Dark spots on your skin can be caused by exposure to the sun, harsh chemicals, and pollution. They can be unsightly and hard to get rid of, even with expensive creams and lotions.
The answer may lie in lemon juice, a natural and inexpensive way to lighten up dark patches on your skin.
Lemon juice contains citric acid, which has some gentle bleaching qualities. When used over time, lemon juice can slowly reduce dark spots by breaking down the melanin pigmentation and curbing the overproduction of it.
read more
1. Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
Mix some lemon juice with 1 teaspoon baking soda to get a paste. Apply to dark spots, and leave on for 3-4 minutes before washing your face.
Do this every day, and you’ll find that the baking soda exfoliates the top layer of skin, and the lemon juice gets to work on the dark patches.
2. Turmeric and Lemon Juice
Mix 1 tsp. turmeric powder with ½ teaspoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon milk until you get a thin paste. Apply the paste and let it dry for around 10 minutes, then wash off with lukewarm water.
Do this twice or three times a week, and the turmeric will brighten the complexion, and help the lemon juice in reducing dark spots.
3. Coconut Oil and Lemon Juice
Mix 2-3 drops coconut oil and 2-3 drops lemon juice and massage it in to dark patches. Leave it on for 20-25 minutes, and rinse it off with tepid water.
Apply once a day, and the antioxidants in the coconut oil reduce the damage caused by sunlight and pollution. The coconut oil also hydrates the skin.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Mix ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon water, and dip a cotton ball in the liquid. Apply to dark spots and leave on for 8-10 minutes before rinsing off.
Repeat this a few times a week until the dark spots fade. Apple cider vinegar contains mild acids that help to lighten the pigmented areas. Acne scars and stretch marks can also be lightened with this remedy.
5. Parsley and Lemon Juice
Add 1 cup chopped parsley to a pan with 2 cups water. Boil it for 15 minutes, then add 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
Strain the infusion and let it cool before applying to the dark spots with a cotton ball. Leave on for around 30 minutes before rinsing with plain water.
Apply daily, and the parsley will help the lemon juice lighten and even the skin tone.
6. Cucumber and Lemon Juice
Squeeze out 1 tablespoon fresh cucumber juice and add 1 teaspoon lemon juice and ½ teaspoon honey to it. Mix well, and apply to dark spots. Leave on for 10 minutes then wash off with water.
Apply this once or twice a day to get quick results, and the cucumber will act as a mild bleaching agent that rejuvenates the skin.
7. Olive Oil and Lemon Juice
Mix ½ teaspoon olive oil and ½ teaspoon lemon juice and apply to the dark patches. Leave on for 10-15 minutes and rinse off with water.
Do this twice a day, and the lemon juice will lighten your skin while the olive oil hydrates it.
8. Yogurt and Lemon Juice
Apply some lemon juice on to dark spots and let it dry. Add some yogurt on top of the dried lemon juice to cover the spots. Leave on for 10 minutes and then wash off.
Apply daily, and the yogurt will help to cleanse the skin with natural enzymes, as well as improving skin texture.
9. Tomato and Lemon Juice
Mix 1 teaspoon tomato juice with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and apply to dark spots. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing with water. Pat dry and apply a moisturizer.
Use once a day, and the compounds in tomato juice will help inhibit melanin production, as well as help to heal sun damage.
