People are applying poop to their faces for beautiful skin
Key Takeaways
A recent social media trend involves applying one’s feces to the face for skincare purposes.
The trend may be based on the idea that fecal transplants have been successfully used in other medical contexts. There are also some historical uses, rooted in Japanese skincare, with nightingale feces.
Unsurprisingly, health experts say that poop facials are ineffective and downright dangerous.
Social media trends have led people down all sorts of strange paths in the name of health and beauty. From playing with tiny dolls (with tiny penises) for emotional wellness to taking bee pollen to stimulate breast growth, your patients have probably engaged in some weird, gross, or downright dangerous behaviors.
The newest trend—poop facials—manages to hit all these marks.
Related: The wildest TikTok trends in 2023High-risk facials
In one video, influencer Debora Peixoto, who has millions of followers across her various social media channels, applies a face mask made of her own poop, saying it's the “craziest thing I've done in my life, [but] it worked for me."[] She cites poop facials as the remedy for skin peeling.
The video shows her leaving the mask on for several minutes, using a clothespin on her nose to mask the odor.[]
This isn’t the influencer's first time dabbling in an unusual beauty routine—she has also done a menstrual blood mask, setting off the #periodfacemask trend on TikTok.[][]
Although this particularly questionable trend may seem like the stuff of modern social media nightmares, there is some history to poop face masks. In 2019, news outlets reported on “poo facial masks,” specifically those made of nightingale feces.[]
Historical background
Apparently, Koreans were the first to use bird feces—to strip dye from clothing—and the Japanese then applied it to skincare after observing how it acted as a makeup remover and made the face brighter and clearer. Referred to as the “geisha facial,” the technique has been said to reduce acne and the appearance of pores.[]
Hannah Kopelman, MD, a dermatologist at Kopelman Hair Restoration who is dual trained in treating hair loss and skin cancer, says she’s deeply concerned about the alarming facial trend: “I cannot emphasize enough how dangerous and misguided this practice is."
She believes people probably think fecal matter contains water contents and nutrients, but asserts that the risks far outweigh any supposed benefits. “Fecal matter is filled with bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can cause serious infections when applied to the skin,” Dr. Kopelman tells MDLinx.
"The skin is our body’s first line of defense, and introducing harmful microbes from fecal matter directly onto the skin can lead to conditions ranging from mild irritation to severe infections."
— Hannah Kopelman, MD
She says that this practice is even riskier for those with compromised skin barriers or dermatological conditions.
The tenuous health link
So where did the idea of poop facials come from?
“The idea that fecal transplants, which have shown promise in treating certain gastrointestinal issues, could translate to topical benefits on the skin is a dangerous misinterpretation,” Dr. Kopelman says.
She stresses that both the context and the application—of poop transplants vs facial masks—are entirely different. “The gut has a very specific environment that is carefully controlled and regulated by the body, while the skin is exposed to the outside world and is not designed to handle such invasive materials,” she says.
Shayan Cheraghlou, MD, a dermatologist and fellow at Zitelli & Brodland Skin Cancer Center, echoes Dr. Kopelman’s sentiments: “While there are scientific studies exploring fecal transplants in the context of the gut microbiome, this does not translate to contact with the skin. The skin has its own distinct microbiome. Stool has many bacteria that could cause serious infections when placed on the skin like this.”
According to Dr. Kopelman, trends like this signal one thing: The need for better patient education.
“In my practice, I’ve seen how trends like this can spread misinformation and lead people to try unsafe methods in pursuit of better skin," she says. "We need to inform patients that just because something is 'natural' or has some basis in science, [it] doesn’t mean it’s safe or effective."
“Social media can be a powerful tool for spreading information, so as healthcare providers, we need to use it to counteract these dangerous trends with sound medical advice,” Dr. Kopelman advises. “Ultimately, the best way to protect our patients from harm is through education, clear communication, and a commitment to promoting practices that are rooted in scientific evidence.”
What this means for you
The latest social media trend—poop facials—combines bizarre health fads with potentially hazardous practices, as seen in influencer Debora Peixoto's viral video showcasing a poop mask for skincare purposes. Dermatologists and other HCPs strongly warn against this practice, emphasizing the significant risks of bacterial infections and other skin issues due to the presence of pathogens in fecal matter. They advocate for better patient education to counteract dangerous trends fueled by misinformation.