Ed’s note: I adore freckles. I don’t have them, but wish I did. Some of my most gorgeous friends have faces full of the things. So when people ask me how they should get rid of theirs, my usual answer is: don’t you dare. But seems some of you won’t take that for an answer. I can’t tell you how many emails I receive each week on the topic. So in the interests of freedom of info, even though I don’t necessarily condone that info, here’s what you need to know …

First Up: For medium to dark freckles, the kind that persist all year round, your first port of call should be a derm. Your freckles are deep down in the skin so they’re hard to treat with over-the-counter products, which are by regulation limited in strength. And anyway, if you have freckles, it’s a sign that you have a high risk of pre-cancerous spots, so it’s wise to get a derm to check you out. Treatment will likely be a custom-mixed concoction featuring hydroquinone, which not only stops pigment from forming, but helps the body the break down excess melanin. Hydroquinone can cause irritation so you may be advised to use it every second night - but your derm will guide you through your course, as well as advise you on what other products to use during this time. You should see good results in two to three months.

Longer-term: All skin prone to pigmentation issues should include a brightening serum in their skincare mix. This may have some effect on the pigmentation you can see at surface level, but it also works well on the layer of pigmentation that’s still coming through, by inhibiting melanin production. It’s best to go for a serum based on botanical brighteners (such as bearberry or mulberry extract), and one that ideally also has exfoliating properties via hydroxy acids or vitamin A derivatives – this will not only slough off pigmented cells, but also help treatment to effectively penetrate. Two such: Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum, $85 from Adore Beauty and Estée Lauder Extra Concentrated Brightening Essence, $136, form department stores. If your serum doesn’t have an exfoliating side, add in a gentle scrub, such as Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, $75 (call 1800 659 118 for stockist info).

Don’t Forget … Sunscreen, of course. Pigmentation is mostly triggered by the sun - freckles and other spots being signs of the skin trying to protect itself. And if you have freckles, you’ll know that you are at high risk of sunburn and therefore skin cancer. Sun avoidance is actually preferable. If not, start a collection of hats and buy yourself a broad-spectrum high-factor sunscreen that you apply religiously all year round. This will work on a third layer of treatment, by preventing future pigmentation in the first place.

Got extra cash? See a specialist at a skin clinic for a tailored treatment. Microdermabrasion or peels take off the top layers of skin, where much melanin is stored. Freckles can also be treated effectively with a few sessions of intense pulsed light (IPL), which basically uses light to seek-and-destroy excess pigment. Downside: You’ll be up for about $500 per session. Even more costly is a course of Fraxel laser treatment, a new fraction-by-fraction approach to skin resurfacing. Many Fraxel operators say it’s the most effective freckle-fading option out there. But at around $1800 a pop, it’s not for the faint-hearted.

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