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Believe it or not, incorporating baking soda into your beauty routine isn’t a new trend. People have been using this multi-functional pantry item as a homemade tooth-whitening solution, deodorant, and even dry shampoo for years as an “old home remedy”. Thanks to social media it has been brought back into the bright lights of “beauty-tok” with a video of a content creator using it as a cleanser, claiming it is her secret to achieving brighter and smoother skin.
While it is said to have a range of uses and benefits that go beyond its original purpose, is there enough information out there on whether or not it is safe for use on the skin? Dr. Alek Nikolic, a renowned specialist in aesthetic medicine and owner of SkinMiles weighs in.
“There are endless products on the market that claim to give you glowing smooth skin, often promoted by social media content creators and taunted as the next ‘big thing’ on the beauty market,” says Dr Nikolic. “The problem is that many come with hefty price tags and are prone to causing breakouts and imbalances in the skin.”
In the case of baking soda, it does have the ability to exfoliate and cleanse the skin and it’s inexpensive which makes it very appealing.
People have been using baking soda to treat acne as it has oil-absorbing and exfoliating properties – two important elements when it comes to dealing with acne.
However, Dr. Nikolic advises to proceed with caution as pure baking soda can be harsh on the skin which will result in dryness and irritation.
As baking soda contains exfoliating properties, it is important to know what exfoliation does to the skin. There are two types of exfoliants; mechanical and chemical.
Mechanical exfoliation uses a physical ingredient to remove dead skin cells, whereas chemical exfoliation uses chemicals to remove dead skin cells. Baking soda is classified as a mechanical exfoliant.
When using a mechanical exfoliant on your skin you run the risk of potentially causing small tears as the product could be too abrasive. further to this mechanical exfoliators can cause the skin barrier to stop functioning normally and this can lead to inflammation, loss of hydration, increased sebum production, and breakouts.
“If you have sensitive skin I suggest chemical exfoliants as a better option due to their ability to dissolve dead skin cells without being abrasive,” adds Dr. Nikolic. “Using mechanical exfoliants like baking soda can actually worsen the problem by creating uneven skin tone from its abrasiveness.”
Dr Nikolic’s chemical exfoliants product suggestions:
BIOMEDICAL EMPORIUM AHA Home Exfoliating Peel Set
BIODERMA Pigmentbio Night Renewer
Before adding baking soda to your skin regime, it’s important to consider the potential to damage or harm the skin.
“While the product can be abrasive on the skin, baking soda can also affect the skin’s natural pH balance if used for long periods of time leading to the growth of acne-causing bacteria,” concludes Dr. Nikolic.
Baking soda dries out the skin very easily and those with very sensitive skin should avoid it completely as it can cause inflammation. Instead, Dr Nikolic suggests sticking to traditional exfoliators with alpha hydroxy acids.
If you aren’t sure of the skin type you have and what products would be suitable for it it’s advisable that you reach out to a professional before incorporating products into your skin regime.
Visit www.skinmiles.com and sign up for a free Face2Face Assessment. You will receive personal recommendations from Dr. Nikolic for your skin type or skin concern.
Photo Credit: Aesthetics Bedford