While it could nonetheless be taboo for some, menstrual blood seems to have extra to supply than beforehand thought. For instance, researchers found in 2023 that it could truly play a key function in treating Alzheimer’s Disease sooner or later.
As interval blood turns into rather less of a forbidden matter, some social media customers have been discussing their DIY skincare within the type of “menstrual masking” or “interval face masks”, that are precisely what they sound like.
Writing for The Conversation, Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University explains: “Popularised on social media, hashtags equivalent to #periodfacemask have amassed billions of views. In most movies, customers apply menstrual blood for a couple of minutes earlier than rinsing it off.
“There’s no clear settlement on how a lot blood to make use of or how lengthy to depart it on. Some name the follow therapeutic or empowering, describing it as a religious ritual that connects them to their our bodies and ancestral femininity.”
However, scientists do have some considerations.
Is menstrual masking truly efficient?
Kamdar says: “Advocates of menstrual masking typically argue that interval blood accommodates stem cells, cytokines and proteins that might rejuvenate the pores and skin.
“There is at the moment no medical proof to help utilizing menstrual blood as a topical skincare therapy.”
However, she provides, “its organic composition has proven potential in medical analysis.”
A 2018 examine discovered that plasma derived from menstrual fluid may considerably improve wound therapeutic. In laboratory exams, wounds handled with menstrual plasma confirmed 100% restore inside 24 hours in contrast with 40% utilizing common blood plasma.
Kamdar explains: “This outstanding regeneration is considered linked to the distinctive proteins and bioactive molecules in menstrual fluid: the identical substances that enable the uterus to rebuild itself each month.”
Is menstrual masking the identical as a ‘vampire facial’?
According to Kamdar, some menstrual masking advocates have in contrast the follow to ‘vampire facials’ which had been popularised by Kim Kardashian. Vampire facials use platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) extracted from a affected person’s owsn blood and inject it into the pores and skin.
Kamdar warns: “But specialists warning towards evaluating PRP with menstrual blood. Menstrual fluid is a fancy combination of blood, sloughed-off endometrial tissue (the uterine lining), vaginal secretions, hormones and proteins.
“As it passes by way of the vaginal canal, it could actually decide up micro organism and fungi, together with Staphylococcus aureus, a standard microbe that usually lives on the pores and skin however may cause infections if it enters cuts or pores. There’s additionally a danger that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) might be transferred to the pores and skin.”
Maybe simply stick with shop-bought masks…
