The super power of lemons goes beyond the kitchen and that includes your acne-prone skin!
Lemons have multiple beauty benefits because they contain AHA’s – a magic chemical that works wonders for your skin and does the trick for acne-prone skin.
So if you’re looking for an au-natural and organic treatment to combat acne for a better appearance of your skin, these 6 benefits and how to incorporate lemon in your skincare regimen might just help!
REDUCES OIL / SEBUM
Citric acid has a drying effect so when you swab your face with lemon, it will help you to bring down the shine on foreheads, noses, and chins.
HAS ANTISEPTIC QUALITIES
And that will help you get rid of unwanted acne due to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
REDUCES REDNESS & INFLAMMATION
Lemon juice can also help reduce the appearance and redness of acne scars that have already formed. Soak a Q-tip inside a fresh lemon wedge and dab it onto your acne scars. For this treatment, be sure to only apply the lemon juice to your acne scars, and not your whole face
EXFOLIATES DEAD SKIN
Lemons have AHA’s like glycolic acid and is used in skincare products because they increase cell turn over for new skin and rids you of dead cells. Therefore, many of use lemons with other ingredients or lemon use to brighten their skin.
INCREASES COLLAGEN PRODUCTION
Collagen is the main structural protein that’s naturally present in the skin, so if you take ingredients that have enough vitamin c can add to collagen production.
TREATS DANDRUFF
Lemons play a huge part in treating dandruff and that’s mainly due to the amount of citric acid and AHA’s since their exfoliate so they alleviate dry skin patches, helping you treat those pesky flakes.
Coconut oil, olive oil, and raw honey mixed with lemon juice can be massaged onto your head to heal dry scalp and reduce dandruff.
BUT IS IT SAFE TO USE LEMON ON ACNE-PRONE SKIN?
Lemons contain citric acid and citric acid is a chemical that gives lemons their sour taste. It can also cause irritation if you apply it directly on your skin.
Some potential risks of using lemons on the skin include:
- burning or stinging sensation
- excessive dryness
- redness
- itchiness
- increased skin sensitivity to sunlight
HOW TO USE LEMON ON ACNE-PRONE SKIN
- People should consult a dermatologist before using lemon as an acne treatment. A dermatologist will determine whether lemon is suitable for a person’s skin type.
- People who go ahead with the treatment should not apply lemon juice directly on to their skin, as this can result in skin irritation. They should always dilute the juice in water first. A person’s dermatologist will be able to recommend the appropriate juice-to-water ratio.
- Fresh lemon juice may be better than store-bought, as it will not contain added sugars or other ingredients.