Lemon A Natural Remedy for your Skin

Having fresh, clean, younger looking skin is a goal that everyone especially women aspire to. With an unlimited amount of beauty products on the market it is hard to determine which product will work best for different types of skin. But what if you could get clearer looking skin through all natural means? Well you can, with a product that most people use in their kitchens or grow in their gardens daily. Lemons are great for the body both internally and externally. Lemons have amazing natural beautifying properties as well as cleansing, detoxifying and astringent capabilities.
Although it is unknown where lemons originated, they were first documented as growing in China and India. They traveled into Europe and were used mainly as ornamental plants throughout the first several centuries. Christopher Columbus spread lemons to the Americas where they were used for the most part as decoration and in conjunction with some types of medicine such as treating scurvy. It wasn’t until the eighteenth century that lemons were widely cultivated in Florida and California. Now lemons are widely used in cooking, sanitation, antibacterial, aromatherapy, skin care, and beauty regimens.
Lemons are rich in nutrients and can be used for numerous beauty, skin, hair and health care treatments. Lemons act as astringents, diuretics, cleansers and detoxifiers for the body systems. They contain many substances such as citric acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene, all of which are essential to the bodies daily functioning.
The most notable substance that lemons behold is Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which is vital to removing free radicals that can damage healthy cells throughout the body. Free radicals are the biggest threat to our skin because they damage the cell and its membrane. Vitamin C is the only antioxidant that that can also increase collagen synthesis. Collagen is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, and as we age collagen production decreases and causes wrinkles. However, vitamin C sends a signal to collagen genes to start production. So vitamin C has duel responsibilities for the skin, by removing free radicals, which can alleviate wrinkles, and stimulating collagen production, which keeps our skin looking healthy and young. Additionally vitamin C has been known to kill specific strains of bacteria that can cause acne.
Other ways that lemon can be used include lightening discolored elbows, exfoliating dead skin, diminishing the appearance of freckles, lightening age spots, dandruff treatment, smooth and pretty feet, add bounce and shine to your hair, remove blackheads and acne, prevents sunburns, clears eczema, acts as an antiseptic to clean wounds and reduce wrinkles. With the abundance of ways that lemon can improve the quality of our skin, hair and nails, it’s a wonder why not more people use it in their beauty regiment. There are several ways in which a lemon can be used on the skin.
Whether you drink, rub, mix, scrub, drip or simply apply a lemon to your skin you are bound to get the desired affect. Depending upon what you are trying to do will determine how you apply lemon or lemon juice to your body. Putting lemon in your water daily is not only said to boost the immune system, cleanse the body of toxins and increase heart health but it rejuvenates and refreshes the look of your skin. Our skin needs daily water intake to hydrate however by adding lemon to our water we can cleanse the skin of toxins. By rubbing a cut lemon directly on our skin or skin that is affected by acne or blackheads, it can remove dead skin cells and eliminate acne and blackheads. Leave lemon juice on skin overnight or rinse after a half hour with warm water. By dripping lemon juice in one's hair and directly on the skin will eliminate dandruff and make skin glow. Mixing lemon and honey in warm water is not only a great drink, but can be applied with a cloth to eczema, acne, or sunburns to reduce the inflammation. Honey is a great anti-inflammatory and enhances the healing properties of lemon. Used together they are great against fighting colds, relieving pain and irritation and rejuvenating the skin.
Lemon juice should always be used directly from the fruit rather than from the bottle. Bottled lemon juice is manufactured so some of its properties can be changed or interrupted during the manufacturing process. Always make sure you are not allergic or irritated by lemon juice before using any lemon treatments. Use lemon daily on skin, hair and nails to look younger, fresher and clearer.