While strange skincare ingredients like snail mucin and salmon sperm are having a moment, most of us would draw the line at human poo.
Not Brazilian model Débora Peixoto though; so convinced of its benefits, she’s hailed the faeces facial as the number one way to repurpose number twos.
On TikTok and Instagram, the creator explained that she ‘saw some research’ about the practice and decided to give it a go, collecting a sample of her own excrement in a small pot for a DIY spa day.
The video shows 31-year-old Débora using a spatula to apply the faecal matter like a mask, then rubbing it in and covering it with coconut oil ‘to moisturise’.
According to her, the ‘glowing’ end result was ‘amazing’, and she believes the (literal) mudpack can ‘prevent ageing.’
‘It’s the craziest thing I’ve done in my life,’ Débora commented. ‘But it’s worked for me and my skin has stopped flaking!’
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Unsurprisingly, many felt otherwise, including @eduardolibanooficial who commented: ‘That’s what I call s*** advice.’
Another, @amp021681x6, called the practice ‘revolting’, while @paulonunesdemiran8 said it was ‘disgusting’ and @biancafrancamiques urged Débora to ‘seek therapy’.
Many echoed @blackvendettaa’s comment which argued the so-called beauty treatment is ‘dangerous’. And as you might imagine, doctors agree.
‘It really is quite alarming and baffling that someone would smear faeces on their skin,’ says Dr Claire Merrifield, GP and medical director at Selph. ‘There are absolutely no scientific benefits to this and I would strongly advise against it.’
‘The idea that it could be good for your skin is completely unfounded and has no basis in medical science,’ adds Dr Asha Chhaya, aesthetic doctor at WY Skin Clinic. ‘Social media has a way of amplifying strange and unsafe practices, leading some people to try them out without understanding the risks. It’s important to approach such trends with caution and rely on proper medical advice.’
Explaining the risks it poses, Dr Hana Patel, NHS GP and spokesperson for Superdrug Online Doctor, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Faecal matter is a reservoir of harmful bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, and Clostridium difficile, as well as viruses, fungi, and parasites.
‘When applied to the skin, these pathogens can penetrate the body through micro-abrasions or mucous membranes, potentially leading to serious infections such as abscesses or cellulitis.’
According to Dr Merrifield, if there is any eye contact, it could also ‘lead to conjunctivitis and severe eye infections if not treated promptly.’
It seems Débora has latched onto information surrounding faecal microbiota transplantation, which is a specific treatment for issues like ulcerative colitis whereby good bacteria from the stool of a healthy donor is transferred to the colon of a recipient.
Yet this is done in a strict medical environment, and is absolutely not comparable to an at-home application – not least because you’re unable to filter out bad bacteria from elements which (on their own and under different circumstances) seem to do good.
‘While it is true that certain components found in faeces, such as urea, are used in skincare products, these substances are purified and incorporated in controlled, safe concentrations,’ Dr Patel continues. ‘Raw faeces, however, offers no known dermatological benefits and presents significant health hazards.’
It’s worth noting, Débora has previously gone viral for promoting period blood facials and marrying her own cousin, so you should take her recommendations with a pinch of salt.
We can’t know if she even believes what she’s saying, or if she was just looking for the most controversial substance to generate views, then using some sort of poo substitute (chocolate mousse?) for the video itself.
But regardless of whether it was a prank in the name of content, this is a ‘hack’ that stinks in more ways than one – and trying it out could be dangerous for your health as well as your reputation.
Presumably it’s better to be unknown than to become famous as the weirdo who dirty protests on their own face. Similarly, any of the treatment’s purely anecdotal anti-ageing effects aren’t worth the risk of infections and long-term damage.
We’re all about reduce, reuse, recycle, but human waste is an exception. Your body got rid of it for a reason, so flush it away alongside this full-of-crap beauty tip.
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