We all have brown spots (also known as age spots) somewhere on our skin.
Whether it’s on your face, legs, arms, shoulders, or hands, you’ll be able to find brown spots somewhere on your body. When we age, these brown spots tend to multiply, hence why they’re also referred to as age spots – these large, brown splotches are an obvious sign of aging.
If you hate the look of these age spots and you’re looking to get rid of them, we have good news for you. There is a way to remove brown age spots from your skin, and it’s an extremely easy trick that only requires two ingredients to make! You probably have them in your kitchen right now.
Why Do We Get Age Spots?
Drew explains in the YouTube channel Fitlife that age (or sun) spots are caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun. When your skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays, the body produces melanin as a way to tan the skin, effectively building up an armor to protect the deeper layers of skin. This is why age spots typically appear on the arms, neck, shoulders, face, and other areas of the body that are most often exposed to the sun.
While sun spots are not ordinarily dangerous, if you notice some are much darker than others, have been growing quickly, or have oddly shaped borders, you should visit a doctor. If they are red, tender, or bleeding, you should see a doctor immediately.
Are Age Spots Dangerous?
The scary truth is, they can be. This doesn’t mean that every brown spot is cancerous, but there are a few warning signs you should keep an eye out for:
– If some spots are much darker than others
– If they have a funky border around them
– If they’re constantly growing or changing
– If they’re red or tender
If you notice any of these signs with your brown spots, see your doctor or dermatologist immediately. The best way to keep track of this is to do regular self-examinations.
Nervous or unsure about the status of your spots? Try testing your age spots with the “ABCDE’s of Melanoma” test. Ask yourself each of these questions when determining if your spots may be potentially hazardous.
What to do about them?
Even if your age spots are harmless, you may be tired of looking at them. Luckily, Drew explains in the below video, there is a method for removing them! The method, which was developed by Dr. Doug Willen, D.C. NYC nutrition expert and author of Quantum Paleo, uses just two simple ingredients: onion and apple cider vinegar.
Anti-Age Spot Mixture
INSTRUCTIONS
– Step 1: Chop up a fresh onion and put it in a Ziploc bag
– Step 2: Pulverize the onion using a blunt surface and pour it into a blender.
– Step 3: Blend the onion with a 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar until smooth.
– Step 4: Soak a cotton ball in the solution and apply on your spots daily. Do this for 2-4 weeks or until you see results.
While this may not be an overnight solution to your age spots, it is an all-natural, inexpensive, and simple solution that is not only convenient but is also EXTREMELY effective. It may take a few weeks, but sticking with this routine will get you nothing but positive results.
“This remedy might not be an overnight fix, but it’s extremely effective,” says Drew.
He explains the solution works because onions have an antioxidant property that neutralizes free radicals and encourages healing on the outer layer of the skin, while the alpha-hydroxy acid in apple cider vinegar works to remove the layer of dead skin, where most age spots actually reside.
Can you prevent them?
Though Dr. Willen’s recipe for age spot removal can work miracles, the best way to deal with age spots is to prevent them from appearing in the first place!
According to Dr. Ray Peat, Ph.D., in an article for Harpers Bazaar, age spots are not only caused by the sun. Your hormones and diet can also play a role. Unsaturated fats and excess iron are culprits related to diet. To prevent age spots, eliminate polyunsaturated fats from your diet and talk to your doctor about finding out whether your iron is too high.
