Acne or (pimples as we call it here) is an inflammatory skin disease caused by excess buildup of oil in the sebaceous glands. Then the glands become clogged and infected by causing acne and its symptoms particularly on face and other body parts.

Lemon is very popular, natural and inexpensive home remedy for acne when compared to other remedies. It also has many other additional benefits rather than curing acne and it smells greatly. Lemon contains many properties like antibacterial, astringent, skin lightening, vitamin C, citric acid, acidic agent, strong antioxidant, exfoliate properties which cures acne completely and also prevents the acne scars.

How Lemon actually treats Acne

Lemon contains anti-bacterial and antimicrobial properties which help to fight against the bacteria that causing acne and also boost up your immune system to avoid future attack of acne.

Critic acid content in the lemon acts as chemical exfoliant which removes the dead cells (which clog pores that result in infection and irritation) on the top layer. It also acts as natural chemical peel to get rid of the acne.

It also contains natural astringent property which helps to shrink and constrict, thus pushing out excess oil and dirt from the pores and shrink them. This prevents any dirt or bacteria from entering into the skin pore to clog them.

Lemon has a mild bleaching effect that helps to reduce redness and inflammation that caused by the acne. It also has skin lightening property that causes your skin less visible for acne and its scars by lightening your skin tone.

It is full of vitamin C which is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps to fight against the free radical causing inflammation in the skin.

How to apply Lemon to treat Acne

Lemon can be applied in many ways to treat acne. Let us see these different methods that are known to cure acne quite effectively.

Using Lemon Juice overnight

Take a fresh lemon and squeeze it to extract its juice in a small container.

Wash your face with mild soap and warm water before applying the juice.

Then take a cotton ball or q-tip (cotton bud) and dip it in the lemon juice and wring out the excess liquid

Now apply this cotton ball directly on the acne affected part of the skin.

Continue doing the process of dipping the cotton ball and apply it on the acne affected part until it covers the entire affected area.

Leave the lemon juice on your face overnight to dry. Rinse with cool water and pat dry with towel.

Regularly repeat the process for twice a day to eliminate the acne or acne scars.

A rather simple process is rubbing the half cut lemon piece on the affected area of the skin.

Using Lemon Juice with Rose Water

Rose water may not be common in Ghana but any good cosmetic shop or shopping centre should have some available.

Again, cleanse your face with mild soap and water and pat dry

Take equal quantities of lemon juice and rose water (spoonful of each should do). Rose water contains natural antibacterial properties, skin lightening and also helps to reduce the acidic nature of the lemon.

Ensure that the combination is properly mixed.

Dip the cotton ball in the solution and squeeze the excess liquid.

Apply this ball directly on the acne affected area and let it stay for about 15 – 30 minutes.

Rinse it with cool water and dry your skin with dry towel.

Repeat the same process for once or twice a day to get rid of the acne.

Using Lemon Juice with Yogurt

Sounds quite strange…I know – but works a lot of magic.

Rinse your skin gently with mild soap and water.

Take a lemon juice in a bowl and add little amount of yogurt (soothing effect over inflammation)

Mix both the ingredients well and apply this on your face or acne affected area of the skin by using your finger tips or cotton ball.

Leave it on for few minutes to get dry and then wash off with water

Repeating this process regularly will help a lot in treating the acne and its scars.

Using Lemon Juice with Baking Soda

Take a teaspoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of baking soda which contains anti inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Baking soda also balances the pH level of your skin.

Mix both the ingredients very well and cleanse your face with this paste to gently exfoliate damp and dead skin cells.

Let the paste dry for few minutes and wash it off with the wet cotton ball that is dipped in the baking soda solution (baking soda mixed with water)

Finally rinse it with tepid water to remove the acne completely and continue doing this process for 2 – 3 times a week.

Using Lemon Juice with Aspirin

Yeah, another strange one…

Take a fresh lemon juice and dissolve 6 non coated aspirin pills. Aspirin acts as anti inflammatory and contains salicylic acid that helps a lot in curing the acne by killing the bacteria in your skin pores and reduces redness.

Mix it well as it has to form like a thick paste and apply this paste directly on the acne affected part like a mask.

Finally rinse it with water and pat dry with a clean towel.

Let’s see how to apply the lemon juice for acne scars.

Applying these remedies on your face for a consistent period should cure your acne. However, due to the possibility of your skin getting a little lighter than normal, I’ll advice that you take a break after a period to prevent extreme lightening.