Although garlic has immense therapeutic properties it can also have severe effects if it is not used correctly. People who use garlic paste or garlic juice for prolonged periods- especially overnight often suffer from burns or skin discoloration.
Garlic and therefore garlic paste contains sulfenic acid which breaks down into allicin. Allacin is a very strong chemical and as the sulfenic acid in the garlic paste breaks down the amount of allicin in it keeps increasing. Therefore when you keep garlic paste on your skin for a prolonged period the amount of allicin increases tremendously and you will actually suffer from a chemical burn.
It is important to treat these burns as soon as possible so that you do not suffer from permanent discoloration. Follow the skin care plan listed below for at least a day or two to minimize scarring.
- Wash your entire face, especially the affected area with warm water. This will help to clean out any garlic juice that is still on the surface of your skin. Do not use any cosmetic products on the affected area as these products may only cause further damage. You can rinse your face repeatedly to ensure that your face is completely clean and garlic-free.
- Mix a little fuller's earth with a sufficient amount of water so that it forms a very watery paste. Apply this paste to your face and allow it to dry completely before rinsing it off with warm water. Fuller's earth is extremely absorbent and will help to absorb the excess garlic juice that is on the surface of your skin as well as within your pores.
- Soak a cotton pad in cold full-fat milk and place it on the area for at least 20 minutes. Milk contains fats that help to combat the acidic effects of the garlic. In addition to this, it also helps to speed-up healing.
- Blend a small piece each of cucumber and carrot and strain the paste to separate the juice. Apply this paste to your face for a minimum of 30 minutes before you wash it off with cold water. Carrot and cucumber help to rejuvenate and heal the injured skin.
You can apply the juice to your face before you go to sleep as it will help to reduce the inflammation.
If you wish to, you can use garlic to treat your pimples as long as you follow a few basic steps. Do not rub the garlic clove directly onto your skin. It is also better to dilute the juice before you use it. Crush a clove of garlic and add about 10 drops of water and 5 drops of honey to it. Mix the paste well and strain out all the liquid. Use a smooth surface like the back of a teaspoon or a clean thimble to smear just one drop of this liquid onto your pimple. Do not use cotton as the fibers are slightly abrasive and could irritate your skin. Keep the juice on for fifteen minutes and then rinse it off gently with warm water.Garlic paste or garlic juice used for prolonged periods- especially overnight often suffer from burns or skin discoloration, as it contains sulfenic acid which breaks down into allicin.
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