Papaya is a popular tropical fruit that’s known for its health benefits. This fruit is rich in antioxidants like lycopene as well as fiber, which makes it ideal for reducing the risk of heart disease. On top of that, papaya is packed with vitamins A, C, and E. With the antioxidants and enzymes (most particularly papain) that papaya contains, not only does eating it bring some health benefits, but it also works well in providing amazing skin benefits when applied topically. That’s why you would normally see papaya enzymes or extracts taking part as one of the main ingredients of skin and body products such as bath soaps, cleansers, body and facial scrubs, serums, toners, etc.
To get into more details about what papaya can do for your skin, we’ve listed down its benefits.
1. Papaya Slows Down Aging
Papaya carries powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals that cause wrinkles, fine lines, loss of elasticity, and sagging on the skin. The antioxidants help counteract and delay oxidative stress, which enable your skin to slow its aging process. Papain, an enzyme that’s present in papaya, together with vitamins A, C, and E, also greatly contributes to delay any signs of aging on the skin.
In addition, papain is found in many exfoliating products as it has good exfoliating properties. And if you’ve been into skin care for some time now or have read a bunch of blogs about proper skin care, you would know that one of the benefits of skin exfoliation is delaying the aging of the skin. So if this kind of enzyme is used in such products, it pretty much sums up why papaya manifests potential when you want a healthy way of slowing down aging.
2. Papaya Can Prevent Acne Breakouts
Every part of papaya is rich in papain, which can help treat and even prevent acne breakouts. The papain and other enzymes in papaya work together to lighten and reduce blemishes and scars left by previous breakouts. Raw papaya juice can also be applied on affected areas of the skin as it can reduce inflammation and soothe redness caused by acne.
3. Papaya Lightens Skin Tone
Ever wonder why papaya soaps always carry with them the benefit of lightening your skin? That’s just simply because papaya is seen as a powerful ingredient that carries skin lightening properties which can prevent and remove tan, lighten scars and blemishes, and treat skin pigmentation. Papain acts as an exfoliator that removes dead skin cells, resulting in a more evenly toned and bright skin.
4. Papaya is Good for Moisturizing Dry Skin
People with dry skin will probably agree that having that skin type has its pros and cons. And on days when it feels extra dry, it’s definitely important to find the right foods and skincare products that help moisturize your skin. If you’ve been loving eating papaya lately or buying products that contain papaya extracts, then you’re in for a treat because this fruit (as we keep mentioning above) is packed with antioxidants and enzymes such as vitamin E, papain, and chymopapain that are known to have moisturizing properties, helping to treat dry and flaky skin.
5. Papaya Can Treat Skin Diseases
Eczema and psoriasis are some of the most common skin problems that people experience. These skin problems can be uncomfortable and painful when not treated immediately or properly, so finding a good remedy for them can be very handy to alleviate the irritation. The enzyme that papaya contains, which is papain, is an effective exfoliator of the skin that aids in removing skin impurities and problems such as eczema and psoriasis. Papain is known as a natural remedy for reducing inflammation and pain, so it helps ease the itching and redness of the skin. Although, do keep in mind that skin problems like these should not be treated lightly and will of course need to be treated properly with the right medication, so they don’t worsen.
6. Papaya Reduces Dark Circles
Tired of the dark circles under your eyes? Let’s face it, these nasty dark circles can really make the skin look older and exhausted — and without them, your skin will look brighter. Good thing papaya pulp is specifically helpful in getting rid of them and in toning down skin discoloration.
7. Papaya Helps Treat Melasma
Melasma is a skin problem that causes patches and spots that are darker than your natural complexion. It typically appears on the face, which can be a bit irksome since it can easily be noticed by other people. This skin condition is hard to treat as there is no definitive treatment that will make it completely disappear; at times it will go away on its own, in some cases it’s permanent, and in other occurrences it can respond well to treatment and can fade bit by bit after months of consistent treatment.
Melasma can be a tough skin condition, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any possible ways to somehow lessen its appearance on your skin. Papaya can be used as an aid for this as it has good exfoliating and lightening properties that can help lighten dark spots, blemishes, pigmentation, and even out your skin tone.
There are various factors that cause melasma, but the common ones are exposure to radiation (ultraviolet, visible light, or infrared light) and hormones. You may also have to watch out for products that are irritating to the skin because this can potentially lead to melasma. So always take note of the things you need to know when buying skincare products. Never forget to check the list of skin care ingredients and do your research on which ones to avoid. Make it a habit as well to keep your skin protected and wear sunscreen everyday to prevent skin discoloration and any form of hyperpigmentation such as melasma.
A super fruit like papaya stands out in many aspects because it’s rich in antioxidants and vitamins that benefit not only our internal health, but also our skin — and even our hair! Whether you eat it, drink it, or apply it topically as a raw papaya or in the form of a skincare product, it works wonders and improves the condition of your skin. Although, keep in mind that along with the good benefits that papaya provides, you must practice a healthy lifestyle by balancing the food that you eat and exercising — because when you’re healthy on the inside, it will naturally manifest on your skin. Along with this, try to maintain a skin care routine that works for you. Make this a habit and you’ll eventually see incredible results in the long run.
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