Lemon is a fruit with a myriad of health benefits. In fact, this yellow fruit is said to be used as a natural acne remedy. Is it true that lemon can be used to treat acne? Check out the explanation here.
Can I use lemon for acne problems?
Acne is a fairly common condition that occurs in almost everyone, especially teenagers who are entering puberty. Even though it is a chronic skin disease, there are a number of easy ways to treat acne when it is treated immediately.
One way that many people do is to use natural ingredients, such as lemon, to get rid of acne, from masks to lemon juice. Some of them believe that the antioxidants, citric acid, and vitamin C in lemons can help overcome this problem.
The citric acid present in lemons is known as an exfoliant that is responsible for removing dead skin cells on the outermost layer of the skin. Lemon also has antibacterial properties that can produce an acidic environment, so bacteria don’t like it.
Lemon is also rich in vitamin C which is often used in skincare products. Vitamin C is an anti-aging and antioxidant material that is quite effective in fighting free radicals. In fact, vitamin C can also brighten the skin and reduce stretch marks on the face.
It is not surprising that many people believe that lemon has properties to treat acne. Unfortunately, there is no research that says that using lemon is a way to get rid of acne. In fact, lemon is said to irritate acne-prone skin.
Therefore, the use of lemon, whether applying the juice or processing it into a mask on skin with acne, needs to be consulted with a doctor first.
Why is Lemon not suitable for acne problems?
Using lemon juice or juice directly on the skin is not the best way to get its benefits in maintaining healthy skin. In fact, applying lemon directly to treat acne is also not recommended.
The acid content in lemon is quite high, namely pH 2, making it unsuitable as skin care for acne. The reason is, the natural pH of human facial skin ranges from 4.5 to 5.5. Lemon is not only twice as acidic as the skin’s pH but 100 times more acidic.
This condition can occur because every time the pH scale decreases, the acidity level of a compound will also increase 10 times. The weak pH of lemons can cause various side effects on the skin, such as:
1. chemical burns,
2. contact dermatitis,
3. rashes and skin irritation, as well
4. sun-sensitive skin.
This is caused by the furocoumarins contained in lemons which can cause skin diseases when exposed to UVA rays. If the compound is exposed to the sun it can cause a reaction in the form of a rash and severe skin irritation.
These side effects will be more risky if you use lemon juice directly on the skin every day. Therefore, always consult a doctor regarding the use of lemons to treat acne, from mild to severe types.
Tips for Safe use of lemon
Lemon may not be the natural acne remedy you’re looking for. However, when used carefully you can feel the various benefits for skin health.
If you want to use lemon juice as a treatment for your skin, the following tips can help you avoid the risk of side effects.
1. Avoid using lemon if you have sensitive skin.
2. Avoid applying lemon juice directly to the skin.
3. Mix lemon with other ingredients, such as honey or oatmeal if you want to use it for facial acne.
4. Limit the use of lemon, which is a few times a month because it can make the skin dry.
5. Immediately stop using it if you see a rash or irritation.
In fact, the most effective way to deal with acne is to use treatments that have been proven to be safe and effective. If you have skin problems related to acne, you should consult a doctor to get the right treatment.