The Skincare of Nature: Papaya Reduces and Prevents Wrinkles

Tuesday, April 06, 2010 by: Melanie Grimes
Tags: papaya, skin wrinkles, health news

(NewsTarget) The pulp of the papaya fruit can help reduce wrinkles. Papayas contain an enzyme called papain that is known as a digestive enzyme that can also help repair wrinkles. The skin is made of tissues that stretch with age. Elastin and collagen are two fibers in the skin that contribute to skin firmness and help to restore skin elasticity. Papayas help rebuild the elastin thereby rebuilding healthy skin and preventing wrinkling.

History of Papayas
Papayas originated in Central America and were carried and planted in other tropical zones by the early explorers. Christopher Columbus called them "the fruit of the angels".

Tissue Make-up of the Skin
The skin is made up of connective tissues. There are three types of connective tissues in the skin: structural proteins, specialized proteins, and poteoglycans. The structural proteins are the ones responsible for elasticity: collagen and elastin.

Papain in Papayas Restores Skin
Papain helps digest protein foods (and is used in both dietary supplements and chewing gum). The enzyme, papain, is found in all papayas, but especially when they are not yet ripe. Research in Japan demonstrated that a papaya preparation had antioxidant activity and healed mucus membranes. The research indicated that papaincan improves wound healing and is therefore beneficial to the skin.

Vitamin C in Papayas Prevents Wrinkles
Papayas also contain vitamin C, which is known to help restore skin elasticity. Vitamin C helps the manufacture of collagen, which then firms the skin.

Papaya Facial Mask
To make a papaya facial mask, select a green papaya, one that is not yet fully ripe. Mash one half of the papaya and combine with a tablespoon of honey. Cleanse the face with warm water and apply the papaya mask. Leave on for a half hour and then rinse off. This can be repeated twice a week to help rebuild skin and prevent wrinkles.

Latex-fruit Allergy
Papayas contain an ingredient called chitinases. Chitinases can cause an allergic reaction in people who have a latex allergy. This type of allergy is called a latex-fruit allergy. People with allergies to latex might be allergic to papayas, so care should be taken. If you suspect an allergy and want to use a papaya facemask, apply the mask to a small area of the face and wait 24 hours. If there is no redness or swelling, it is safe to continue to use the papaya facemask.

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About the author

Melanie Grimes is a writer, award-winning screenwriter, medical journal editor, and adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University. She also teaches homeopathy at the Seattle School of Homeopathy and the American Homeopathic Medical College.
A trained homeopath, she is the editor of the homeopathic journal, Simillimum, and has edited alternative and integrative medical journals for 15 years. She has taught creative writing, founded the first Birkenstock store in the USA and authored medical textbooks.
Her ebook on Natural Remedies for the Flu is available at:
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