Using Lemon Juice To Treat Acne Problems

Acne issues have a way of creeping up on people when they least expect it, so if you regularly battle breakouts right before an important event or a highly anticipated party that demands your attendance, chances are that you may be looking desperately for a quick cure to your acne woes. There is certainly no dearth of products that claim to get rid of painful and ungainly zits. There is an equal amount of information on using natural and easily available ingredients often seen in the kitchen to tackle a breakout.

One such item is good old lemon, right out of a book on grandma’s cures. Many people claim that lemon juice can not only help to reduce the intensity of breakouts but also assists in dealing with the scars. So, before you try out this homemade anti acne preparation, here is a look at the facts about lemon juice and its effects on acne.

How does lemon juice act on the skin?

Lemon juice is a strong astringent and even has moderate bleaching/skin whitening properties. While it works wonders on people with normal skin types, reducing the effect of sun exposure and the minimizing the size of the pores, the stimulation may prove detrimental for people who suffer from severe acne.

Lemon juice has strong acidic properties that help to disinfect the skin, killing the microorganisms that cause secondary infection and pus in the zits. However, it does little to eliminate the onset of acne; at best, lemon juice acts as a mild but natural topical application that helps to tighten the pores. However, since it does little to clean the accumulated grime in the pores, the zits reappear the moment you stop regular application.

Does lemon juice help to curb the acne menace at all?

Yes, lemon juice may prove effective when used by people who suffer from mild to moderate acne and only experience occasional breakouts. However, individuals who are prone to intense breakouts may aggravate their condition by using lemon juice. Also, the acidic properties of lemon juice will usually cause some amount of stinging, while this may be tolerable on normal skin, the redness and inflammation will be accentuated in case of open wounds and broken skin which are usually present in case of severe acne.

Why does lemon juice not act on people with severe acne?

• Extreme reduction in skin oil: Because lemon juice drastically reduces skin oils, it is bound to cause dryness. Unfortunately, most people who suffer from acne cannot use moisturizers and this can compound the issue leading to a sallow complexion. Continued exposure to the citric acid in lemon juice may even accelerate the skin aging process leading to the appearance of fine lines on the sensitive areas of the face due to dryness.
• Inflamed skin is prone to infections and pus formation: Since lemon juice does cause some amount of inflammation and redness, you have to use it continually or it makes the skin more susceptible to infections and pus formation.
• May turn out to be a painful treatment: The stinging may prove to be a deterrent for people who suffer from extreme cases of acne

Lemon juice should only be used sparingly!

• It does not address the root cause of acne: Unlike popular anti- acne preparations, lemon juice does nothing to address the root cause of acne. Although lemon juice does reduce skin oil that blocks the pores creating a thriving environment for bacteria, it does not impact the overactive sebaceous glands that are responsible for the excess skin oil secretion.
• Is only a temporary cure: Lemon juice is a temporary cure for acne. As soon as you stop using it, you can expect the zits to reappear with a vengeance.
• Works as an acid peel: Lemon juice is often used as a natural acid peel. While this can prove to be advantageous for people with a blemish free complexion, the peeling will just increase the inflammation on acne prone skin.
• Causes temporary skin darkening: Because lemon juice contains citric acid, it does cause some amount of temporary skin darkening. This may not sit well with people who suffer from acne as the skin darkening will make the issue stand out conspicuously.
• Not suitable for people with sensitive skin: Lemon juice is not suitable for people with sensitive skin and it can not only cause redness but may also lead to rashes and acne eruptions.

Although there is no denying the benefits of lemon juice when used in homemade cleansing packs, it is not suitable for people who suffer from acute acne. If you do apply lemon juice and it causes redness and inflammation, you should discontinue use immediately and consult with a skin specialist.