Acne is a very common skin disease and more than 1 crore people suffer from it every year in India.
Today, not dermatologists but social media tells us how to cure various skin problems. It seems that people trust what they see on reels and shorts more than anything else. One such skin problem that the so-called skinfluencers of social media try to cure every day is acne and acne scars.
Acne is a very common skin disease and more than 1 crore people suffer from it every year in India.
This happens when the tiny pores in your skin where hair grows (called hair follicles) become blocked by oil and dead skin. This blockage causes pimples or other skin problems.
viral video
You might have heard about the bird soup trend, where people would drink the saliva of birds to cure their skin problems.
However, according to a viral video that has over 4.9 million views, people are now taking matters into their own hands (quite literally) And using your saliva to cure acne. This technique was first shared by actress Tamannaah Bhatia in an old interview from 2021, which is in the news again.
In the interview, Tamannaah says, ‘Your own saliva, especially the morning saliva, actually has the ability to dry out your pimples and work on your acne.’ She further reiterates that although ‘it sounds disgusting’, it actually works.
The video features a beauty influencer with the username @beautywhisperermaanvi, who agrees and shares that saliva has antibacterial properties and contains an enzyme that helps heal acne, leaving your skin spotless.
Watch the video here:
However, there were mixed reactions in the comments section, as some agreed, saying it is an age-old thing done by Indians, while others disagreed.
What do the studies show?
The science behind the whole idea of how salvia treats acne is actually inadequate and very limited. Experts also don’t seem too impressed with the idea of using salvia to treat acne, even though there are scientifically proven methods that can work for acne.
A small study conducted in 2017 on 84 moderate to severe acne patients, in addition to 105 healthy control subjects, concluded that saliva is a valid non-invasive tool for monitoring inflammation.
A study conducted by the University of Amsterdam found that applying saliva to wounds in vitro can speed up wound healing. Since acne is caused by bacteria, the histatin (a type of histidine-rich peptide) in saliva may be able to attack acne and heal it.
“These studies also say that its role is limited. There are many better options than using saliva,” says Delhi-based dermatologist Dr Deepali Bhardwaj. india today,
Do experts agree?
As we told you, experts are not very convinced about the effectiveness of our saliva for acne.
For example, dermatologist, venereologist and skin surgeon Dr. Agni Bose explains that the function of saliva is to keep the mouth moisturised, digest glucose and act as an antiseptic agent to destroy bacteria in the mouth, thereby preventing tooth decay, but it has no connection with acne.
“People may get hung up on the “antiseptic” part, and mistakenly think that saliva will help clean out acne-causing bacteria as well,” says Dr. Bose.
She adds, “If saliva were such a magical antiseptic, wouldn’t all doctors around the world spit on our wounds to cure infections?”
According to Dr Bose, saliva can help in getting rid of acne only if you believe that the cure is ‘in your hands’.
Dr. Bose says, “If acne lesions reduce naturally and the patient applies saliva at that time, he will feel that the acne has gone away because of the saliva. This increases self-confidence.”
‘May cause irritation’
Dr. Sharifa Chaussey, dermatologist and founder of Mumbai-based Dr. Sharifa Skin Care Clinic, says that applying saliva on pimples can have side effects.
“Applying saliva can cause bacteria and irritation, which can worsen acne or lead to other skin problems,” says Dr. Chausse.
He also said that the pH of saliva is neutral and sometimes acidic, which can cause skin to become dry and acne to become worse due to the increased presence of bacteria.
Apart from this, experts also suggest that if a person’s teeth are not clean, then his saliva will not be healthy, which will promote bacteria and acne will not be cured.
The best way to deal with acne
Saliva is not the solution to your acne problem, especially if you suffer from hormonal acne.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when dealing with acne:
- Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser twice daily.
- Avoid touching or scratching pimples.
- Apply a spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
- Keep your skin moisturized with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.
- Use sunscreen daily to prevent and protect against dark spots.
- Eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated.
- Try to manage your stress – as it is one of the major causes of acne.
Finally, before succumbing to these fads you see on social media, consult a dermatologist for persistent or severe acne.
