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What Are the Pros and Cons of Lemon Juice for Freckles?

Dee Jones
Dee Jones

Using lemon juice for freckles is less expensive than some other freckle treatments, like prescription creams and laser treatments. Lemon juice is also natural, meaning someone is less likely to have the same adverse reactions she might to a bleaching cream or chemical peel. Some people who use lemon juice for freckles, however, find that it fades the skin around the freckles, making the freckles even more noticeable. Applying lemon juice to the skin might also cause it to burn, itch, or sting. In such cases, the lemon juice should be washed off immediately.

Lemon juice is one of the most popular home remedies for freckles because it is natural and free of harsh chemicals, unlike some prescription and over-the-counter treatments. There are many bleaching creams available that claim to get rid of freckles, and some of them are very effective. But the chemicals in these bleaching agents can sometimes cause adverse reactions and unpleasant side effects, like irritation, rashes, and chemical burns. Using lemon juice is also less expensive than the other recommended treatments for removing freckles, like prescription-strength retinoids, chemical peels, laser treatments, and liquid nitrogen freezing treatments.

A lemon.
A lemon.

While using lemon juice for freckles has many advantages, this at-home freckle removal treatment also has some potential drawbacks. Some users find that lemon juice doesn't fade freckles, but makes skin around the freckles fade, which can make the freckles stand out even more. Even if the lemon juice works exactly as expected, the effects will only be temporary if the proper care isn’t taken. Brief sun exposure can cause the freckles to reappear, so anyone who uses lemon juice for freckles should avoid sun exposure as much as possible, and use a sun block to protect the skin. Lemon juice also has to be used regularly to keep the freckles from reappearing.

Lemon juice is sometimes used in an attempt to lighten freckles.
Lemon juice is sometimes used in an attempt to lighten freckles.

A major advantage of using lemon juice for freckles is how easy the treatment is. It is best to use fresh squeezed lemon juice, which won’t contain the preservatives, additives, artificial flavorings, and artificial colorings found in many commercial lemon juices. Using a cotton ball, apply the lemon juice to the skin where freckles are present. While some suggest using cold water to rinse the lemon juice off after about 15 to 20 minutes, others suggest the lemon juice will be more effective if it isn’t rinsed off.

Discussion Comments

Jennifer99

I agree with this article. Though lemon juice is said to one of the most effective methods of freckle removal, it does not guarantee a complete result. It lightens freckles, that’s all. I used to use lemon juice on my freckle filled face, but it could only provide temporary relief. It was the laser treatment for freckle removal from a laser skin care center that removed freckles fully. And I did not experience any side effects.

ysmina

@SarahGen-- I wonder if you can mix lemon juice with something like honey to avoid those reactions. Honey is also great for skin and it's soothing, so I think it will prevent the lemon juice from causing itching and stinging. I don't know if it will be as effective, but it's probably better than nothing.

I use lemon juice on my skin all the time and I've never had problems. I take a lemon, cut it in half, turn it inside out and use it as a scrub in the shower. I first use it on my face for my freckles and then the rest of my body. It lightens and brightens my skin.

bluedolphin

@SarahGen-- Lemon juice contains ascorbic acid and that's what your skin is reacting to. I have the same problem and my skin is not even sensitive. So you are not the only one.

The ingredient in lemon juice that lightens the appearance of freckles is actually vitamin C. So you can use facial cleansers or scrubs with vitamin C for the same benefits. Of course, the downside to commercial products is that there are many inorganic ingredients in them. If you can find an all natural product with vitamin C, that's probably the best option.

SarahGen

I've read great things about lemon juice for fading freckles but my skin doesn't react well to lemon juice. I tried it once and my skin started to itch and burn after a few minutes. So I couldn't keep the lemon juice on my skin for very long.

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    • A lemon.
      By: .AGA.
      A lemon.
    • Lemon juice is sometimes used in an attempt to lighten freckles.
      By: Printemps
      Lemon juice is sometimes used in an attempt to lighten freckles.
    • Using lemon juice is cheaper than most other means of lightening freckles.
      By: queen21
      Using lemon juice is cheaper than most other means of lightening freckles.
    • Anyone who uses lemon juice for freckles should avoid sun exposure as much as possible.
      By: Liv Friis-larsen
      Anyone who uses lemon juice for freckles should avoid sun exposure as much as possible.