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Fruits and kitchen remedies: what helps, what burns
A few kitchen things soothe skin. Others cause burns and dark marks. Know which.
Safe to put on skin
-
Oats for itchy, irritated skin
Blend plain oats to a fine powder, stir into a lukewarm bath or mix with water to a paste. 10–15 minutes, rinse.
Strong evidence -
Raw honey as a mask
A thin layer on clean skin for 10–15 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water. It holds moisture and is mildly antibacterial.
Early evidence -
Fresh aloe vera gel
Scoop the clear inner gel only (not the yellow sap), apply thinly after sun or irritation. Patch test first.
Early evidence -
Cooled green tea compress
Brew, chill, soak a clean cloth and hold it on red or puffy areas for 10 minutes.
Early evidence -
Cold cucumber or spoons for puffy eyes
The cold does the work, for an hour or so. Pleasant, not a treatment.
Never on your face
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Lemon or lime juice
Acid plus sun causes burns and blotchy dark marks that last months.
Strong evidence -
Baking soda and toothpaste
Far too alkaline: they strip the barrier and leave redness worse than the spot.
Strong evidence -
Raw garlic, ginger, cinnamon
They cause chemical burns on facial skin.
Strong evidence -
Sugar, salt or coffee scrubs
Sharp grains tear the skin. Fine on rough feet, not on a face.
Some evidence -
Undiluted vinegar
Burns. Diluted, it still does nothing an actual product does better.
Some evidence -
Coconut oil on acne-prone skin
It clogs pores for many people. Keep it for body and hair.
Some evidence
Better eaten than applied
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Vitamin C fruit daily
Guava, oranges, pawpaw, mango, pineapple, kiwi. Skin needs vitamin C to build collagen.
Some evidence -
Tomatoes cooked with a little oil
Lycopene gives a small boost to the skin's own sun defence. It never replaces sunscreen.
Early evidence -
Avocado, groundnuts, seeds, oily fish
Vitamin E and omega-3 fats support a comfortable, less inflamed barrier.
Early evidence -
Watermelon, cucumber, oranges
Mostly water: they count towards your daily water.