Papaya for Skin: Benefits + Papaya Face Mask Recipes

Perhaps you already know that adding papaya to your diet has many health benefits – treats a number of digestive issues, promotes heart health, aids weight loss, stimulates reproductive organs, to name a few. But did you know that this Fruit of the Angels, as Christopher Columbus called it, offers many skin benefits as well?

Yes, that's right – from wound healing to anti-aging, papaya indeed does wonders for our skin. Read on to find out more about the Angels' Fruit, its benefits for the skin as well as how you can use it.

What Is Papaya?

Papaya, also known as papaw and pawpaw, is the Carica papaya plant, one of the 22 species of the same plant family. It grows on small (5 to 10 meters tall) trees with sparsely arranged branches and leaves on the top of the trunk. The fruits are borne right under the branches, and they are usually 15 to 45 cm or 6 to 28 inches long. The Carica papaya plant is native to Central America and southern Mexico.

The plant bears fruit all year long and can grow in any season. It owes its popularity and cute nicknames to its sweetness, aroma, and cream-like consistency. Besides being super-delicious, it's a true nutrient powerhouse, containing:

• Vitamins: A, B, C, and E;
• Minerals: potassium, calcium, magnesium, and copper;
• Phytochemicals: caffeic acid, myricetin, lycopene, quercetin, papain, α-tocopherol, benzyl isothiocyanate, and kaempferol.

While papaya is undoubtedly a healthy between-meals snack, it also makes for an ideal skincare ingredient, offering a variety of beauty benefits when applied topically as well.

Benefits of Papaya for the Skin

Papaya can often be found in skincare and hair care products but has also gained huge popularity as a natural at-home treatment. The many skin benefits of papaya can be attributed to the abundance of vitamins it contains, but also to the unique enzyme called papain, which exhibits anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Here's a summary of the most fantastic skin benefits of papaya:

#1: Anti-Aging

Antioxidants in papaya, such as vitamins E, A, and C, as well as lycopene, that fight free radicals and prevent oxidative stress, helping the skin remain smooth and youthful. In addition, it enhances skin elasticity and the production of type I collagen in the skin, erasing signs of aging, such as sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles [source].

#2: Exfoliating

One of the active enzymes in this orange beauty is papain with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and exfoliating properties [source]. Just like AHAs or BHAs, papain removes the dead skin cells from its surface, promoting cell turnover and making way for new and healthy cells to emerge.

#3: Skin Whitening

Many fruits act as skin whitening or skin bleaching agents. Besides vitamin C-rich fruits like lemon, lime, and orange, papaya is one of the leading fruits with a skin whitening effect. This is again thanks to its unique enzyme papain that can remove dark spots, treat melasma, lighten skin, and exfoliate it at the same time [source].

#4: Wound Healing

Since papaya is full of compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it has been traditionally used for healing wounds and burns. A 2012 study showed that papaya seed extract helped heal wounds faster in rats. Compared to the controlled group, the group that was treated with the extract showed faster wound closing as well as the higher hydroxyproline content in the skin, which is the major component of collagen in animals.

#5: Acne Treatment

Research suggests that the enzymes chymopapain and papain in papaya fruit also help with acne. This is partly due to their exfoliating properties, removing dead skin cells from the skin's surface and preventing clogging of the pores that can lead to breakouts.

Additionally, since these compounds have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects as well, they can reduce swelling, redness, and irritation associated with acne. Furthermore, some studies show that papain is also effective in the treatment of scarring.

#6: Dandruff Control

According to a 2011 study, papaya seeds extract exhibits antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Since dandruff is often associated with fungal (yeast) infections of the scalp, antifungal agents such as papaya seed extract can be used to treat and prevent dandruff, scalps flakiness, and itchiness.

Face Masks With Papaya

To get the most out of this incredible fruit, you can whip up quick and easy face masks with papaya. These will gently exfoliate your skin and remove dead skin cells from your pores, helping you get an acne-free and dewy complexion.

Here are some ideas for DIY papaya face masks:

Other Ways to Use Papaya for Skin Care

It's not only papaya fruit that's super-nutritious and beneficial for the skin. All the parts of the papaya plant contain certain compounds targeting specific skin issues, including its leaves, peel, and seeds. Here's how you can use them:

• Apply papaya peel on your cleansed face and leave it on for about 20 minutes. It will help with blemishes;
• To make a soothing and moisturizing face pack, slice papaya peel and mix it with a little bit of honey and milk;
• To get rid of dandruff, you can slice papaya peel and soak it in apple cider vinegar for a week or two. Then remove the peel from the mix and apply the solution with a cotton pad to your scalp 20 minutes before shampooing;
• Extract the juice from papaya fruit using a finely mashed cloth. Drench a cotton pad in the juice and apply it to your face and other areas where you have dark spots. Leave on for about 15 minutes, then rinse;
• For dressing wounds and injuries, you can use the juice out of papaya leaves. Wash one papaya leaf, cut it into smaller pieces, put them inside a cloth, and squeeze to extract the pulp;
• For treating scars, use dried papaya seeds. Crush the dried seeds and mix them with almond oil and rosehip oil. Apply the mixture to the affected area and leave it on for about 20 minutes.

Takeaway...

Papaya is indeed a very versatile fruit and offers a plethora of skin benefits when consumed and applied topically. You can easily make homemade papaya face masks – just mix papaya with honey and your favorite nourishing oil, and you're good to go.

It's excellent for all skin types, except for those with very sensitive skin. If you have a sensitive skin type, you should consult with your dermatologist before applying your DIY papaya face mask to your face. All in all, it's a simple idea that's definitely worth a try – it will nourish and exfoliate your skin, giving you that instant glow.

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