Applying a chili and salt mask : Does reddening skin mean it's detoxifying?
Recently, social media has been flooded with videos demonstrating beauty treatments using a recipe: mixing chili peppers with salt to make a face mask and applying it to the face. In images and short clips on TikTok and Facebook, the skin turns red and feels hot after applying the mixture, which is presented as a sign that the skin is detoxifying.
Videos demonstrating methods of using chili and salt masks to whiten skin and treat acne are circulating on social media platforms.
PHOTO: THANH DA
Initially terrified by photos of chili and salt face masks, many young people began to have second thoughts when videos on the topic kept appearing with descriptions like "slightly warming skin, but noticeably clean and radiant."
Nguyen Thi Tram (20 years old), residing on Ho Tung Mau Street, Tu Liem Ward, Hanoi , said: "I heard that this is a beauty method that helps whiten skin and effectively treat acne. I haven't tried it yet because I'm a little scared. But I've done some research and found that chili peppers have many uses such as anti-inflammatory, medicinal, and acne treatment..."
Recalling her experience using herbal remedies for beauty purposes and paying a heavy price, Nguyen Thi Thanh (residing at N2 Street, Phu Hong Thinh 8 residential area, An Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) understands that a lack of knowledge can cause more damage to the skin.
"What worries me most is that people eager to improve their skin might blindly believe these methods without fully considering the consequences," Thanh said.
Thanh believes that many young people, driven by a desire for beauty, readily try methods shared online without thorough research. Based on past experiences, even though she enjoys beauty treatments and has heard of chili and salt face masks, she still hesitates to try them.
Sharing her perspective on this issue, Miss Vietnam Beach 2024 runner-up Nguyen Thi Y Nhi believes that without specific research or certification, one should not try it because facial skin is very thin and it is very dangerous. The development of social media leads to the rapid spread of information, and hastily believing in inaccurate information, especially beauty trends, can greatly affect mental health.
First Runner-up of Miss Vietnam Beach 2024, Nguyen Thi Y Nhi
PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT
Beauty treatment or skin torture?
With just a few readily available kitchen ingredients, it's easy for young people to follow this beauty trend. However, behind this trend are numerous warnings from dermatologists about the risk of irritation, burns, and long-term damage.
Speaking with the writer, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Sang, a dermatologist (working at NU-10 Y On Dermatology Clinic, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak ; formerly working at Buon Ma Thuot University Hospital), frankly stated: "If chili peppers accidentally get in your eyes, it causes a burning, stinging sensation. Seeing the trend of applying chili peppers to the face, I'm scared too. I wonder who came up with this trend."
Doctor Thu Sang analyzed that both chili peppers and salt have the potential to cause strong irritation and may lead to skin damage.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Sang, a specialist in dermatology, provides consultation to clients.
PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT
Dermatologist Thu Sang explains that salt has strong water-absorbing properties, and chili peppers contain capsaicin, the substance that creates the spicy sensation. Applying chili peppers directly to the skin can cause intense burning, redness, swelling, irritant dermatitis, and possibly mild chemical burns, damaging the skin's protective barrier and increasing the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (long-lasting darkening).
If the skin is already acne-prone, or has undergone laser treatment (a method using a high-intensity beam of light applied in a controlled manner to the skin) or a chemical peel (biological skin renewal), the damage will be much more severe. "Combining it with chili and salt is like 'adding fuel to the wound,' increasing the burning sensation and causing deeper damage, leading to prolonged redness, burns, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, dilated capillaries, and chronic skin sensitivity," dermatologist Thu Sang warns.
Many people believe that the burning sensation and redness on the face after applying a salt and chili mixture is a sign that the skin is "detoxifying" or "taking effect." Regarding this, Dr. Nguyen Dao Phuong Linh, a dermatologist and resident physician (a dermatologist who received advanced training and clinical practice at Can Tho Dermatology Hospital and currently works in cosmetic dermatology in Ho Chi Minh City), says this is a fairly common misconception in skincare.
Dermatologist Nguyen Dao Phuong Linh
PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT
From a medical standpoint, Dr. Phuong Linh stated that burning, redness, or intense stinging sensations are not signs of "detoxification," but rather mostly manifestations of acute irritation or inflammation on the skin. "The skin doesn't 'detoxify' in the way many social media videos portray. The function of eliminating toxins primarily belongs to the liver, kidneys, and the body's excretory system. When a product causes intense redness and burning, it usually indicates that the skin's protective barrier is damaged or that irritants are causing an inflammatory reaction," Dr. Phuong Linh explained.
Dr. Phuong Linh advises that in dermatology, a proper treatment doesn't necessarily have to be painful to be effective. Conversely, overuse of strong irritants can weaken the skin in the long run, making it more prone to hyperpigmentation, sensitivity, and harder to recover.
"The skin is a living organ, not a place to experiment with unproven formulas. Healthy skin needs to be cared for based on scientific understanding and suitability to individual skin conditions, rather than chasing 'the stranger the better' trends on social media," Dr. Phuong Linh advised.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ro-trend-dap-mat-na-ot-muoi-de-trang-da-tri-mun-bac-si-cung-so-luon-185260526121536621.htm
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