Some home remedies, such as mastic tea or rosemary essential oil, contain substances that help reduce the production of melanin, a type of pigment that gives color to the skin, and in this way, help to lighten the skin naturally, improving the appearance of dark spots on the face, hands, arms or other parts of the body.
These home remedies can be prepared and applied daily to the area of skin with spots caused by acne, sun, lemon, or even the use of contraceptives, such as melasma.
Read too: Dark spots on the skin: 8 common causes (and what to do)
However, before using home remedies for skin blemishes, it is important to do an allergy test, applying a little of the home remedy to the back of your hand. If the skin becomes red or irritated, using the home remedy is not recommended. Furthermore, the use of home remedies does not replace treatment recommended by a doctor.
Some home remedy options to remove dark spots on your skin are:
1. Licorice Tea Poultice
Licorice poultice, made from the medicinal plant Glycyrriza glabrais rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances, such as glabridin, glycyrrhizin, saponins and flavonoids, which act by inhibiting the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin, and in this way, help to lighten the skin, improving the appearance of dark spots or melasma.
Furthermore, this medicinal plant helps prevent aging and has protective effects against the sun’s rays.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of licorice root powder;
- 1 cup of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Add the licorice to the boiling water, cover and let it rest for 10 minutes. Wait for it to cool, strain, wet a gauze pad with the licorice tea and apply it to the skin area with the dark spots.
Licorice tea poultice should not be used by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with heart problems.
2. Slug Gel
Aloe vera is a medicinal plant of the species Aloe verawhich has substances, such as aloin and aloesin, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which reduce or prevent skin pigmentation, helping to lighten the skin naturally, being a good home remedy option for dark spots or melasma.
When preparing this home remedy, it is important not to use the bark of the aloe leaf, which has toxic effects, but only the transparent gel inside the leaf.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Wash the aloe leaves, cut in half and remove the gel from the leaf, placing it in a clean, dry container. Then, moisten a clean towel or gauze with the gel and apply it to areas with dark spots on the skin about 3 times a day. See other benefits of this medicinal plant.
3. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has acetic acid in its composition that helps lighten the skin, reducing the appearance of dark spots, making it a good option for a home remedy for melasma and can be applied directly to the skin.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar;
- 1 glass of water.
Preparation mode
Add apple cider vinegar to the glass of water and mix. Place a little of this solution on a piece of cotton or gauze and apply it to the area of skin with the stain. Leave to act for 2 to 3 minutes, wash the skin and dry. Apple cider vinegar can be applied to the dark spot on the skin up to twice a day, until the spot disappears completely.
Apple cider vinegar can be made at home with natural ingredients or purchased in supermarkets. Learn how to make apple cider vinegar at home.
4. Mastic tea
Aroeira tea, made with the medicinal plant Schinus terebinthifoliushas properties that inhibit enzymes that increase skin color, and in this way helps to lighten different types of blemishes, such as blemishes on the face and skin left by acne, sun, lemon, pregnancy or even the use of contraceptives.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of bark and some mastic leaves;
- 1 cup of water.
Preparation mode
Place the ingredients in a pan and boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Wait for it to warm, dip a gauze pad in the tea and apply it to the stained skin, leaving it to act for around 20 minutes, and then wash normally. Repeat the application of aroeira tea daily until the stains completely disappear.
Mastic tea should not be used by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people with very sensitive skin.
5. Rosemary essential oil
Rosemary essential oil has antioxidant properties capable of reducing skin damage and improving the appearance of dark spots on the skin. Furthermore, rosemary is capable of stimulating collagen production, preventing the skin from becoming saggy and ensuring a more youthful appearance. Discover other properties of rosemary essential oil for the skin.
To use rosemary essential oil on the skin, it is necessary to mix it with another carrier vegetable oil, such as mineral oil, coconut oil or sweet almond oil, for example, to allow the rosemary essential oil to be better absorbed by the skin. skin and do not cause irritation.
Ingredients
- 1 to 3 drops of rosemary essential oil;
- a tablespoon of mineral, sweet almond or coconut oil.
Preparation mode
Add the rosemary essential oil with the carrier oil until you have a uniform mixture. Wash the area of skin with the stain to be treated, with water and neutral soap, then dry with a clean, dry towel. Apply a small amount of this mixture to the blemished skin, massaging gently with circular movements. Afterwards, it is recommended to wipe off excess oil with a cloth dampened with warm water.
Rosemary essential oil should not be ingested or used by children or pregnant or breastfeeding women. Furthermore, it should not be used in the area close to the eyes or ears, as well as on sensitive areas of the skin.
