Use a Lemon to Lighten Your Skin

Lemon juice is a common folk remedy for lightening skin quickly and cheaply. Some people, however, have a severe chemical reaction when their skin is exposed to lemon juice and sunlight. This painful condition is called phytophotodermatitis, and care should be taken to avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and/or UV rays when using lemon juice as a lightening agent. If you're careful about how long you leave the lemon juice on your skin, and in what conditions you apply it, you should find lemon juice a pretty effective skin lightener.

Steps

Using Lemon to Lighten Skin

  1. Spray it on. Find an old spray bottle, and put lemon juice in it. Add an equal amount of water to the bottle. Spray it on your skin being careful to avoid any cuts or injuries.
  2. Rub it on. Rub a lemon rind over your skin. It helps cleanse the skin and slowly lightening it over time.
  3. Use a lemon wash, exfoliant, or mask for your face. Make your own facial wash from equal parts of water and lemon juice, honey and aloe. Splash it onto your face in the morning the same way you'd use water to wash your face, then rinse.
    • For a skin-lightening mask, mix 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon tomato juice, 1 tablespoon cucumber juice, and 1 tablespoon sandalwood paste into a paste. Apply to skin and let sit 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and moisturize.
    • For a skin-lightening mask for dry skin, mix 1 tablespoon powdered milk, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and 2 drops of essential oil. Apply to skin and let sit for 20-25 minutes. Rinse with warm water and moisturize.
    • For a lemon exfoliant, mix together 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 egg white, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Massage exfoliant into skin using gentle circular motions. Gently scrub or let rest for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water, and moisturize.
  4. Cut lemon slices, run them under water for a few seconds, and squeeze their juice into a cotton ball. Apply to your face, rinse after 10 to 30 minutes.
  5. Lemon lotion. Make your own lotion out of two parts lemon juice, three parts glycerin and one part light rum.[1] Thoroughly combine all ingredients with a spoon or wooden spoon. Apply to your skin and rub closely.

General Tips and Medical Advice for Skin Lightening

  1. Lightening your skin with lemons does work, but will take time. The citric acid in lemons does have natural lightening components.[2] Unfortunately, the process will take some time. If you want to speed the process up, try using hydroquinone, kojic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids, or bearberry as lightening agents.[2][3] Be warned, however: There are some risks associated with some of these products. One study showed that 1 out of every 4 skin lightening products made in Asia but sold in the U.S. contained mercury.[4]
  2. Avoid exposure to sunlight. When using lemon and other skin-lightening products, always use sunscreen and avoid unnecessary time in the sun.[4] Lemons and lemon juice can dry out skin, making it susceptible to sun damage.
  3. Try using lemon or lemon juice only every other day. Lightening your skin with lemon juice will take a long time, so it's tempting to try to apply a mask or lemon juice every day. Try to stick to 3-4 applications every week. Lemon juice dries out the skin too much to apply every day.
  4. Lemon juice may help with acne, but talk to your doctor about its effectiveness. Some sources say that lemon juice kills the bacteria that produce acne while simultaneously clearing up acne scars. Lemon juice may do this, but it may also interfere with any topical treatments you are using for acne. Talk to your doctor about coupling your acne treatment with lemon juice.
  5. Be aware of what products you put on your skin. Much of what you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body.[5] If you are using other ingredients besides lemon juice as a peel, a wash, a lotion, or a mask, use good judgment about whether you'd want it in your bloodstream.



Tips

  • Do not go outside with lemon on your skin!
  • It will become more effective in reducing acne and scars.
  • To reduce the size of large pimples try applying lemon.
  • Don't keep the lemon juice on too long. Every night put it on your face for about 5 minutes. Then you wash it off.
  • Lemon is great for removing wrinkles, blackheads and dead skin cells.[1] Their natural properties help improve the skin.
  • Apply a few drops of honey on to a lemon half, rub on your face, leaving for five minutes, and rinse with cold water, you should see results immediately!
  • Having exercise keeps you fit, young, and healthy.
  • Try putting lotion or a cream on after using lemon juice.
  • Be sure to apply sunscreen as acid can cause blisters out in the sun.
  • Best way to apply it is to steam your face first, and then rub lemon slices on your face.
  • Treat your skin with lemon daily to see effects gradually. Be dedicated to this routine!
  • Mix cerave cream with a little lemon juice, put refrigerator and apply every night - best cheap homemade cream for wrinkles.
  • Apply lemon juice in the morning, afternoon, and night and you will get good results in one week.
  • If you have dark skin you might not want to this it could cause scars and your skin to get darker.
  • Lemon is acidic and could dry out your skin, so moisturize daily.
    • Mix yogurt and lemon juice to make a brightening and moisturizing mask.
    • Use honey, Shea butter, and avocado to moisturize daily. It helps to prevent drying of skin.
  • Drinking lemon juice will also benefit your skin by purging toxins from your body.[1]

Warnings

  • Do not go in the sun while there is lemon juice on your skin.
  • Watch out for cuts. The acid in the lemon juice will sting.
  • Lemon juice is an acid. Depending on your skin type, it may react with the sun to cause blisters. If it does, dilute the lemon juice with an equal amount of water, and always wash it off afterwards.
  • Lemon causes chemical burns. This article should not recommend lemon to apply on skin, with a pH of 2 for application upon face. Disregard this entire article.

Things You'll Need

  • A lemon
  • Water (if you have sensitive skin)

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.howtolightenskin.com/2010/05/how-to-lighten-skin-with-lemon-juice.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://answers.webmd.com/answers/1197681/can-i-use-lemons-to-lighten
  3. ↑ http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0814FD3D5B0C728EDDAE0894DD404482
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/skin-lightening-products?page=2
  5. ↑ http://blog.naturalhealthyconcepts.com/2012/05/09/can-lemon-juice-really-help-lighten-your-skin-2/
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