If you live in a tropical country, you likely know the sight of ripe, red lychee in summer. Did you know these juicy fruits are great for your skin?
Why Is Lychee Good For Skin?
Also known as Chinese cherry, the different varieties of lychees grown today have several important phytonutrients and vitamins. The fruit is rich in antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory substances that protect your skin from damage in more ways than one.
Lychees are a rich source of Vitamin C, a skin-friendly nutrient. Vitamin C gives you a smooth texture and even skin tone. It can effectively slow down the aging process of the skin and also protect it from the harmful effects of the sun.
The lychee fruit extract is a storehouse of multiple polyphenols such as oligonol, flavonols, catechins, and procyanidins. These polyphenols are potent antioxidants that scavenge the free radicals which can cause serious damage to your skin and can even lead to malignancies.
A study published in the Natural Medicine Journal has shown that oligonol present in lychee is not only a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, it also improves blood circulation in the skin. This ensures that your skin remains healthy and heals wounds faster.
How Does Lychee Benefit Your Skin?
1. Protects Skin From Sun Rays
Sunlight exposes your skin to UV radiation which can lead to darkening of your skin, premature aging, and even skin cancer in the long run. Antioxidant-rich lychee extract can protect your skin from the detrimental effects of UV radiation from the sun.
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can lead to sunburns, which result in redness, irritation, and even pain in severe cases. Lychee juices and lychee vinegar can be used to treat sunburned skin. These lychee products help reduce redness and soothe irritated skin.
2. Gives An Even-Toned Skin
The phytochemicals present in lychee extract can significantly reduce hyperpigmentation, which often manifests as dark spots or patches on your skin. The polyphenols present in the lychee fruit extract inhibit the excess synthesis of melanin, the pigment naturally present in your skin, which causes skin darkening.
The vitamin C present in lychee also helps to clear your skin of age- spots and other blemishes. Regular use of products containing lychee extract can thus give you a clear and even-toned complexion.
3. Slows Down Aging Of Skin
Lychee can help to slow down the signs of skin aging in several ways. Lychee seed extract inhibits enzymes like collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase. Excess activity of these enzymes adversely affects your skin, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness of your skin.
Oligonol present in lychee fights the external agents of skin damage such as UV rays or pollutants. It also boosts circulation and promotes the synthesis of new skin cells, thus helping you get a healthy, youthful appearance.
4. Reduces Inflammation
Lychee extract has a high content of polyphenols which aid in reducing inflammation. It also reduces irritation and itchiness often associated with inflammation.
Inflammation of the skin can be associated with rashes, inflammatory skin diseases, or even common acne. Inflammation is a part of your body’s defense mechanism but excessive inflammation can cause considerable discomfort.
How To Use Lychee For Skin Care?
1. To Treat Sunburns
- Use the white pulp of 3 to 4 ripe lychees to extract the juice.
- Add the contents of one vitamin E capsule to this juice and mix well.
- Apply on the affected areas with a cotton ball.
- Let it sit for half an hour, then rinse off with cold water.
- Keep on using this once every day till the sunburns are healed completely.
2. For Even-Toned Healthy Skin
- Extract the juice from the pulp of 4 to 5 lychees and add a few drops of lavender oil to this mixture.
- Use cotton balls to apply this mixture all over your face, neck, or any other area affected by hyperpigmentation.
- Leave it on for around 20 minutes.
- Finally use a clean cotton towel dipped in cold water to wipe off your face.
3. For Anti-Aging Benefits
- In a blender add the pulp of 4 to 5 lychees along with a quarter of a ripe banana. Mix well until a smooth paste is formed.
- Apply this paste on your face and neck with gentle, circular motions.
- Let it sit for 15 minutes. Finally, rinse off with cold water.
4. To Get Rid Of Acne
- You can either use fresh juice of lychee or make a pack with lychee pulp and some yogurt.
- Apply this over the acne-prone region and allow it to dry a little.
- Wash off with water.
Lychee is a seasonal exotic fruit with a lot of healthy nutrients. Not only do lychees have numerous health benefits, but they can also do wonders for all skin types too. Follow Lavyon for more useful information.