While social media can be a useful place to pick up tips and tricks on skincare, it’s always important to remember that the information is often unverified by medical professionals. At best, this can mean that the supposed new wonder treatment is harmless but ineffective, or in the worst case scenario it can be very harmful.
One particularly dangerous ‘trend’ doing the rounds on TikTok this year led to a warning being issued from a doctor. The Express reports that Dr Neel Patel warned that a supposed miracle treatment for acne scars could actually be life threatening.
In the video that has racked up 440,000 views, a woman claims that her clear acne-free skin was due to eating apricot kernels. In fact, apricot kernels are highly poisonous and if the woman really had eaten them she would probably not be alive.
Dr Patel explained: “Apricot stones contain a compound called amygdalin which converts to cyanide once eaten. Cyanide is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly poison which interferes with the body’s ability to use oxygen. These are the seeds inside the apricot stone.”
He added: “Usually, you’d need a pair of pliers to crack open the stone and extract them “The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) cites apricot kernels as a cyanide poisoning risk.”
Cyanide occurs naturally in some foods, particularly the seeds of fruit. Even a small dose of cyanide can result in the following unpleasant symptoms: chest pain, chest tightness, confusion, dizziness, confusion, difficulty breathing, watery eyes, headache, nausea, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, restlessness, and weakness.
Higher doses of cyanide could result in a coma, seizures, high blood pressure, damaged lungs, or even be fatal. It can also result in long term damage to the heart, brain, and nervous system if not treated with urgent professional medical care. Therefore this so-called ‘amazing skincare tip’ is incredibly irresponsible.
So is there a safe and effective way to remove acne scars? One popular and clinically approved method is the application of cosmelan peels. These are exfoliating peels that contain chemicals derived from fruit acids. They are suitable for the treatment of acne scars and breakouts, as well as hyperpigmentation and fine lines and wrinkles.
The peel will visibly reduce the appearance of redness and scars and leave the skin looking smoother and clearer. For best results, a treatment plan of multiple peels is needed, depending on your individual skin type and condition.
Before your treatment, your beauty therapist will make an assessment of your skin to make sure that you are a suitable candidate, and devise a tailored plan based on your skin type, condition and the desired outcome. You will see immediate results that get progressively better with each treatment.