Freckles are clusters of pigmentation on the skin, often found on body parts frequently exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck and chest. While these tiny spots are extremely common and harmless — and have even been labeled as the latest beauty trend — some people want to get rid of them for cosmetic reasons.
Although it is not possible to remove freckles permanently, various treatments can help lighten them and reduce their appearance. At Berman Skin Institute, our qualified and experienced providers will create the ideal treatment plan for you and help you achieve the results you’re looking for. Schedule a consultation today to get started.
What Are Freckles?
Also known as lentigines, freckles are small marks that can be light brown, tan or red. Unlike moles, which are raised, freckles lie flat. They result from a buildup of melanin under the skin.
Skin cells, known as melanocytes, produce more melanin to shield your skin from UV rays. This is why being in the sun often accents freckles. You might notice that they become more prominent during the summer.
Genetics also play a role in how prone you are to developing freckles. People with many of these little spots usually have light skin, but freckles can appear on anyone. While fair-skinned people typically have less melanin than those with darker skin, their melanocytes produce more melanin when exposed to sunlight.
Do Freckles Go Away?
Freckles can go away. Just as these little spots get darker during the warmer months, they will usually fade in the winter as you experience less sun exposure. With age, your freckles might lighten or even disappear if hereditary. Yet, if caused by sun damage, they may increase as the years go by.
However, you might not be willing to wait and see if your freckles get lighter on their own, or you may be concerned that they are increasing in appearance.
How to Lighten Freckles
These five treatments can help lighten your freckles.
1. Topical Creams
Topical treatments such as fading creams and retinoids can lighten freckles with consistent use. Also known as bleaching creams, fading creams are usually made with hydroquinone, an ingredient that lightens the skin by suppressing the production of new melanin. Retinoids are a derivative of vitamin A and can reduce the appearance of freckles by evening out your skin tone. Retinoid creams can also accelerate your cell turnover rate, which may fade dark spots.
While both topical options are available over the counter and with a prescription, the latter is always best. Plus, many prescription retinoids are formulated with hydroquinone — a combination that can effectively fade freckles when used for several months.
The length of treatment can be a disadvantage for those who want something more instant, and they may cause skin irritation. Other therapies also offer more dramatic results. However, topical creams are suitable for most people, except those with dry or sensitive skin.
2. Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a noninvasive skin rejuvenation treatment that exfoliates the outer layer of skin and encourages collagen production in the deeper layers, resulting in a more radiant and youthful complexion.
While this 30-minute procedure can promote a more even skin tone, it’s rarely used to treat freckles alone. Instead, microdermabrasion is best for treating freckles that coincide with other concerns such as acne scars, hyperpigmentation, sun damage and wrinkles.
Recovery time is minimal, although you might experience slight swelling, redness and tenderness, which should subside within a couple of hours after your treatment. You’ll likely see an improvement in your skin after two to four weeks and will need multiple sessions for the ideal results.
Because of this, microdermabrasion can become expensive. People with skin conditions like psoriasis, contact dermatitis or acne are also not good candidates.
3. Laser Treatments
Laser procedures use focused beams of powerful light to treat the skin, promoting the growth of new skin cells and encouraging collagen production for a youthful glow. But not all lasers were created equal — only some are used to address pigmentation concerns, such as freckles.
The Q-Switched ND YAG laser treatment is one the most effective ways to get rid of freckles on the face and other body parts regularly exposed to the sun. In this 10-minute procedure, a laser light moves over the areas of concern to microscopically shatter the pigment of your freckles into tiny particles, which your body processes and eliminates. According to a 2023 study, the Q-Switched ND YAG laser produced effective results for fading freckles. Some patients only need one session to see a noticeable difference.
Fraxel™ laser is another option. This procedure treats the skin fractionally with microscopic laser beams to create small micro-wounds. The surrounding tissue remains intact, resulting in a healing process that forms new skin cells to replace damaged cells and reduce the pigment of freckles. Fraxel™ can take as little as 20 minutes, and while you may see an immediate improvement, results get better with time and multiple treatments. Most patients achieve their goals in four to six sessions.
Laser therapies are suitable for most people except for those with very dark skin tones. Depending on the treatment intensity needed, you may experience some light to moderate redness and swelling for a few days to up to a week. These treatments can also be pricey, as you’ll likely need several sessions.
4. Light Therapies
Like laser treatments, these therapies are noninvasive and use light energy to stimulate cell turnover and collagen production. However, light therapies are much gentler, so there may be less downtime, and the results may not be as dramatic. They are also suitable for all skin types, even those with atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. In fact, treatments like broadband light (BBL) therapy can help with the itchiness caused by these conditions.
With BBL therapy, you can remove freckles on your face, neck, chest, arms and hands. In a procedure lasting 15 to 30 minutes, providers use a device that flashes broad-spectrum, infrared light on the surface layers of your skin to target pigmented cells and stimulate collagen production.
BBL is a more advanced version of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. However, IPL can also be effective at fading freckles. With this PhotoFacial, providers use a device that creates an intense beam of light absorbed by the deeper layers of the skin, promoting collagen growth to reveal a more even skin tone.
With both BBL and IPL, you will see a visible change in the week after your initial treatment — your freckles may become darker initially, but they will flake off and fade over time. However, you’ll need five sessions for best results, with your freckles getting lighter with each. As a result, the costs of light therapies can add up. While there is little to no recovery time, experiencing some discomfort, such as a sunburn sensation, is normal and will subside in a few days.
5. Chemical Peels
This treatment uses a chemical solution, such as alpha-hydroxy glycolic acid and beta-hydroxy salicylic acid, to slough away damaged skin and promote collagen growth for a more rejuvenated complexion. As chemical peels help even out your skin’s color, they can reduce the appearance of freckles.
There are three types of chemical peels — superficial, medium or deep. A medium peel with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or glycolic acid that penetrates the skin’s middle and surface layers is ideal for lightening your freckles, but your provider will determine what is best for your skin type. Depending on the peel and the strength of the acid used, treatments take between 30 and 90 minutes.
You will have more downtime with stronger acids like TCA than with glycolic acid. For example, you may experience some redness, peeling and swelling for up to two weeks after your treatment. You should also notice your freckles start to fade after this period, but you’ll need around three to six treatments for more dramatic results.
Lighten Your Freckles With Berman Skin Institute
While it is not possible to remove freckles, the right treatments can make them less noticeable. Berman Skin Institute has several locations across Northern California, all performing research-backed cosmetic dermatologic services with innovative medical technology.
When you schedule a consultation, you can discuss your concerns with one of our skilled and knowledgeable providers. They’ll assess your skin and create a personalized treatment plan based on which of these five treatments will suit you most. We also offer various financing options, making the treatment you need more accessible.
To start the process of lightening your freckles, schedule a consultation today!
