Evidence supporting the use of: Lettuce
For the health condition: Skin Care (general)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) has a history of traditional use in skin care, particularly in folk medicine. Historical records from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt mention lettuce as a soothing and cooling plant, often applied topically to relieve minor skin irritations, burns, and inflammation. In some cultures, lettuce leaves were crushed or used as poultices to calm the skin, owing to their purported anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties.
However, scientific research directly supporting lettuce as a topical skin care agent is extremely limited. Lettuce contains some bioactive compounds, such as vitamins A and C, antioxidants, and trace phytochemicals, which theoretically could benefit skin health. Despite this, clinical studies or robust experimental data confirming efficacy for skin care (e.g., in wound healing, anti-aging, or dermatological disorders) are lacking.
Today, lettuce is rarely found as a primary ingredient in commercial skin care products, and its use is mostly anecdotal or based on historical precedent rather than scientific validation. Thus, while lettuce holds a place in traditional skin care practices, the evidence supporting its effectiveness remains weak and largely unsubstantiated by modern research.
Other ingredients used for Skin Care (general)
aloe veraanthocyanins
apple
apricot
astaxanthin
beeswax
beet
beta-carotene
black currant
radish
sesame
bovine gelatin
catalase
colostrum
cryptoxanthin
cucumber
d-alpha tocopherol
dog rose
heartwood
hyaluronic acid
l-cysteine
l-glutathione
l-histidine
linoleic acid (LA)
lovage
lychee
magnesium
mango
mixed carotenoids
oat
omega-3 fatty acids
pumpkin
redcurrant
silicon
keratin
spinach
starch
tomato
almond fruit
Urolithin A
vitamin A
vitamin C
vitamin E
watercress
watermelon
zinc
sarsaparilla
red clover
chickweed
oryza
root tuber
birch
dulse leaf
camphor oil
goji berry
amaranth
sea salt
3,3'-dihydroxy-B-carotene-4,4'-dione
Alpha-terpineol
Azelaic acid
Arbutin
Avocado
Anserina
Ascophyllum nodosum
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Asam gelugor
Allantoin
anthocyanidins
Algal protein
Argan nut oil
Abalone
Behenic Acid
Biopeptide
Black spruce
beta-zeacarotene
Brassica
Bisabolene
Butternut
Borage
Bottle gourd
Bird's nest
California chia
Chervil
Carnosine
Candelilla wax
Cocoa Butter
Cereal grass
Citral
Castile Soap
Copaiba Oil
Currant
Dunaliella salina
David's Milkberry
Dulse
Egg
Emu Oil
Himalayan Salt
Oak
Orchid
Rose
Snakeroot (unspecified)
Silk protein
Other health conditions supported by lettuce
Burns and ScaldsConstipation (adults)
Cough (general)
Headache (general)
Hypertension
Indigestion
Inflammation
Insomnia
Pain (general remedies for)
Skin Care (general)
Stress