Pollution is a real threat to your skin. Free radicals found in pollution terrorize cells, leaving them damaged and not able to function. We discuss with every patient how vital anti-oxidants are to your skins overall health and to stopping aging in its tracks. Our favourite anti-oxidant is of course Vitamin C.
Regularly clients ask “can’t I just use lemon juice?” To be fair, there are 10 things that can be listed in quick succession that would be worse to put on your skin (a dirty sock comes to mind). Having said that, please do not put lemon juice on your face!
Lemons and other citrus fruits are delightful sources of vitamin c. They contain loads of naturally occurring citric acid. Citric has an anti-oxidant effect, but not nearly the anti-oxidant effect of L-Ascorbic Acid. Lemons do contain L-Ascorbic Acid (which is vitamin C), but not in the same percentages that we are able to offer in pharmaceutical grade serums. To say it plainly, lemon juice is just not nearly as effective as an anti-oxidant as a pharmaceutical grade serum.
Even with that information, you still might be tempted to save a few bucks and make your own lemon based treatment product at home. Unfortunately, lemon juice has some very serious risks associated with using it.
Citrus fruits contain something called furocoumarins. These are naturally occurring compounds which react when exposed to UV radiation (Sunlight). When furocoumarins are exposed to sunlight, they can cause deep sunburns, darkening of melasma, hyperpigmentation, rashes and more. In fact, in 2015 researchers at Brown University (Rhode Island, US) were able to conclusively show an increase in Malignant Melanoma rates for induvial exposed to a specific furocoumarin called psoralen, found in citrus fruits!
This is why pharmaceutical grade products are so amazing! They offer all of the benefits of an anti-oxidant without the risks associated with the furocoumarins!
There is another train of thought regarding lemon juice applied directly to skin. Lemon juice has some awesome anti-bacterial properties. However, because of its ph, it doesn’t target just the bad bacteria. It indiscriminately targets all bacteria, even the naturally occurring good bacterial flora that help maintain healthy skin. Pharmaceutical grade vitamin c products are created with an adjusted ph for maximum absorption, to maintaining the activity of the ingredients, and not damage the natural flora of the skin.
Lastly, because lemon juice has such a low ph, it has the ability to damage the skins natural protective barrier. When this barrier is damaged, it is not able to perform its prime purpose of keeping bad things out. When this barrier is impaired, pollutants and free radicals are able to more easily gain entry to your skin and cause even more damage.
To find the anti-oxidant serum that is right for your skin and sure to give safe, consistent results, give us a call! We would love to see you for a consultation! Or, purchase a ticket for our Anti-Oxidant Event on June 22 by calling (403) 287-1477 and see anti-oxidants in action first hand!
