Please help me fade these freckles (pics)

[Mornah]

I can only assume this is sun damage. I’m 29 and really noticed how freckled I have become this Summer.

I had a few freckles growing up but nothing like what I have now.

I spend a lot of time outdoors with my dogs and got quite burned this year. Especially on holiday. We only went to Cornwall and it wasn’t even THAT sunny but it was enough to cause a peely nose. Never used sunscreen in the UK as I am of Indian origin and assumed my melanin was protection enough. Lesson learned.

I have restarted using vitamin C, tretinoin and have my eyes on the allies of skin tranexamic & arbutin advanced brightening serum.

Do you think that regime will be enough to brighten these “freckles”?

It may not necessarily be sun damage. I have one grandparent who is extremely freckled. I have also noticed more moles/freckles on my chest/boobs and those areas tend to be slightly more covered up. So I don’t know exactly why the cause of the issue is. Genetics?

But I despise them. I would love my skin if I had a more even skin tone like I used to! Really getting me down. I prefer a very light foundation and it’s very hard to cover the freckles without a cakey make up look.

I’ve played around with the settings on one photo to highlight the extent of the issue. The freckles are mostly on my nose and cheeks.

Thanks for any advice.

It looks like sun damage. I’ve had a combination of BBL (laser) and Moxi to get rid of dark spots/ sun damage and it’s worked really well. I don’t think your regime will reduce them.

damn it, was hoping i wouldn’t need any professional treatment.

please may i ask how many sessions you had? How much you spent? Thanks.

I had the same issue a few years ago, I started using retinol and they all faded within a few months. The larger ones on my shoulders are still there though so it didn’t work for those.

oh that’s made me feel so much better! Please can I ask what retinol you used?

It was The Ordinary 0.1% then I worked my way up the strengths, now I use retinal instead which apparently it’s stronger but better for more sensitive skin.

@Mornah
i have had two sessions of BBL and 1 moxi. Total cost was around £900 spread over several months.

I think your freckles are beautiful and don't need to be faded.

Vitamin C serum is excellent for healing sun damage, it takes time (months)

Retinal at night, vitamin C serum in the morning, SPF 50 EVERY.DAY. 🙂

Try Skin Rocks Hyperpigmentation serum. It faded some sun damage for me.

And wear SPF EVERY day.

IPL would sort this out. Its more expensive than creams in the shirt term but will save you money in the long run!

I’ve been using the Eucerin anti pigmentation range since August and it’s made a big difference. Stupidly I didn't actually take before photos!

serum and spf from the range in the morning and serum and moisturiser in the evening. They say 4 applications across the range per day works best.

I also layer on the Paula’s choice 25% vitamin c in the morning (but I’ve just ordered 30% and I’m embarrassingly excited to move up to that very soon!)

I’ve also ordered some Tret to get started with.

a few years ago it was worse and I had laser on my forehead, worked really well so I’ve been meaning to go back.

Retinol has sorted this out for me. Also wearing spf everyday. Dermatica was the best to get me used to it and it’s so strong I only need to use it about once a week.

sorry trey not retinol. I didn’t find retinol did anything.

There’s nothing wrong with your face. I’m 49, have a face full of freckles and it doesn’t bother me one bit. I certainly don’t think your skin looks damaged.

Freckles are gorgeous!

CE Ferulic and SPF 50 every day from now. And a hat in the sun in the summer.
do that for 1 year, see where you are by next spring and then do laser treatment to get rid of the rest of the sun damage.

Until I was a teen I used to get a on my nose in the summer, loved them and always wanted them more noticeable. Then I discovered spf moisturiser and now I miss them :(

I love them on other people just not me. I think cause I have darker skin the freckles are a bit of an ugly color. The pics I shared are from today but in Summer my skin looked very muddy muddy imo.

Thanks all SO much for product recommendations. I think I will give myself a few months of trying to lighten the freckles with product but if that doesn’t work seems like BBL/Moxi it is.

And I will start using spf daily! Like I know I should’ve been.

I have an Indian friend with freckles and they are very attractive, for most people they are associated with youthfulness. Be more careful of burning in the summer sun but you have to balance the benefit of fading the freckles by staying out of the sun/wearing a hat/weating sunscreen with the benefits of making your own vitamin D. If you have dual or indian heritage you are at more risk of a vitamin D deficiency in the UK so make sure you spend sensible amounts of time in the sun in the summer.

I just don’t like the look of them for some reason on me. I think because I see it a damage maybe.

I might have to look into vitamin d tablets. Thanks for highlighting.

And thanks again to everyone who took the time to offer advice :)