Menstrual Masking: Is The New Beauty Trend Of Applying Period Blood On Face Good For Skin Health

Menstrual Masking Trend: In the ever-evolving world of beauty, what has garnered the attention of beauty enthusiasts is the ‘Menstrual Masking’ trend, a DIY ritual of applying one’s own period blood on the face, keeping it for a while, like any other face mask and then rinsing it off. The current beauty trend has taken over social media as a form of DIY skincare. Beauty influencers are claiming that menstrual masking is beneficial for skin health as it has “natural retinol,” backed up by the fact that period blood is rich in stem cells, proteins and cytokines that supposedly boost glow, repair skin and reduce inflammation.

‘Mestrual Masking’ beauty trend is a social media-driven fad with some calling the practice healing or empowering, describing it as a spiritual ritual that connects them to their bodies and ancestral femininity. Getting popularised on social media with hashtags such as #periodfacemask has surprised billions of views. However, there’s confusion about whether menstrual masking or applying period blood to the face is good for skin health or not. Here’s what we know.

What Is Menstrual Masking?

Menstrual Masking is a skincare ritual popularised by social media where women are seen applying their menstrual or period blood on their face as a face mask, keeping it for a while and then rinsing it off. The advocates of menstrual masking state that this skincare ritual revives the skin and gives an unmatchable glow to their faces.

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Is Menstrual Masking Beneficial For Skin?

According to the study by the National Library of Medicine, menstrual fluid-derived plasma can promote tissue repair and aid in wound healing. The research stated that the scientists tested how menstrual blood–derived stem cells performed on wounds. The wounds healed faster, grew more blood vessels, regenerated collagen production and showed healthier skin rejuvenation compared to wounds treated with regular keratinocytes and fibroblasts. It simpler words, menstrual stem cells can accelerate healing when purified, processed, and delivered through a sterile biomedical dressing.

 

 

 

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Menstrual Masking Risks

Period blood is not sterile. Applying it on the face having open pores, micro-tears or active acne can cause infection owing to the presence of bacteria in the menstrual blood. Besides, its pH can disrupt your skin barrier, leading to irritation, breakouts or dermatitis. Moreover, there are no medically-approved guidelines for how long to leave it on the skin, how much to apply and how often to practice.

Vampire Facial vs Menstrual Masking

Menstrual masking supporters on social media are linking the practice with ‘vampire facial.’ Vampire facial is a cosmetic procedure popularised by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, which uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP) extracted from a patient's own blood and injected into the face.

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Menstrual blood is different from PRP. Menstrual fluid is a complex mixture of blood, sloughed-off endometrial tissue (the uterine lining), vaginal secretions, hormones and proteins. Moreover, as it passes through the viginal canal, it can contain bacteria and fungi, including Staphylococcus aureus, a common microbe that normally lives on the skin but can cause infection if it enters through cuts and pores. There’s a risk that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could be transferred to the skin.

Platelet-rich plasma on the other hand, is prepared under sterile conditions. During this facial treatment, a small amount of blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to separate out the platelet-rich layer, which is then injected into the skin using fine needles. Some clinicians also add filler for faster cosmetic results. The procedure can cost thousands; unlike menstrual masking, which is free and easily accessible.