Freckle Freakout

If you’ve spent any time in the sun this summer, you may have more freckles than you started out with. I have had freckles for longer than I can remember. In elementary school, people started to tell me how to get rid of them. Back then, it was lemon juice. Now, it’s skin brightening creams. I’ve always liked my freckles, and I’m not the only one…but if you have them, you have options. The freckled folk amongst us can try to fade them, cover them, or enhance them.

Freckles are caused by a genetic variant that is triggered by sun exposure. They are different than sun spots in that they are genetic; they just grow darker when exposed to sunlight. This means that if you are predisposed to freckles, you will always be predisposed to freckles. Your freckles may have gotten darker in the summer sun, but they’ll lighten up in time.

You may never be free of them, but you can temporarily fade them until you head out into the sun again. Dermatologists can perform treatments using laser therapy, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. These expensive treatments often aren’t covered by insurance, so expect to pay out of your own pocket. For a more frugal option, there are at-home treatments you can do yourself.

Look for fading creams that contain hydroquinone like Black and White Bleaching Cream, and follow the directions to fade your freckles and sun spots. If you would prefer a more natural option, lemon juice will also work as a bleaching agent (you can also use it to lighten your hair with a little help from the sun). You can juice a lemon yourself, or buy pure lemon juice. Apply the juice to a cotton ball and wipe across your freckled skin. Results will typically take a few months. If you do fade your freckles with either a home remedy or doctor’s treatment, you have to remember to protect your skin from any and all sun exposure to make the results last. Discovery says that a few days in the sun will undo months of fading treatments.

There are far more temporary options for covering up freckles. Many foundations will effectively hide the spots, but use a primer or a mousse foundation like Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse. PhotoShop is quite adept at reming freckles from pictures. Model Erin Heatherton has mixed feelings about her freckles being removed from photos for a Victoria’s Secret campaign: “You look better, but it’s a lie.”

Look better? Plenty of people look great with freckles!

If you are lucky enough to have freckles, remember that some people envy them. Taaz actually provides instructions on how to add fake freckles to your face to mimic Rashida Jones’ appearance (use a brown eyeliner pencil, in case you were wondering). If you already have freckles, you can just swipe a sheer blush over your your cheeks and let your freckles face the day. Many sites have photo galleries of celebrities with freckles; even the cutest girl-next-door type starlets have some, and proudly show their freckles on the red carpet.

How you view freckles is up to you, but whether or not you have freckles is up to genetics and sun exposure. A leopard can’t change his spots, but you can temporarily change yours if you like. However, I recommend you embrace those blobs of melanin. It will save you a lot of time on your beauty routine and a lot of worry about your appearance.