Home remedies and side effects
Unfortunately not everything we see from beauty bloggers and Instagram influencers is sage advice.
Things present in your kitchen when used alone or without proper sanitation and diluting methods, they have the potential to damage skin, especially over time.
Despite the availability of conventional products though, there’s a growing preference for home remedies.
Think twice about DIY methods from your fridge and pantry. Just because something is natural or raw doesn’t mean it’s good for your skin.
1. Raw Eggs
The use of raw egg whites on your face, either as an anti-aging mask ,a spot treatment, tightened pores or smooth skin ,simply isn’t worth the risks.
An allergic reaction: It goes without saying that you shouldn’t eat egg if you have a known allergy to egg whites, but you shouldn’t apply them topically either.
Most serious potential: A crack in the concept is that raw egg can be contaminated with Salmonella. By placing uncooked egg so close to your mouth, you run the risk of contracting a gastrointestinal tract infection.
If you have recent cuts, scrapes, wounds or a few healing blemishes, raw egg whites could potentially cause a secondary infection.
However, contracting Salmonella from raw eggs is rare, especially if you’re using pasteurized eggs from the store rather than ones sourced straight from your backyard chickens.
Aside from the potential risks, using egg whites on your face simply doesn’t work. You might feel soft at first, but these effects will quickly disappear once you wash the residue of egg whites after seconds face wash.
If you want to reduce the pigmentation spot, fine lines and anti-aging treatment, you better off using conventional products that have been clinically tested and proven to work
Safe way to use egg whites
However, contracting Salmonella from raw eggs is rare, especially if you’re using pasteurized eggs from the store rather than ones sourced straight from your backyard chickens.
Other ,safer ways to tighten skin or whiten skin
Coconut oil to moisture
Green tea extracts to minimize inflammation and cellular damage
Hydroxy acids to help exfoliate dead skin cells.
Niacin (vitamin B3) for sun damage
Retinoids that contain vitamin A derivatives for wrinkles and fine lines
Vitamin C to brighten your face
2. Lemon juice
As a rich source of vitamin c and citric acid, lemons are known for their detoxifying effects, especially when you add cut wedges to drinking water
Because of the health benefits of eating lemons, there’s a growing popularity for using lemons as a natural treatment for skin conditions like age spots and acne.
A squirt of lemon or lime juice on an acne scar, or any hyperpigmentation, is said to lighten the blemish.
However, using lemons on your face can cause more damage to your skin than good.
Lemons are sometimes used for:
Lemon juice has an astringent property due to its acidic level which helps to reduce inflammation and oil secretion that contributes to acne formation
Lemon has citric acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which break down dead skin cells that lead to reduction in blackheads.
Lemon also have antimicrobial effects, which helps to reduce propionibacterium acnes bacteria responsible for acne formation.
Lemon has anti-fungal effects and helps in candida rashes and scalp fungus which occurs with seborrheic dermatitis.
Lemon may also work well on skin and facial hair lightening
Side Effects and precautions for using lemon
The use of citrus fruits on the skin could leave you with bigger worries, like a second-degree burn.
Phytophotodermatitis is a type of skin reaction to citrus fruits
Limes can cause a phototoxic reaction on your skin when it’s exposed to UV light. That means your attempt to fade a red spot could result in a big blister.
The rash or burn, called phytophotodermatitis, often appears one to three days after you’ve gotten some sun — and it could last for months.
Precautions
Any citrus fruit applied topically can increase your risk of sunburn.
Never apply lemon before going outside in direct sunlight, and don’t use it for several days before any planned outdoor activities.
Always do a patch test before you are planning to apply on face
Always try very small quantity in the beginning
Never leave lemon juice on skin overnight, being very acidic, it’s always better to use
it in the evening time to monitor your skin.
Other remedies to treat facial skin
1. Aloe
2. Coconut oil
3. Lavender oil
4. Lemon essential oil (diluted first with a carrier oil)
5. Tea tree oil (diluted first with a carrier oil)
6. Yogurt Always talk to your dermatologist before you use home remedies
3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon has antioxidant, antibacterial properties, it makes it useful against acne and skin blemishes
But this red spice may not play nice on your face.
And even if you don’t have a known allergy to cinnamon, you may still be hypersensitive to the spice on your skin or sustain a burn from cinnamon oil.
If you’re tempted to use cinnamon or any spice in a DIY mask, always do a patch test on a tiny spot in front of your earlobe.
Take the same caution with essential oils
Many essential oils provide therapeutic benefits, but like cinnamon, can burn or cause unwanted side effects. Most ingredients, including the ones listed, should be diluted in at least a 1:1 ratio before topical application.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been touted as the holy grail of DIY astringents. Users claim it helps clear acne, fade blemish scars or age spots, and even remove moles.
Lowest-risk scenario: Using ACV on your face will induce a stinging sensation and make you wince at the skunky smell. If ACV has saved your skin and you can’t use another option, dilute your ACV for safety.
Most serious potential: Long-term, undiluted ACV use could corrode your lovely face due to its highly acidic levels. Vinegar can be caustic if you leave it on your skin, and it shouldn’t be used to treat wounds. Any acne sores are at risk for incurring a burn or major irritation. Plus, If you get it in your eyes, you could experience inflammation or even a cornea burn.
Instead of that try to use topical based on salicylic acid for oily to acne prone skin but in a recommended percentage by your dermatologist
So it’s always better to have better option told by your dermatologist for acne or any other skin problems