The worlds of fashion and beauty are fraught with trends that come and go in just weeks or months, and the charcoal mask is the most recent trend to hit the beauty realm. Though it promises to pull off blackheads and leave skin rejuvenated, the charcoal mask actually causes extensive damage to the skin. Now, skin experts like Dr. Lombardi of Lombardi Institute of Dermatology are warning the general public to stay far, far away from the charcoal mask craze.
What Is a Charcoal Mask?
The charcoal mask appears to be a simple home remedy. It is created using just two ingredients: activated charcoal and Elmer’s Glue. Activated charcoal is a legitimate ingredient that has been used in emergency rooms for many years to treat drug overdoses, alcohol poisoning, and other conditions. Since activated charcoal is incredibly absorbent, it is able to suck toxins out of the body like a magnet. Its DIY uses have grown in past years to include spider bite treatment and teeth whitening.
Now, activated charcoal is being combined with glue to create a facemask under the pretenses of pulling blackheads and toxins out of the skin. Though some users claim that it leaves the skin silky smooth, experts warn that the charcoal mask will cause far more damage than it solves.
Charcoal Masks Will Harm the Skin
According to dermatology and beauty experts like Dr. Lombardi, the charcoal mask trend should not be followed. Though both ingredients are safe individually, blending them together and applying to the face creates a mask that is very difficult to remove from the skin. Many users compare it to waxing the skin with hot wax. In addition to causing immense pain, the removal of the charcoal mask also pulls off the top protective barrier of the skin. As Dr. Lombardi explains, “The peels may make you more susceptible to toxins because the highly adhesive ingredients pull off the top layer of skin intended to protect you from toxins in the first place.”
Without the skin’s top protective layer, pores run the risk of becoming even more clogged than they were before, and smooth skin will soon give way to irritated, inflamed, and potentially infected skin instead. Dr. Lombardi encourages people seeking at-home beauty solutions to steer clear of this new charcoal mask trend. Gentle exfoliation, microdermabrasion, and eclipse microneedling are all much safer and regulated treatments that will legitimately cleanse, extract, and revive the skin without causing any harm.
Dr. Lombardi offers a wide range of cosmetic dermatology services at Lombardi Institute of Dermatology in Tampa, Florida. Give him a call today at 813-642-6078 to schedule your appointment and enjoy safe and effective skin rejuvenation.