As we age, something happens to our skin. We start getting dark patches called age spots. At first, we don’t notice them, but once we pass 50 they become more evident. What do we do to get rid of them?
Turmeric is a proven whitening agent, though you wouldn’t think so with its yellow hue. Used as a face mask, this spice can treat age spots, blemishes, and acne quite effectively.
WHAT ARE AGE SPOTS?
According to Mayo Clinic, age spots are dark spots on your face, hands, and shoulders, caused by the sun. All those days basking in the sun eventually has an adverse effect on your skin especially if you don’t wear sunscreen.
These spots are often called liver spots, solar lentigines, or senile freckles. They look like freckles but they are bigger. They can also be mistaken as skin cancer, but generally are harmless unless they become darker, bigger, and grow rapidly. You should always get skin abnormalities looked at by a doctor to ensure it isn’t anything harmful.
Once you’re given a clean bill of health, you might want to take action. Age spots can start small, and over time, once you reach your 50’s and beyond, they can become quite unsightly. Sometimes large patches of skin become crowded with age spots, like on your cheeks and your jawline.
Many use concealer, foundations, and coverup to deal with age spots, but you don’t always want to wear heavy makeup to deal with this problem. It works, but it can feel caked on.
So what is the alternative?
You can buy over-the-counter products, or use a natural product to treat age spots. I prefer using a natural product but that’s just me. If you prefer natural products, you can either mix your own recipe up or buy a natural ready-made product from a health food store.
We will go over the options below, first exploring products on the market, then natural remedies.
PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET
There are many skin spot removers on the market today, and you can get them from many different companies. Some are expensive and some are more affordable. The choice is up to you. It really doesn’t matter what brand, as they are all good products. This particular one is a top seller on Amazon with almost 500 reviews. Take a look at it and you be the judge.
Disclosure: Crunchy Menopause is a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products I review on this website. Each product has been tested thoroughly and has been given high marks only if it really is the best. Crunchy Menopause is independently owned and the opinions expressed here are my own. That means, if you purchase something through one of my links, I get money for it. ~ Sincerely, Kat
– HIGH QUALITY REVIEWS!
I’ve seen everything from Vitamin C creams to Retinol products used effectively for age spots. If you would rather get an over-the-counter product, you can’t go wrong with online shopping at Amazon. Personally, I prefer natural products because there are fewer chemicals in them. I have very sensitive skin, so I have a hard time with most over-the-counter products. But I’ve included a sample of age spot remover for sensitive skin for those who need it. Just click on the picture below and it will take you directly to Amazon.
– FOR SENSITIVE SKIN!
Using over-the-counter products to get rid of age spots is effective, but can be quite costly. A great alternative is natural remedies. Often things we find in our own kitchen can do the trick quite nicely. In the next segment, we will explore natural ways to deal with age spots.
NATURAL REMEDIES
There is an assortment of foods that can be used to lighten the skin and treat age spots. Below is a general list of what you can try to whiten age spots. I’m sure there are more, but these are the main ones.
- Lemon
- Papaya
- Parsley
- Aloe Vera
- Buttermilk
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Horseradish
- Sandalwood
- Potato
- Cucumber
- Honey
- Orange peel
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
- Kombucha
- Turmeric
Turmeric is my favorite skin whitening spice. You might not think it would do the trick because it’s so yellow. It even stains the skin yellow, but after washing it off, and using it for about a week, it will whiten the skin. Turmeric is even used as a teeth whitener.
Below we will discuss the amazing benefits of Turmeric for the skin.
TURMERIC FOR THE SKIN
Turmeric benefits the entire body, not just the skin. I’ve written an article you can check out through the following link, Benefits of Turmeric if you want to check it out.
Its anti-inflammatory qualities make turmeric a great asset for the skin because it calms it down. It reduces scarring and clears up acne. Turmeric can also bring back your natural skin glow and make you look younger. That’s a huge benefit for older women.
The curcumin found in turmeric can heal wounds, which makes it a great choice for any kind of skin irritation. Studies have found that turmeric improves skin abnormalities and repairs tissue and collagen as well. That’s huge!
