Is it safe to use period blood as face mask? Know what experts say

Hyderabad: According to a new TikTok trend, "menstrual masking" or using menstrual blood as a face mask is an effective way to keep your skin healthy, supple, and acne free.

In the viral video, a woman can be seen applying her menstrual blood on her face. The description reads, "10 years from now ill laugh at the haters when period blood face masks are being sold in Sephora," along with the hashtag #PeriodBloodMaskChallenge.

It further states that it is scientifically and medically proven to be safe "if there are no blood borne diseases and no infections." It also claims period blood can be used as plant fertilizers as it contains nutrients, minerals, and stem cells that you'd find in "a $50skin care product."

A study has explained that menstrual blood is composed of three distinct body fluids: blood, vaginal fluid, and fluid of the late secretary phase of the uterine endometrial lining which is shed during menstruation.

TikTok never fails to bring out the grossest and weirdest trends, and youngsters are all up for trying such social media challenges. But the big question here is: Is it safe to apply menstrual blood directly on your face?

Fact Check

Newsmeter reached out to our experts to discuss the viral trend.

Dr. B. Vijaya Sree, consultant dermatologist, cosmetologist, and trichologist at Medicover Hospitals said that menstrual blood contains blood , vaginal fluid, cells, and fluids from the endometrium of the uterus. "In the presence of viral/bacterial/fungal infections in the genital tract, there may be a risk of infections and inflammation on the facial skin when the blood is applied on the face," Dr. Vijaya Sree said.

There is no scientific data that supports the beneficial effects of applying menstrual blood on the face, she concluded.

Dr. Swapna Priya, a consultant dermatologist at CARE Hospitals, added, "Using menstrual blood as a face mask is completely a wrong practice."

She explained, "Using menstrual blood on your face is not a safer option because firstly, it is contaminated with dead tissues which is the shedding of the endometrium layer, and secondly, it is contaminated with the vaginal flora, which is normal bacteria but when applied on the face, it can cause secondary infections and cause damage to the skin."

She added, "I feel that this concept has come from the usage of PRP for acne scars. PRP means platelet-rich plasma, also known as Vampire facial, where they use patients' blood samples, separate the platelets and then do the treatment on the face by either injecting the formula or by micro-needling."

She said there is no scientific evidence to prove the efficacy of applying menstrual blood on the face. "There is no way this blood can penetrate the upper layer of your skin and that's why it will hardly have any benefits. Hence, it is not recommended for treating acne," she concluded.

The claim is false.