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Lemon juices are literally the natural juices extracted from the lemon fruit. Citrus naturally contains vitamin C, an ingredient that’s great for the skin. Vitamin C is an important nutrient for healthy skin, bones, teeth and blood vessels. (Pure Vitamin C also goes by the name ascorbic acid.)
The Vitamin C content in lemon juice may act as an antioxidant to help reduce sun damage and fight wrinkles and other signs of premature aging. This nutrient helps even out skin tone and reduces discoloration. Vitamin C also acts as a hydration barrier, keeping your skin viable and pliable.
Lemon juice has astringent qualities and can be used to reduce oiliness and inflammation when applied topically. Lemon juice also has antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it good for keeping the pores clean.
Lemon juice can act as a natural skin toner and brightening agent via its Vitamin C content, an antibacterial additive, and is often used in skincare products.
It is not a good idea to apply lemon juice to the skin, because it may be too acidic for your particular skin type. Using acidic solutions in too high of a concentration or for too long can disrupt the skin’s natural pH level. This, in turn, can cause imbalances that can promote the growth of bad bacteria, like those that cause acne. It is better to use a Vitamin C serum that’s specifically formulated for your skin’s needs. Take our skin quiz to find out if you need a vitamin C serum.
Melasma is a specific example of hyperpigmentation. Melasma looks like whole patches of brown or darker skin across the parts of the face and neck. Melasma is common among women who are pregnant - it’s even referred to as “the mask of pregnancy.” But melasma can occur in both men and women who are not pregnant, too. Melasma can be caused by UV damage, but there are also genetic, hormonal, and medication-induced causes for melasma, too.
There are a variety of topical ingredients that can be used to lighten the skin from melasma or reduce its appearance. Each ingredient works in different ways, and each has their own benefits and drawbacks. hydroquinone, arbutin, vitamin C (ascorbic acid, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, etc) are some of the most commonly used ingredients for melasma treatment.
Hydroquinone is a skin lightening cream that works by suppressing the production of melanin. There are drawbacks to using hydroquinone, however, including cancer risks demonstrated by recent scientific studies, as well as hydroquinone-induced ochronosis.
Arbutin is a synthesized derivative of hydroquinone. It acts as a powerful skin lightening ointment that works a bit differently than hydroquinone. It blocks the production of melanin instead of “bleaching” the skin.
Vitamin C can be used as a brightening agent to lighten the hyperpigmentation of your sunspots or melasma. It works by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, preventing the formation of melatonin.
Ascorbic Acid is actually the formal scientific name for one form of Vitamin C. It can refer to either a naturally occurring Vitamin C found in foods such as citrus, or a synthetic form of ascorbic acid created to be more shelf-stable for skincare products like discoloration repair lotions and creams.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is another form of Vitamin C. By synthesizing this compound from Vitamin C, dermatologists are able to give us all the benefits of Vitamin C in a more shelf-stable form that can also be soluble in oil to make more effective, deeper penetrating skin products. (Herndon 2016)
Ingredients in the vitamin A family (ie. Retinol, tretinoin, etc) and acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid) help damaged pigmented skin cells shred faster, so they also help with melasma.
lemon may be effective for melasma, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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