intervention.

3. Some ingredients to treat freckles

3.1. Vitamin C

Not only does it inhibit the activity of the enzyme tyrosinase (an enzyme necessary for melanin production), vitamin C also stimulates collagen production, helping to reduce the formation of brown spots and brighten the skin.

Vitamin C can be supplemented through diet, supplements and topical application. When using vitamin C, it is important to protect the skin from sunlight.

3.2. Tranexamic acid

Tranexamic acid helps inhibit the activity of the enzyme plasmin, slowing down the intracellular production of arachidonic acid – an effective stimulant of melanin synthesis.

Research shows that using tranexamic acid daily for 8-12 weeks will significantly improve skin color. The treatment of freckles will be more effective when combining tranexamic acid with vitamin C or niacinamide, retinol… These substances act as a stepping stone, helping tranexamic acid penetrate deeper and absorb better for dark skin areas.

3.3. Azelaic acid

Azelaic acid has the ability to even skin tone, improve skin pigmentation, thereby supporting the fading of acne scars, brown spots and freckles. In addition, this active ingredient also reduces redness, is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, making it one of the ideal ingredients for acne-prone skin.

3.4. Retinol

Retinol is a derivative of  vitamin A , participating in promoting the natural skin renewal process, helping to remove old skin cells containing melanin pigment (the cause of freckles) and replace them with new skin cells. This helps to fade freckles on the skin surface over time safely, effectively and optimally.

Not only that, retinol also inhibits the activity of the enzyme tyrosinase, an important enzyme in the production of melanin, reducing the appearance of freckles for brighter and more radiant skin.

Using retinol can help fade freckles.

4. How to prevent freckles

Sunlight is the main cause of freckles and makes them darker. Therefore, to prevent the appearance of freckles on the skin, it is necessary to protect the skin from the effects of UV rays by applying sunscreen.

To choose a good sunscreen for the skin, note:

• Prioritize broad-spectrum sunscreen with broad spectrum filter, SPF30 or higher.
• Always apply sunscreen when going out and reapply every 2 hours, if you have to work continuously outdoors.
• Use sunscreen every day, even on cloudy or rainy days because even if there is no sun, UVA rays can still damage collagen and elastin fibers, making freckles worse.
• Limit going outdoors during peak hours (from 9 am to 4 pm every day) because this is when UV rays are strongest and have the most negative impact on the skin.
• You should wear a hat, mask, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing to protect your skin more comprehensively and optimally.