Papaya is a skin care holy grail item for many due to its multiple benefits. It also has various health benefits. Whether it is constipation, weight loss or menstruation problems, papaya works well for everything. Papaya is rich in fibre and anti-oxidants. It may also be beneficial for people who are being treated for cancer (14Trusted Source).In addition to keeping your body healthy, papaya can also help your skin look more toned and youthful. Excessive free radical activity is believed to be responsible for much of the wrinkling, sagging and other skin damage that occurs with age (30Trusted Source).The vitamin C and lycopene in papaya protect your skin and may help reduce these signs of aging (31Trusted Source). Papaya may work by reducing free radicals that contribute to cancer.In another, older women who consumed a mixture of lycopene, vitamin C and other antioxidants for 14 weeks had a visible and measurable reduction in depth of facial wrinkles (33Trusted Source). Additionally, papaya may have some unique effects not shared by other fruits.Among 14 fruits and vegetables with known antioxidant properties, only papaya demonstrated anticancer activity in breast cancer cells (15Trusted Source). In a small study in older adults with inflammation and precancerous stomach conditions, a fermented papaya preparation reduced oxidative damage (16Trusted Source).It absorbs toxins and then eliminates them from the body through bowel movements. It is also rich in Vitamin A and minerals like phosphorus, iron, potassium, copper, manganese, calcium, and magnesium. Papaya is the fruit of the Carica papaya plant.It originated in Central America and Southern Mexico but is now grown in many other parts of the world.Papaya contains an enzyme called papain, which can break down the tough protein chains found in muscle meat. Because of this, people have used papaya to tenderize meat for thousands of years.If the papaya is ripe, it can be eaten raw. However, unripe papaya should always be cooked before eating — especially during pregnancy, as the unripe fruit is high in latex, which can stimulate contractions (1Trusted Source). Papayas are shaped similar to pears and can be up to 20 inches (51 cm) long. The skin is green when unripe and orange when ripe, while the flesh is yellow, orange or red.
Apart from being good for the heart and digestive system, it is also great for the skin. Its enzymes help energise and revitalise skin. It controls hyper pigmentation, controls acne breakouts and prevents wrinkles from forming.
Moisturises skin
This fruit is a saviour for those with dry skin. The enzymes repair dry and flaky skin and leaves it nourished and moisturised. Apply papaya on your skin twice a week to achieve soft and supple skin.
Clears pigmentation
Include papaya in your diet to eliminate pigmentation. Its skin lightening properties help clear away blemishes and acne scars as well. The enzyme papain, along with the alpha-hydroxy acids in papaya, acts as a natural exfoliator and effectively dissolves dead skin cells. It makes your skin baby soft and supple.
Fights with wrinkles
Using a papaya peel on your skin weekly can help fight wrinkles and other signs of old age. The peel has the ability to wash away dead skin cells from the surface of the skin thus removing age spots and wrinkles with regular use.
Reduces dark circles
Dark circles are the nemesis for most people. Papaya is a natural bleaching agent and helps correct skin darkening and discolouration. It thus also removes under eye dark circles.
Removes tan
While a tan gives you a bronzy glow in the summers, it is not a look you would want to sport all year round. Some people don’t like tans as they have sensitive skin and exposure to the sun can cause skin burns. As a universal solution to these problems, papaya’s content is Vitamin A and C helps lighten the skin
Controls acne breakout
The proteolytic enzyme papain makes papaya effective in the fight against acne. Not just the fruit, but the seeds and leaves of papaya is also helpful when it comes to combating acne.
Can help with melasma
Melasma causes greyish bown patches on the skin. Due to papaya’s exfoliating and skin lightening properties, it is useful to fight against melasma to get an even toned skin. Include papayas in your daily diet or use it as a face mask to get all the benefits from it.
