While your common instinct may be to head to the drug store to buy an acne treatment from among a plethora of skin care products, you can find a suitable acne treatment in your refrigerator. Lemon reduces redness and inflammation from acne and heals blemishes. Even so, there are some things you need to know about lemon as an acne treatment before you apply the juice to your skin.
Considerations
Using lemon as an acne treatment might sound strange at first, but once you think about it, it makes sense. Lemon is rich in vitamin C, which is an anti-inflammatory according to Cure Guide. Although, it might not be your first instinct to slather lemon juice on your skin. This is especially the case when there are already numerous products available for treating acne. However, if you're looking for a course of treatment that is gentler than benzoyl peroxide or prescription treatments but still gets rid of blemishes, you should consider lemon, according to the American Chronicle.
Acne Causes
Acne can be caused by a variety of things, including hormone fluctuations, an excess of oil, and skin that is slow to slough off dead cells, according to Skin Care Physicians. When oil and dead cells collect in the pores, acne forms. In treatment, it's important to control oil, encourage adequate exfoliation, and kill bacteria in the pores. For some, lemon can provide such a solution.
Function
Lemon works as an acne treatment because it contains alpha-hydroxy acid, a substance present in all citrus fruits. This acid acts as an excellent exfoliator according to Cure Guide, because it encourages dead skin cells to slough off and kills the bacteria that causes acne. It can also reduce inflammation and allow current acne lesions to heal.
Treatment
Using lemon as an acne treatment is actually pretty straightforward. All you need to do is cleanse your skin with warm water and pat dry. Soak a cotton pad in fresh-squeezed lemon juice before swiping it all over your face. This will act as a toner, soaking up oil and removing dead skin. Cure Guide says you should leave it on your skin for 10 minutes before rinsing well with warm water.
Warning
Those with sensitive skin probably shouldn't use lemon as an acne treatment because it can sting or burn the skin. If you wish to try it anyway, dilute the juice with water before applying. Likewise, if redness or irritation develops after application, discontinue use and seek a different treatment option. Since lemon juice can make your skin more photosensitive, be sure to apply an oil-free sunscreen before going outside.
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