Does drinking lemon water help acne scars

  • I tried the Lemon Water Challenge.
  • Each morning for a week, I drank eight ounces of water mixed with the juice of half a lemon.
  • After the week, I found that my skin was brighter and more clear.

Winter can be a difficult time to stay healthy when it seems like everyone around you is infected with the flu. Although there are many natural remedies and precautions you can take to try and fight these nasty viruses, sometimes, their attack is just too strong. So this winter, I decided to try something new by attempting the Lemon Water Challenge.

In case you're unfamiliar with it, many claim that drinking warm lemon water each morning can provide you with many health benefits from clearing up acne to boosting your immune system with Vitamin C, helping to fight the common cold and flu.

After reading many testimonials online, I couldn't help but become persuaded by all the alleged health benefits and decided to give it a try.

For a week, I tried drinking lemon water each morning when I woke up.

Lemon water is another way to vitamin C and hydration. rpavich/Flickr

The process was simple: Each morning before work, somewhere between 8 and 9 a.m., I combined 8 fluid ounces of water with the juice of half a lemon. Some recipes I found online suggested that the water be warm, but that made for a not-so-great taste. Lemon water truly is quick, simple, and an inexpensive drink. And, if you're looking for even more nutrients, you can try adding cucumber to the water as well.

The surprising thing is, I actually saw results.

First off, upon the completion of my one week Lemon Water Challenge, I noticed my skin was almost flawless: no breakouts, no excess oils, no new blemishes. I also found that to the touch, my skin was much softer and appeared to be much brighter. Essentially, the lemon juice created a natural highlight on my face.

I also found that the lemon water helped with bad breath. Unfortunately, having been cursed with bad breath, the mornings are a particularly difficult time for me. However, I soon found that the lemon water improved this. The reason for this is because of the fruit's citric acid that helps to break down and fight bacteria in the mouth.

After my week of drinking lemon water each morning, I found that some acne did start to come back a few days later. So, it appears to be true: lemon water really does help with complexion.

Lemon water seemed to make my skin clearer and less oily. karolinamis/Flickr

At the end of the week, I also found I was much less bloated than before I started it. Lemons are a natural diuretic and because of that, help the body let go of any extra salt it is hanging onto. In turn, this decreases bloating.

Unfortunately, other than improving my complexion and making me less bloated, I didn't really notice any other health benefits. Of course, I didn't get sick during this week, so perhaps the lemon water did boost my immune system. It may have also helped my internal organs, although I'm unable to pinpoint that.

On the other hand, there were some negative effects of drinking lemon water. I found each day that I became thirsty faster in the mornings. I also found that if I didn't quench this thirst, a weird aftertaste was left in my mouth.

Overall, I would certainly consider adding lemon or infused water into my daily routine. The benefits to my skin were undeniable and although I may have been thirstier, there's nothing wrong with staying extra hydrated.

If life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade! It's time to embrace the health benefits of lemon, from taking care of your teeth to healing dark spots and scars.

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Does drinking lemon water help acne scars
Daria Grebenchuk/Shutterstock

Highlight Your Hair Naturally

Give your hair a sun-kissed look with lemon juice. Lemon accelerates the sun’s natural hair-lightening abilities, and all you need to do is brush lemon juice through your hair using your fingers or a comb. After 30 minutes in the sun, your hair will be noticeably lighter.

Learn how to juice a lemon the easy way.

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Does drinking lemon water help acne scars
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Whiten Your Teeth

Skip those expensive teeth whitening treatments and use good ol’ lemon juice instead. Add lemon juice to baking powder until it forms a bubbly paste. Apply the solution to your teeth using a Q-tip and leave on for no longer than one minute. Then, gently scrub it off with a toothbrush and rinse with cool water.

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Does drinking lemon water help acne scars
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Enjoy Clear Skin and Fewer Wrinkles

Starting your day off with a glass of lemon water has innumerable benefits, including increasing the amount of collagen in your skin. That means you’ll produce fewer wrinkles, and the vitamin C in the lemon can also fight off toxins that cause breakouts.

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Does drinking lemon water help acne scars
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Treat Acne

Drinking lemon water might help prevent breakouts, but what do you do if you already have acne? Treat it with the antibacterial properties of lemon juice, of course. Slice a lemon in half and rub it gently on your face. After 10 minutes, rinse with warm water and watch those blackheads fade away.

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Does drinking lemon water help acne scars
Geo-grafika/Shutterstock

Replenish Body Salts

If you’ve ever felt whopped after a strenuous workout, you know how important it is to refuel with electrolytes. Make a simple electrolyte drink by adding 1/4 cup of lemon juice to 3 cups of water. Add a pinch of fine sea salt and a drizzle of honey to help it go down.

Here are the best and worst drinks to keep you hydrated. (Spoiler alert: citrus-infused water is one of the best!)

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Does drinking lemon water help acne scars
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Lighten Up Dark Spots

Lemon juice is kind of like a natural bleach for your body. Rub a half lemon on acne scars, dark knees and elbows or other dark spots, and the citric acid will lighten ’em up in no time. Just be sure to avoid open wounds or cuts—that will definitely sting a bit.

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Does drinking lemon water help acne scars
Arturs Budkevics/Shutterstock

Strengthen Your Nails

This treatment will not only strengthen weak or brittle nails, but it will also lighten up nails that have yellowed after too many manicures. Mix olive oil and lemon together to get a double dose of moisturizing and strengthening.

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Does drinking lemon water help acne scars
Olesya Kuznetsova/Shutterstock

Cleanse Naturally

Make a natural, chemical-free facial cleanser by mixing lemon juice with soothing essential oils (like lavender or chamomile). Use it as a toner and apply it to your face using a cotton pad, or turn it into a mask by mixing the juice of a lemon with 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt to cleanse and moisturize.

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Does drinking lemon water help acne scars
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Exfoliate Chapped Lips

It doesn’t get easier than this treatment! Rub lemon juice on your lips before going to bed and wash it off the next morning. The lemon juice removes dead skin cells, so you’ll wake up to noticeably smoother lips.

Originally Published: February 14, 2019

Is lemon water good for acne scars?

We know lemon isn't a proven acne treatment. But what about treatment for acne scars? Unfortunately, lemon juice can't get rid of depressed or pitted acne scars, nor will it flatten raised scars. All of these types of scars are actually very difficult to treat.

Does drinking lemon water help clear skin?

Enjoy Clear Skin and Fewer Wrinkles Starting your day off with a glass of lemon water has innumerable benefits, including increasing the amount of collagen in your skin. That means you'll produce fewer wrinkles, and the vitamin C in the lemon can also fight off toxins that cause breakouts.

What drinks get rid of acne scars?

Load up on lemon juice: Lemon juice is a kind of citric acid that's very effective in reducing or getting rid of acne scars. Drink several glasses of lemon juice each day to help your dead skin cells shed faster. New skin cells will also grow healthier and add elasticity to your skin if you load up on lemon juice.

Can lemons get rid of scars?

Applied topically, lemon juice will work to gradually reduce the appearance of blemishes and acne scars. With a cotton pad, wipe fresh lemon juice onto any healed scars or dark patches. Rinse off with lukewarm water after five minutes and pat dry.