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How
can topically applied
lemon
juice
improve your skin?
Citric acid belongs to the family of
alpha hydroxy acids, which are highly
used in skin rejuvenation creams and
lotions. Its most powerful effect is in
stimulating exfoliation, burning away your
top layer of dead skin cells and working to
unclog your pores. The concentration of
citric acid in lemon juice is strong enough
to kill off acne-causing bacteria, and like
any AHA, it aids in promoting skin
elasticity and keeping your skin cells
supple (when applied in moderation). As a
natural astringent, it can dry up excess
skin oil and help prevent whiteheads or
blackheads from forming.
Besides these common effects, lemon juice
also has the property of "bleaching" or
lightening your skin tone. This has made it
a popular remedy for acne scars, as
beyond reducing redness and swelling in
inflamed blemishes, it can potentially
diminish the appearance of even older scars,
concealing them and promoting faster
healing. But be careful, as applying it to
an open wound will just cause you a lot of
pain.
Pure
lemon juice is
not
a gentle solution
Despite its benefits, lemon juice is
anything but gentle. Its highly acidic
nature means that it can leave your skin dry
and burned. The sting can be especially
painful if your skin is broken, and
potentially even cause scars to worsen, so
never apply it to a partially opened scar or
cyst. Some users of lemon juice find that
they need a few weeks for their skin to
adjust before the redness subsides, and it's
not uncommon for acne sufferers to
experience an initial breakout when starting
out with this remedy. This is definitely not
a treatment you want to leave on your skin
for a prolonged period of time, as too much
exposure can easily lead to peeling.
Protecting your skin from the harsh side
effects
If your skin is sensitive, you'll probably
want to avoid pure lemon juice altogether.
At most, you should only apply it as a
spot treatment, dabbing a small amount
of the juice onto isolated areas of your
face (use a cotton ball for better control).
For more liberal applications, the safest
course is to dilute it with water.
Two parts lemon juice and one part water is
usually enough. However, perhaps the best
means of use is to mix it with other
home acne remedies. Lemon juice mixes well
with many natural ingredients, including
honey, mint julep clay and
aloe vera. By combining it with
ingredients that have moisturizing
properties, you can get the same exfoliation
benefits and improvements to your skin tone
without the excessive dryness that usually
follows.
Lemon
juice isn't only a topical treatment,
you can
also drink it
As it turns out, drinking lemon juice is
another way to promote healthy skin. It has
natural detoxifying properties and works to
cleanse your liver, enabling more efficient
absorption of essential vitamins and
minerals. Of course, it doesn't hurt that
it's rich in vitamin C either. However, to
get the full effect, you need to prepare it
properly. Typical lemonade is not good
enough. Sugar can work against you, so for
best results you should keep things pure and
simple. Squeeze 1 fresh lemon into 16 oz (2
cups or 1 tall glass) of water and drink.
Just expect that it may taste a little sour.
Also, try not to eat anything within 1/2
hour of when you drink the lemon juice, as
food can interfere with your body's
detoxification.
Should you want something with a bit more
flavor, another good recipe is to add some
lemon juice to freshly brewed
green tea or white tea. The combined
cleansing and antioxidant effect makes for a
great clear skin beverage. Just watch out
for sweeteners (other than a touch of
honey).
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