Will Lemon Juice Fade Age Spots?

Can Lemon Juice fade age spots or is this simply a half truth that everyone believes because everyone says it is so? The short answer is that it won't but I intend to discuss the reasons why this is the case and give you some alternatives to fade your age spots that could possibly work.

The reason why so many people think that lemon juice can fade age spots is because many fade creams and skin whiteners actively use citric acid as part of the ingredients in soaps, lotions and creams meant to help with brown spots.

But in reality citric acid, at best, can be used as a gentle exfoliater as it is usually meant to break apart the connectivity of dead skin cells. What this produces is the newer skin under the older skin. If age spots were simply a matter of peeling away the top layer of dead skin, then lemon juice may be enough.

But the real issue isn't dead skin cells. Age spots start to show up around age 30 and are the cumulative effect of years of sun damage to the skin.

The good news is that there are ways to remove or in the very least diminish the appearance of age spots on the skin though....

When it comes to getting rid of the brown patches caused by the sun, the best remedy for them is medicated creams, gels or lotions.  Lotions tend to work best if the spots are smaller.  Creams are better for larger surface areas.

Get yourself a good fade cream

If you live in the US, you can look for fade creams with at least 2% hydroquinone in them. It is a bleaching agent that has a very good track record for bleaching skin (in fact, many darker cultures use it to whiten their skin).  It is effective but there are health risks.  Hydroquinone is banned in all countries except the US.

With a fade cream, you can expect to see results in 1-2 months.

If the age spots are darker in nature or simply stubborn, another option is to find products that contain Retinol.  If you have ever suffered from acne, then you will recognize the name.

Retinol works because they stimulate collagen and new skin cells to form.  The downside is that retinol is a drying agent and can irritate your skin.

Usually the most stubborn age spots are removed or diminished by combining a prescription strength hydroquinone cream with a retinoid regimen.

So, in summation, the quick answer to the question is no, lemon juice won't remove age spots and they won't even fade them a little regardless of what others tell you.

Lemon juice will act as an exfoliate and there are all sorts of masks and natural face peels that utilize the acids found in lemons (and other citric acid) to exfoliate your skin.  And that said, if you are don't mind the age spots but won't healthy, vibrant looking skin, then using lemon juice combined with something else (like avocado) and creating a face mask may be just what the doctor ordered.