Can you 'rub' your blackheads off? Dermatologist reveals the truth about 7 TikTok skincare hacks

IF YOU’RE on TikTok — or any other social media app — you’ve probably come across a whole host of skincare hacks that promise to rid you of pimples and give you a glowing complexion.

You’ve probably also experienced a certain disappointment when these so-called miracle cures don’t work in the end.

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Well, it turns out that some trends are actually doing your skin more harm than good — causing skin barrier damage, burning, and even corrosion to your delicate complexion.

Sun Health spoke to a dermatologist and cosmetic formulator Skin care by DrV, Vanita rattanon the pros and cons of TikTok skincare hacks.

From the cling film moisturizer trick to whether or not you can actually “rub off” your blackheads, Dr. Vanita the truth.

A popular trend is protein pore stripsTo do this, you need to separate an egg and whisk the egg whites in a bowl before applying it to your nose and placing some tissue paper on top.

The method supposedly works like a DIY pore strip to suck out the blackheads on your nose.

“People love pore strips because they remove dirt, debris, and blackheads from their noses,” says Dr. Vanita to.

“However, the effects don’t last and aren’t worth it as pore strips aren’t strong enough to clean the pores. Not to mention that using raw eggs also poses a salmonella risk,” she added.

If you want to unclog your pores, Dr. Vanita tells you instead to “focus on the underlying issue that causes open pores on your face — enlarged pores, overactive sweat glands, and sun damage.”

She advised, “A much better way to get rid of blackheads is to use a 2% salicylic acid scrub two to three times a week, as it’s fat-soluble and can penetrate deep into your pores to unclog them.”

You may have seen the “sweaty girl hack” of dabbing Glycolic acid under the armpits to get rid of unpleasant smells.

like dr As Vanita puts it, “The theory behind this viral TikTok trend is that glycolic acid lowers the pH of the armpits, preventing bacteria from multiplying.”

“Users claim that by using glycolic acid underarms they can get an odorless scent and replace their everyday deodorant.”

But according to the dermatologist, there are two problems with this theory.

First, applying glycolic acid to the armpits does not prevent sweating, so some body odor is inevitable.

And second, the high temperature of your armpits causes itGlycolic acid is even more potent and can cause skin burns, warned Dr. Vanita.

“Proponents of this TikTok trend are using 7 percent glycolic acid, which is already too high for everyday use and can damage the skin barrier.

“Initially, there may be a lightening of the skinpeels off, after prolonged use this trend is likely to lead to darker pigmentation.

“Just stick to your everyday deodorant.”

Make sure it’s free of denatured alcohol, essential oils, and fragrances.

“With skincare fasting, we reduce the number of active ingredients or products on the skin for a period of time,” explained Dr. Vanita.

“This can take a few days, weeks or even six weeks, which is equivalent to a full cell cycle.”

This is a TikTok trend that the dermatologist can support under certain circumstances.

“I recommend it quick skin care when your skin has reacted badly to a product or feels very sensitive, dry or scaly, which indicates a damaged skin barrier,” she told The Sun.

“During the ‘fast’ you should refrain from using retinols or acids on the skin.

“Also, I would recommend doing a skincare fast each week between launching new skincare lines to avoid ingredient overlap or if the second line is tougher than the first.”

But she was quick to point out that you shouldn’t completely abandon your routine.

“Even if you give your skin a break, a skincare fast shouldn’t mean you have to quit all skincare,” she explained.

You should continue to wear your SPF 50 sunscreen daily, Dr. Vanita recommends one with mineral zinc oxide – and wash your face with it every night to remove dirt, pollution and makeup from the day.

“After cleansing your face, you should also use an oily moisturizer to create a healing environment for the skin where enzymes can work optimally and the skin can regulate itself,” added Dr. Added vanilla.

If you’re on the TikTok feed, you’ve probably seen a clip of a woman claiming this ‘rub off’ her blackheads with an oily lotion.

“All my life I’ve been squeezing them out and rubbing soap and stuff on them. I saw a tiktok and she was like, ‘You have to use oil, just rub oil on it for five minutes and they come out fine.’ always at hand” TikTok user Snow said.

“That’s the cleanest nose I’ve seen in years,” she announced.

dr Vanita suggested this trick might actually work – sort of.

“Oil-melting cleansers work by using oils to dissolve and remove dirt, makeup, and excess sebum — skin oils — from the skin’s surface. This can help reduce the appearance of blackheads by clearing the pores,” she explained.

But she said the better way to get rid of blackheads is to use a chemical peel with 2 percent salicylic acid.

“This exfoliates the inside of the pores and prevents the buildup of dead skin cells and oil that can lead to blackheads,” said Dr. Vanita.

“This TikTok trend is also right in stating that poking, squeezing and pulling out blackheads should never be practiced as it will only aggravate the skin and result in scars that may stay forever.”

For this reason, she also advises you to stay away from popular extraction devices like pore vacuums, as they damage the skin barrier and can cause micro-cracks in the skin, bruising and inflammation.

It can seem like skin care products cost a fortune, so it’s no wonder people often turn to natural remedies offered on TikTok.

One such remedy is apple cider vinegar, which users apply to their pimples.

“Apple Cider Vinegar has become popular as a home remedy for acne, scars and age spots,” says Dr. Vanita. “Users also claim that it helps with birthmark removal.”

“However, do-it-yourself skincare is unregulated and apple cider vinegar is an extremely harsh, acidic ingredient to use on the face.”

The cosmetics maker continued, “Long-term use of undiluted apple cider vinegar can etch your face and cause permanent damage to the skin.”

You should not leave the product on your skin for long periods of time and you should definitely not use it to treat wounds, birthmarks or infections as it could burn your skin.

If you’re looking to combat hyperpigmentation on your face, including melasma due to UV damage, Dr. Instead, Vanita encourages you to use a doctor-recommended facial pigmentation kit.

In another Tiktok foray into the world of natural remedies, app users soak oatmeal and use the water and soaked flakes to clean her face.

dr Vanita’s said, “While oats have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, they don’t contain surfactants to actually cleanse the skin.”

“This means it doesn’t help improve skin texture or hyperpigmentation. Not to mention that this is a very messy and time-consuming ‘hack’.”

The trend also recommends that you cleanse your face three times with oats and its by-products, which dermatologist says is possibleStrip the skin of its fats, while over-exfoliating with the remaining oats can damage the skin barrier.

“Save time by using a micellar gel wash followed by a chemical peel for effective skincare,” she said.

Finally, Dr. Vanita the vira emergesl moisturizing mask with cling filmA fatty moisturizing cream is applied to cleansed skin and your face is wrapped in cling film for 30 minutes.

“Surprisingly, although you may find it ridiculous to wrap your face in cling film, it’s a good occlusion technique — an inexpensive way to trap water in the skin, leaving skin hydrated and supple,” she said.

“I would recommend this mask. However, be sure to use an unscented moisturizer to avoid skin irritation.”

However, she advised against using a spoon to “scrape the dirt,” as one TikTok user suggested.

“It doesn’t really clean your face and can damage the skin. Instead, use a soft washcloth to avoid damaging the skin barrier,” said Dr. Vanita.