While it can be handy to create your own at-home skincare routine using the products at hand, that doesn’t mean it’s safe for your skin. In fact, a few of the popular hacks that you’ve heard of might be doing more harm than good. Let’s take a closer look at 6 of the common suggestions.
1. Lemon Juice
Based on its acidic properties, lemon juice has been suggested as a natural treatment for acne, psoriasis, dark spots, and fungal rashes.
The theory is that the citric acid in lemons can reduce inflammation and microbial activity. However, the acid in lemons can be so harsh that it dries out and irritates your skin.
Irritated skin is more likely to develop rashes, which is exactly what you’re trying to avoid. Additionally, using lemon juice on your skin can result in dark spots after you’ve been in the sun for a while.
2. Baking Soda
In many cases, baking soda is recommended for soothing irritated skin. It’s been said to relieve itchiness, redness, and mild pain when you use a baking soda paste.
According to research, though, the alkaline nature of baking soda can disrupt the 5.5 pH level of healthy skin. The end result is that your skin can be drier and less healthy if you use baking soda on it.
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3. Garlic
Garlic is renowned for its antimicrobial properties so a lot of people recommend using it to treat acne. Whether it’s the raw juice or combined with other ingredients like yogurt, there seem to be many options to choose from.
In a recent study, though, it was shown that using garlic directly on the skin can cause inflammation, blisters, lesions, redness, rashes, and worsened eczema.
4. Toothpaste
Toothpaste has long been touted as an easy treatment for pimples because it’s supposed to kill microbes and
