Can you ‘rub’ your blackheads off? Dermatologist debunks 7 TikTok skincare hacks
IF YOU’RE on TikTok – or any other social media app – you’ve probably come across your fair share of skincare hacks that promise to rid you of spots and give you a glowing complexion.
You’ve probably also experienced your fare share of disappointment when these so-called miracle cures don’t end up working.
Well it turns out, some trends might actually be doing your skin more harm than good – causing damage to the skin barrier, burns and even corrosion to your delicate complexion.
Sun Health spoke to skin doctor and cosmetic formulator at SkincarebyDrV, Dr Vanita Rattan, about the dos and don’ts of TikTok skincare hacks.
From the cling wrap moisturiser hack to whether or not you can actually ‘rub off’ your blackheads, Dr Vanita reveals the truth.
1. Egg white pore strips
One popular trend is egg white pore strips, which involves separating an egg and whisking up the whites in a bowl before slathering it on your nose and layering some tissue paper on top.
The method supposedly works as a DIY pore strip to suck out the black heads on your nose.
“People love pore strips due to the satisfaction of peeling away the dirt, debris, and blackheads from the nose,” Dr Vanita acknowledged.
“However, the effects don’t last and aren’t worth it as pore strips aren’t powerful enough to clean pores. Not to mention that using raw eggs also poses a risk of salmonella,” she added.
If you want to unclog your pores, Dr Vanita suggested you instead “focus on the underlying issue that causes open pores on the face – enlarged pores, overactive sweat glands, and sun damage”.
She advised: “A much better option to get rid of blackheads is to use 2 per cent salicylic acid exfoliator two to three times a week, as it is fat-soluble and can go deep into the pores to unclog them.”
2. Glycolic acid underneath your armpits
You might have seen the ‘sweaty girl hack’ of dabbing glycolic acid underneath your armpits to get rid of unpleasant odours.
As Dr Vanita puts it: “The theory behind this viral TikTok trend is that glycolic acid will lower the PH of the underarms, so will stop bacteria from multiplying.
“Users claim that by using glycolic acid underarms, you will have an odourless scent and be able to replace your everyday deodorant.”
But, according to the skin doctor, there are two problems with this theory.
Firstly, using glycolic acid on your underarms won’t stop you sweating, so you’ll inevitably have some body odour.
And secondly, the high temperature of your underarms makes the
glycolic acid even more potent, which can cause skin burns, Dr Vanita warned.
“Those heralding this TikTok trend are using 7 per cent glycolic acid, which is already too high for daily use and can cause damage to the skin barrier.
“Whilst initially you may see brightening of the skin as the skin
peels away, after long-term use this trend is likely to cause darker pigmentation.
“Just stick to your everyday deodorant.”
Check that it contains no denatured alcohol, no essential oils, and no fragrance.
3. Skincare fasting
“Skincare fasting is where we reduce the number of actives or products on the skin for a set period of time,” Dr Vanita explained.
“This could be for a few days, weeks or even six weeks which is one full cell cycle.”
This is one TikTok trend the skin doctor can get behind, under specific circumstances.
“I recommend doing a skincare fast if your skin has reacted badly to a product or is starting to feel very sensitive, dry, or flaky, indicating a damaged skin barrier,” she told The Sun.
“During the ‘fast’, you want to stop using any retinols or acids on the skin.
“I would also recommend doing a skincare fast a week between starting new skincare ranges, so you don’t overlap on ingredients, or if the second range is harsher than the first.”
But she was quick to point out that you shouldn’t strip your routine back completely.
“Despite giving your skin a break, a skincare fast shouldn’t mean stopping all skincare,” she explained.
You should keep applying your SPF 50 sun cream daily, Dr Vanita recommends a mineral zinc oxide one – and wash your face every evening with to remove any dirt, pollution and makeup from the day.
“After cleansing your face, you also want to use a fatty moisturiser to create a healing environment for the skin which allows enzymes to work optimally, and for the skin to regulate itself,” Dr Vanita added.
4. ‘Rubbing off’ your blackheads
If you’re on TikTok feed, chances are you’ll have seen a clip of a woman claiming to ‘rub off’ her blackheads using an oily lotion.
“My whole life I’ve been squeezing them out and I’ve been rubbing them with soap and stuff. I saw a Tiktok and she was like ‘You have to use oil, just rub oil on it for five minutes and they come right out on your fingertips’,” TikTok user Snow said.
“This is the cleanest my nose has looked in years,” she proclaimed.
Dr Vanita said this hack could actually work – sort of.
“Oil melting cleansers work by using oils to dissolve and lift away dirt, makeup, and excess sebum – skin oil – from the skin’s surface. This can help in reducing the appearance of blackheads by clearing out the pores,” she explained.
But she said the better way to get rid of blackheads is to use a chemical exfoliant containing 2 per cent salicylic acid.
“This will exfoliate the inside of pores and prevent the build-up of dead skin cells and oil that can lead to blackheads,” Dr Vanita said.
“This TikTok trend is also correct in claiming that pricking, squeezing, and pulling blackheads out must never be practised, as this will only make your skin worse, leading to scars that can last forever.”
For this reason, she also advised you stay away from popular extraction tools like pore-vacuums, which can damage the skin barrier and cause micro-tears in your skin, bruising and inflammation.
5. Apple cider vinegar to remove dark marks and scars
It can seem like skincare products cost an arm and a leg, so it’s no wonder people often turn to natural remedies peddled on TikTok.
One such remedy is apple cider vinegar, which users apply to their spots.
“Apple cider vinegar has become popular as a home remedy for acne, blemish scars, and age spots,” according to Dr Vanita. “Users also claim that it helps remove moles.
“However, DIY skincare is unregulated and apple cider vinegar is an extremely harsh, acidic ingredient to be using on your face.”
The cosmetic formulator went on: “Long-term use of undiluted apple cider vinegar can corrode your face, causing permanent damage to the skin.”
You should not be leaving the stuff on your skin for long periods of time and you definitely shouldn’t use it to treat wounds, moles, or infections as it could burn your skin.
If you want to address hyper-pigmentation on your face, including melasma from UV damage, Dr Vanita suggested you use a doctor backed facial pigmentation kit instead.
6. Using oats as cleanser
Another Tiktok foray into natural remedies has app users soaking oats and using the water and the softened flakes to cleanse their face.
Dr Vanita’s said: “Whilst oats are an anti-inflammatory for the skin, they do not contain any surfactants to actually clean the skin.
“This means it doesn’t help with improving skin texture or hyperpigmentation. Not to mention that this is a very messy and time-consuming ‘hack’.”
The trend also advises you cleanse your face three times with the oats and their by-products, which the skin doctor said can
strip the skin of its fats, while over-exfoliation with the remaining oats can cause damage to the skin barrier.
“Save your time by using a micellar gel wash followed by a chemical exfoliator for an effective skincare routine,” she said.
7. Cling-wrap moisturiser mask
Last but not least, Dr Vanita highlighted the viral cling-wrap moisturiser mask, which involves applying a fatty moisturiser to cleansed skin and cling-wrapping your face for 30 minutes.
“Whilst you may feel ridiculous cling-wrapping your face, this is surprisingly a good method of occlusion – a cheap way of trapping water into the skin, leaving hydrated and supple skin,” she said.
“I would recommend this mask, just be sure to use a fragrance-free moisturiser to avoid skin irritation.”
But she advised against using a spoon to ‘scrape off the dirt’, as one TikTok user suggested.
“This doesn’t actually clean your face and can be abrasive to the skin. Use a soft washcloth instead to avoid damage to the skin barrier,” Dr Vanita said.