Experts have warned against the latest skincare fad on social media that is said to have more powerful anti-wrinkle effects than Botox, claiming it can lead to unsightly fungal infections.
TikTok is flooded with videos of young women swearing by slathering their faces in castor oil, a thick, odorless oil made from the seeds of the castor plant.
Some say the goo has removed wrinkles from their forehead in a matter of weeks, while others claim they’ve completely cleared up their acne by massaging it into their cheeks with the palms of their hands at night.
An Instagram video showing a young woman slathering the product on her face and praising its benefits has racked up more than 2 million views.
‘“I used to have deep wrinkles between my eyebrows and now I don’t have them anymore. That’s the beauty of castor oil,” she said.
But experts and other social media users are now hitting back at the trend, claiming it can lead to a host of unpleasant side effects.
A forum post on social media site Reddit titled “Castor oil has ruined my skin” has attracted hundreds of commenters.
“After seeing that castor oil was trending as an anti-aging product, I tried it and initially liked it,” wrote one user.
‘After about two weeks, it ended up triggering the worst case of fungal acne I’ve ever had to deal with.
‘My skin is currently covered in fungal acne, super dry and itchy from the treatment, and has common acne due to the dryness.
“If you are thinking about using castor oil on your face or are currently using it, I highly recommend you seriously reconsider.”
Fungal acne occurs when hair follicles on the face become infected with a yeast called Malassezia. It usually presents as a rash with clusters of bumps and is often itchy, unlike regular acne.
Another Reddit user said they had to take Accutane (a powerful prescription drug used to treat acne) after applying castor oil to their face.
“I tried this for two weeks. I got a lot of whiteheads that I needed to squeeze out. I haven’t had pimples like this since I was 14. Ugh,” another user wrote.
In one particularly graphic case, a user who used the liquid for its supposed hair-growing properties said she developed a skin condition called dermatitis.
“I tried using it for hair growth on some thinner areas and on my eyebrows and instead I got a rash that looked like a severe burn on my scalp,” they wrote.
‘I have a similar rash on my eyebrows and forehead. It also shows up on almost everything – so many oils, masks and lip glosses I can’t use because my lips get dry, flaky and peely, and my lip line gets filled with clogged pores and whiteheads from the castor oil.
‘I borrowed a friend’s sunscreen stick without knowing that one of its main ingredients was castor oil and paid a high price for it.’
Dermatologists say that while the thick oil may work well as a moisturizer for some people, it could clog pores and cause unpleasant, irritating breakouts.
According to dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss, applying oil to your face also carries a risk of folliculitis (blocked and infected hair follicles).
“Also, if you have hormonal acne, you’re never going to fix it because it’s an internal problem,” she added in a TikTok video.
Experts also warn that the thickness of the substance can cause dead skin cells to become trapped under the surface of the skin through tiny cuts. This results in what are known as milia, small white cysts that appear under the eyes.
“Using castor oil on the skin around your eyebrows can exacerbate milia,” American dermatologist Dr. Lily Talakoub told Cosmopolitan.
According to Dr Andrea Suarez, a dermatologist based in the United States, “it is relatively common to develop an allergy to castor oil.” “Some people suffer from hives and itching,” she added in an article. recent clip posted on his TikTok channel.
Castor oil is a monounsaturated fatty acid rich in ricinoleic acid, which contributes to its moisturizing properties.
In ancient Egypt, it became popular for its supposed medicinal qualities in treating eye irritation: Cleopatra is said to have used it on her hair and to lighten the whites of her eyes.
But will it really help fight wrinkles?
No, says Dr. Suarez. “It won’t eliminate wrinkles,” she says, “but it will improve their appearance (the same way any moisturizing product does).”
Meanwhile, Dr Alice Rudd, a dermatologist at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, called the trend “ridiculous”.
“I’m here to tell you that there is no evidence that castor oil has any anti-aging properties. There has never been any solid evidence that it helps fight wrinkles.”
A trend known as “belly button pulling,” in which influencers would pour castor oil into their belly buttons to draw out toxins and reduce swelling, was debunked by doctors after it gained traction earlier this year.
The oil has been shown to have a powerful laxative effect, however, the Food and Drug Administration has approved it as an over-the-counter remedy for that purpose.
Side effects of consuming the oil include abdominal cramps, vomiting, bloating and dizziness.