Turmeric is said to help with psoriasis, eczema, and acne scarring as well as stretch marks. It’s been linked to scabies treatment and many other dermatological conditions. Not only is it effective for treating your skin, but also for treating the inside of your body. I’ve used turmeric it for years as an anti-inflammatory for arthritis, headaches, and pain relief. It’s more effective than Tylenol and muscle relaxants.
Turmeric can even be effective for dog and pets. There are entire websites dedicated to turmeric treatment for animals and have reduced cancerous tumors as well as brought life back to aging pets by reducing pain caused by arthritic limbs.
This spice is amazing!
No wonder it whitens age spots. It’s healing your body! So, I tried it on my face and got AMAZING results. Take a peek at my adventure.
Yuck right! It’s pretty messy. I smeared turmeric all over my face and neck and left it on for a couple of hours. I probably didn’t need to leave it on for so long, but it didn’t hurt. It was a bugger to take off though. I had to remove it with coconut oil, but that’s okay, I love coconut oil and use it for everything. Check out my coconut oil article through the following link here, Coconut Oil for Menopause Symptoms.
RECIPES
There are many turmeric age spot recipes. I will briefly list them below.
MY OWN RECIPE
- 1 tablespoon melted or liquid coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon powdered turmeric
- mix in a small bowl until it’s a paste
- put in a plastic bag
- use a bag to apply all over the face
- use gloves as well
HONEY RECIPE
- 1 tablespoon melted or liquid honey
- 1 teaspoon powdered turmeric
- mix in a small bowl until it’s a paste
- put in a plastic bag
- use a bag to apply all over the face
- use gloves as well
YOGURT RECIPE
- 1 heaping tablespoon of yogurt
- 1 teaspoon of powdered turmeric
- mix in a small bowl until it’s a paste
- put in a plastic bag
- scoop out into gloved hand and apply
- use like face cream
Wash off instructions are the same for each type of recipe. Leave on for at least 15 mins. Longer if you want, depending on how your skin feels. Do NOT leave it on overnight because it will stain your pillows and your sheets.
Wash off in sink very carefully. The yellow can crumble off your skin if it is dry and fall everywhere. Removal of the face mask is best in the shower. Rub moisturizer or coconut oil all over your face to remove the turmeric. Use an old rag, paper towel, napkin, or toilet paper several times, to ensure all the yellow is off your face.
Repeat for at least a week and see your age spots fade away.
CAUTIONS
With anything, please be careful if you have sensitive skin. Try it on a patch of skin a day before you use the face mask just to see how you will react. I did this. I have very sensitive skin, and I didn’t have any adverse reactions. Usually, I do, but this was amazing and didn’t even cause any kind of rash, burning, itch, or irritation.
Always consult a doctor if you are unsure. This website and author are not responsible for any kind of treatment you may try. Use at your own risk. Do the research yourself, and use it with caution. Know your own skin and what you can tolerate before trying turmeric on your face.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I found turmeric to be effective on my age spots. Even after one application, my face felt younger, looked brighter, and was visibly whiter than it was before.
My age spots definitely are a lot less noticeable now. I have incorporated turmeric into my normal skincare regime and love how it actually works to take away skin blemishes and age spots.
The only thing I didn’t like was how it stained my face. It took several tries to get it off, and then it was under my fingernails too. Make sure you use gloves and get it all off.
It seems ready-made products are easier but turmeric and other natural remedies work fine if you don’t mind a bit of a mess.
Whether you use over-the-counter skin spot remover, or something natural like turmeric, potato, or lemon, just make sure you are cautious and don’t overdo it. I’ve seen people put citrus on their skin and burn it. We all have to test the skin to see how something will react with our skin before trying it. That goes with makeup too.
I hope you found this article helpful! Be well, be happy, be your BEST you, and make it count!
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References
- Science Daily
- The North American Menopause Society
- Harvard Health
- Endocrine Web
- NCBI (Pub Med)
- Alternative Medicine for Menopause (LCBI)
- Healthline
- WebMD
- Women’s Health Concerns
- Reader’s Digest
- Mayo Clinic
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Author Kathleen Morris
Kathleen Morris is a successful published author, blogger, and Youtuber. She enjoys writing about things she’s passionate about and making a difference in the world.