Known for its sour taste and fresh scent, lemon juice is a common home remedy for skin care, often brought up in discussions as a solution for various skin problems. For a long time, it has been claimed to be a natural skin lightener, among many other properties. But is all of this true? Let's delve into the topic of using lemon on the face, particularly for achieving radiant skin, as well as the risks of applying it directly to the skin.
Misconception: Using lemon juice for radiant skin.
Summary
Published on September 13, 2022, updated on January 13, 2025, by Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences — 5 min of reading
Is the use of lemon juice on the skin a myth or a reality?
With its high content of vitamin C and citric acid (AHA), freshly squeezed lemon juice is often touted as a natural alternative for preventing and correcting various skin issues (dull complexion, blackheads, brown spots, acne, etc.). Indeed, some claim that the various compounds contained in lemons make them theoretically beneficial for the skin. It is particularly used to lighten brown spots, even out skin tone, calm acne, slow the appearance of wrinkles, and remove dandruff. However, very few studies have demonstrated the positive effects of lemon juice on the skin.
However, it's important to understand that the quantity of citric acid and vitamin C can vary from one lemon to another, which can then affect its effectiveness on the skin.
Moreover, this practice would primarily pose risks. Its topical application could lead to several adverse effects and exacerbate the targeted skin conditions. Thus, the direct use of lemon juice on the skin would do more harm than good.
Skin Irritation: Lemon has a pH ranging between 2 and 3, which can potentially make it problematic. Indeed, this extremely acidic nature of lemon juice can alter the physiological pH of the skin (between 4.5 and 5.5), thereby increasing the risk of skin irritation and inflammation. By lowering the skin's pH, the application of undiluted lemon juice directly onto the skin can lead to a weakening of the skin barrier, which ultimately results in redness, excessive skin dryness, tingling, flaking, and even burns.
Photosensitization: Along the same lines, applying lemon juice to the face also makes the skin much more sensitive to UV rays. In other words, this means that exposing the skin to the sun after applying pure lemon juice can increase the risk of sunburn. Indeed, lemon is composed of photosensitizing molecules, the furocoumarins (psoralen, bergapten, xanthotoxin, isopimpinellin, etc.), which increase the skin's sensitivity to UV rays, and not because of the vitamin C as is often relayed.
If you expose your face to the sun after applying lemon juice, the risks can be significantly higher. Indeed, the direct application of lemon juice on the skin can, in rare cases, lead to a condition called phytophotodermatitis, which is a red skin rash followed by hyperpigmentation caused by the overproduction of melanin stimulated by photosensitizing agents (furocoumarins).
Chemical Leukoderma (vitiligo): Apart from this issue, large and widespread white patches of leukoderma can appear in areas where lemon juice has been in contact for a long period, as people often use it to lighten brown spots.
Considering these potential risks and limitations, lemon juice appears to have more drawbacks than benefits. Therefore, it is recommended not to use lemon juice on your skin. There are more effective and safer alternatives available on the market for pigmentation issues, brightening the complexion, or eliminating blemishes.
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But what about the lemon water sometimes used in cosmetics?
Even though lemon juice can be seen in the ingredient list of some topical products (INCI: Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Water), this does not imply that applying it directly to the skin will provide the same benefits. Products based on lemon water have been carefully formulated by scientists using ingredient concentrations that offer optimal and safe benefits, and are intended exclusively for topical use. Furthermore, the lemon water used in skincare products has a significantly less acidic pH and does not have the same phytochemical composition.
The essential knowledge about the effects of lemon juice on the skin.
The high acidity of lemon juice, due to its high citric acid content, can disrupt the skin's natural barrier.
Lemon juice can irritate the skin, an effect that can be exacerbated in individuals with sensitive skin.
Lemon juice contains photosensitizing constituents, which can increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun.
One should not confuse freshly squeezed lemon juice with lemon water obtained through steam distillation, sometimes seen in topical products.
Sources
ALWEIS R. & al. Lime-induced phytophotodermatitis. Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives (2014).
MYUNGHWA K. & al. Chemical leucoderma induced by homemade lemon toner. Australasian Journal of Dermatology (2014).
HSIANG D. & al. Phytophotodermatitis: Rash with many faces. Canadian Family Physician (2017).
GANGEMI S. & al. A spotlight on lime: A review about adverse reactions and clinical manifestations due to Citrus aurantiifolia. Clinical and Molecular Allergy (2021).
