Senior Health: How to Naturally Eliminate Age Spots

While age spots, also called liver spots, are usually harmless, most people certainly aren’t happy when they begin to develop. Age spots are the result of prolonged sun exposure that causes melanin deposits in the skin, and a dermatologist can recommend a few treatment options to reduce their appearance. If your senior loved one prefers natural remedies, here are a few options that can fade the appearance of age spots. 

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent, and it’s often found in commercial bleaching creams. While age spots won’t disappear overnight, applying lemon juice directly to brown spots with a cotton ball twice a day will reduce their appearance after two months. 

Age spots are one of many common age-related conditions, some of which are serious enough to affect older adults’ ability to live at home in comfort. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of homecare Dallas families can rely on. All of our caregivers are bonded, licensed, and insured, there are no hidden fees, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy for many skin issues, and it can reduce the appearance of age spots by drying them out to help them fade. Apply a solution of equal parts water and apple cider vinegar directly to brown spots at least once a day. Leave the solution on the skin for a few minutes before washing it off. Seniors can also apply undiluted apple cider vinegar to the skin, but it’s best to begin with a diluted solution to avoid irritation. 

Sandalwood Powder

While the exact mechanism isn’t well understood, sandalwood powder can reverse hyperpigmentation of the skin, and it’s been used in herbal medicine for generations. This natural antiseptic can fade age spots over a period of weeks. Seniors can try massaging brown spots with a couple of drops of sandalwood oil mixed with olive oil or almond oil to moisturize the skin. Sandalwood powder can also be mixed with other skin lighteners like saffron and oil to create a paste. 

There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional elderly care. Dallas families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is high in lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and natural exfoliant. It’s a common ingredient in natural skin care products, as it encourages cell turnover, or the shedding of old skin cells in favor of new skin growth. Applying buttermilk directly to age spots with a cotton ball can fade spots over time by breaking down old melanin cells. You can add lemon juice to the buttermilk to increase the effect. 

Onions & Lemon Juice

Lemons and onions are both packed with vitamin C and work as natural skin lighteners. Raw onion mixed with acidic lemon juice encourages skin lightening and cell turnover to gently peel away the uppermost layer of the skin. Onion naturally bleaches age spots and removes dead skin cells full of melanin, which is responsible for the hyperpigmentation. 

Caring for their skin can be challenging for seniors who have limited mobility or health conditions such as arthritis. Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of respite care Dallas seniors can depend on. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call Home Care Assistance at [hca_phone] today.