Social media trends have led people down all sorts of strange paths in the name of health and beauty. From playing with tiny dolls (with tiny penises) for emotional wellness to taking bee pollen to stimulate breast growth, your patients have probably engaged in some weird, gross, or downright dangerous behaviors. 

The newest trend—poop facials—manages to hit all these marks.

 

 

High-risk facials

 

The video shows her leaving the mask on for several minutes, using a clothespin on her nose to mask the odor.

Cost B. Influencer’s poop face mask alarms doctors: ‘People are getting too extreme on the internet.’ New York Post. August 8, 2024.

 

This isn’t the influencer's first time dabbling in an unusual beauty routine—she has also done a menstrual blood mask, setting off the #periodfacemask trend on TikTok.

TikTok. #periodfacemask.

Shaikh S. In Alarming News, Rubbing Poo On Your Face Appears To Be The Latest TikTok Beauty Trend. Grazia. August 13, 2024.

 

Although this particularly questionable trend may seem like the stuff of modern social media nightmares, there is some history to poop face masks. In 2019, news outlets reported on “poo facial masks,” specifically those made of nightingale feces.

Samadder R. A poo facial mask – smaller pores, yes, but do you really want feces on your face? The Guardian. November 19, 2019.

 

 

Historical background

 

 

Hannah Kopelman, MD, a dermatologist at Kopelman Hair Restoration who is dual trained in treating hair loss and skin cancer, says she’s deeply concerned about the alarming facial trend: “I cannot emphasize enough how dangerous and misguided this practice is."

She believes people probably think fecal matter contains water contents and nutrients, but asserts that the risks far outweigh any supposed benefits. “Fecal matter is filled with bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can cause serious infections when applied to the skin,” Dr. Kopelman tells MDLinx.

 

The skin is our body’s first line of defense, and introducing harmful microbes from fecal matter directly onto the skin can lead to conditions ranging from mild irritation to severe infections.

She says that this practice is even riskier for those with compromised skin barriers or dermatological conditions.

 

The tenuous health link

 

So where did the idea of poop facials come from? 

“The idea that fecal transplants, which have shown promise in treating certain gastrointestinal issues, could translate to topical benefits on the skin is a dangerous misinterpretation,” Dr. Kopelman says. 

She stresses that both the context and the application—of poop transplants vs facial masks—are entirely different. “The gut has a very specific environment that is carefully controlled and regulated by the body, while the skin is exposed to the outside world and is not designed to handle such invasive materials,” she says.

Shayan Cheraghlou, MD, a dermatologist and fellow at Zitelli & Brodland Skin Cancer Center, echoes Dr. Kopelman’s sentiments: “While there are scientific studies exploring fecal transplants in the context of the gut microbiome, this does not translate to contact with the skin. The skin has its own distinct microbiome. Stool has many bacteria that could cause serious infections when placed on the skin like this.”

“In my practice, I’ve seen how trends like this can spread misinformation and lead people to try unsafe methods in pursuit of better skin," she says. "We need to inform patients that just because something is 'natural' or has some basis in science, [it] doesn’t mean it’s safe or effective."

“Social media can be a powerful tool for spreading information, so as healthcare providers, we need to use it to counteract these dangerous trends with sound medical advice,” Dr. Kopelman advises. “Ultimately, the best way to protect our patients from harm is through education, clear communication, and a commitment to promoting practices that are rooted in scientific evidence.”