AntiFreckle Juice

August 28, 2005 8:09 PM

How safe/practical/possible is freckle removal?

Unsafe practices in the sun when I was just a wee lass have left me with much thicker freckle coverage on my forearms than on my upper arms, leaving me with a permanent farmer's tan. These freckles never fade, never get much darker, nor do I seem to be adding any more since reaching adulthood. Other than on my arms, they've mostly gone away since I was a kid. (I stay out of the sun for the obvious reasons) Do I have options for thinning out the freckles on my arm? Anyone done this and been happy? Is this how Von Teese, Kidman and Zellweger get their lovely pale skin? Oh, and do the freckles somehow protect me from something? Will I miss them when they're gone?

posted by FortyT-wo to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

Not really an answer, but I've got the same sort of freckle-y farmer's tan despite constant use of sunscreen. I think freckles happen from exposure to the sun regardless of what precautions you take.
posted by Orrorin at 8:47 PM on August 28, 2005

If it's sundamage, IPL (intense pulsed light) may help. It works on darker pigment (if it has a reddish cast to it, may not work as well). Lighter skinned people are better candidates. Ask your dermatologist if you are a candidate. If you are, they may have other ideas.
posted by 6:1 at 8:58 PM on August 28, 2005

I know someone who had something done--she said it was like a chemical peel-- (maybe it was a stronger version of this stuff?)
posted by amberglow at 10:01 PM on August 28, 2005

The freckles do protect you from the sun. And don't think that just because some actresses are fair haired and pale means that a) they've gone through some treatment b) they don't have freckles.

I say leave 'em as is.
posted by furtive at 3:32 AM on August 29, 2005

Response by poster: The freckles are completely red(dish). I only have one or two of the darker pigment freckles, back on my shoulderblades.
posted by FortyT-wo at 6:12 AM on August 29, 2005

A dermatologist can take a look and let you know what the prognosis would be for various treatments. Some freckles can be removed, some will just recurr.
posted by desuetude at 6:28 AM on August 29, 2005

A co-worker who had many freckles went home to Taiwan and had them removed with some laser treatment, a year ago. Seems to have worked, but she says they're coming back now. Still, she was pleased with the result. She had it down there rather than here (in the US) because it was cheaper. I'm wondering if a fair-haired Casucasion might have a different story.
posted by Rash at 10:02 AM on August 29, 2005