Is Lime Water Good for Acne?

Partly: lime water can support hydration if its flavor helps you drink enough fluid, but it is not proven to prevent or treat acne.

Can lime water help acne?

Drinking lime water is a reasonable way to stay hydrated if you enjoy it. The benefit comes mainly from the water, not from a demonstrated acne-fighting effect of lime.

Adequate hydration supports normal skin function, but acne has several causes and does not necessarily mean you are dehydrated. Drinking lime water is not a substitute for acne treatment, and drinking extra water beyond your needs should not be expected to clear breakouts.

How could lime water affect skin?

Water helps your body maintain normal hydration, including in the skin. If you have not been drinking enough, getting enough fluid can help with dehydration, but that is different from treating clogged pores or acne inflammation.

Acne develops through a combination of factors, including excess oil, dead skin cells, bacteria and inflammation. Hormones and other individual factors can also play a role. Lime water has not been shown to address those processes in a way that clears acne.

Lime contains vitamin C, a nutrient involved in normal skin function. The amount that transfers into infused water is uncertain, however, and there is no evidence that it clears acne. A slice of lime in water should not be treated as a measured source of vitamin C.

Lime water also does not need to detoxify your skin. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste; sweat removes only trace amounts. Drinking enough supports normal body function rather than flushing out an acne-causing substance.

What is the evidence for lime water and acne?

We found no studies on lime or citrus and acne. In particular, there is no clinical evidence here that drinking lime water prevents breakouts, reduces acne severity or works better than plain water.

That lack of evidence does not mean a glass of lime water causes acne. It means the proposed benefit has not been established. Claims about lime's nutrients or general hydration should not be mistaken for trials showing that the drink treats acne.

For context on the limits of diet and drink claims, see the guide to the best drinks for acne. If you like lime water, consider it a beverage choice rather than a test of whether your skin can be cleared naturally.

How do you use lime water safely?

Make a small batch and refrigerate it while the lime infuses. This recipe uses sliced lime rather than blending the fruit or relying on it for a specific nutrient dose.

Ingredients

• 1 lime, about 100 g, sliced
• 1 liter water, about 4 1/4 US cups

Steps

1. Wash the lime under running water and slice it with a clean knife.
2. Add the slices and water to a clean, covered pitcher.
3. Refrigerate for 2–4 hours to develop the flavor.
4. Remove the slices or strain the water after about 4 hours to limit bitterness from the peel and pith.
5. Keep the water refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor.

Discard any remaining lime water after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours. Infused water made by steeping fruit rather than squeezing or blending it is usually under 10 kcal per glass.

Drink lime water in place of some of your usual water if you like the taste; there is no established amount for acne. Plain water is just as reasonable a hydration choice, and you do not need to force yourself to drink lime water for your skin.

Who should be careful with lime water?

Lime is acidic and may aggravate acid reflux, mouth sores or sensitive teeth. Frequent sipping can also expose tooth enamel to acid. If it bothers you, choose plain water; rinsing your mouth with plain water after lime water may help reduce acid exposure.

Do not apply lime juice or lime water to acne as a spot treatment. Lime juice on skin exposed to sunlight can cause a reaction with redness, blistering and later dark patches. Wash exposed skin with soap and water, keep it out of the sun, and seek medical care for blisters, severe pain or a large affected area.

Avoid lime if you have a citrus allergy. Get emergency help for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat after consuming it. If you have heart or kidney disease and have been given a fluid limit, follow your clinician's advice rather than increasing your intake.

See a clinician or dermatologist if acne is painful, deep, leaving scars or not improving. They can discuss suitable treatments; do not stop prescribed medication in favor of lime water without talking to your prescriber.