Tiktokers are using period blood as a face mask

TikTok knows best how to get our attention, and the latest trend that has emerged there has really been the talk of the town. That’s because the trend of the moment is to use menstruation blood as a face mask.

Yes, that’s right, some tiktokers have been commenting on the social network about the supposed benefits of “harnessing” the blood expelled by the body during menstruation to take care of the skin of the face.

Videos with the hashtag #periodbloodfacemask, something like “menstruation face mask”, in the free translation in Portuguese, accumulate more than 3 million views, with videos that show women with the mask in action and others questioning its effectiveness (and, including hygiene).

One tiktoker, in particular, argues that menstrual blood “has all the stem cells and nutrients needed to make a baby, so it also has what it takes to take care of the skin and body.

@dayaderya

Replying to @SARAH SALVATORE #periodbloodfacemask #periodfacemask #dayaderya

♬ original sound – Derya • Mala Nûroj Village

Natural skin treatments – and those that deliver incredible results – sound great in theory, but in this case, it’s best to think twice about collecting your menstrual blood to use as part of your skincare routine.

MENSTRUAL BLOOD MASK: IS IT SAFE?

It is important to note that the videos on TikTok, despite showing many women using the period blood face mask, do not explain how this blood is collected, how it is stored or how long this “mask” should remain on the skin.

Many of the videos show women taking blood directly from the menstrual cup, applying it to the skin and letting it act for a few minutes.

Another important point is to differentiate a homemade idea like this from a treatment with proven benefits, such as the “vampire facial”, a popular treatment among celebrities like Kim Kardashian, which uses products derived from blood plasma, in very high concentrations, and which are applied to the skin for their regenerative properties.

@mikay.fer

in the filter? 🫣 #bloodmask

♬ original sound – harakiri.

“This is not a good idea for your skin for several reasons,” explains the dermatologist. Joyce Park for the American Shape magazine. “Menstrual blood is a mixture of epithelial cells – skin – from the uterine line, platelets and red cells.”

According to the professional, there is no concrete evidence that this method actually works to improve skin health.

“There is no scientific evidence to show that the use of blood – whether menstrual or not – has any cosmetic benefit”, explains the dermatologist. doctor Gary Goldenberg for publication. “In fact, red cells are inflammatory and can make the skin worse.”

In addition, there are other risks: such as infection and allergies. Menstrual blood can be easily contaminated with microbes, such as bacteria or fungi, which can proliferate through the skin.

“If you have sexually transmitted infections, you can also spread this condition through your skin using contaminated blood,” explains Dr. Park.

That is, the conclusion is obvious: despite growing in popularity on the social network, this is not a practice recommended by doctors.