TikTok Honey Mask Video Tops 4.4 Million Views as Dermatologist Weighs Benefits and Raw-Honey Risks
A TikTok video of a user covering her face in honey and calling a honey mask a cure-all has gone viral, passing 4.4 million views, with commenters sharply divided. According to USA TODAY on November 13, the user says in the video that she will wake up with the most hydrated, glowy skin; one commenter warned viewers not to do it, while another swore by manuka honey, saying it is amazing for this.
USA TODAY asked dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian for her reaction to the viral video. Nazarian said honey is a remarkable ingredient used for ages, including in ancient Egypt for wounds and infections, and that research published in medical journals today has shown clinically significant effects in wound care, especially for manuka honey, which has also been shown to improve inflammatory conditions such as eczema. She said honey is antimicrobial, inhibiting bacteria, fungus and even some viruses, and that manuka honey makes its own unique compound to kill bacteria; honey is also anti-inflammatory and a natural humectant, pulling hydration into the skin and improving the skin barrier, which is probably why it became a viral TikTok trend. Medical-grade honey is used to improve wounds and burns.
Nazarian added caveats. The honey in a typical kitchen honey-bear bottle can support skin health but is less effective than the manuka variety, she said, and she does not support using raw honey: raw honey can contain dangerous spores that can make vulnerable people sick, and honey contains bee pollen and plant proteins that many people are allergic to. Raw honey is also thick, and if it is not washed off properly it can trap dirt and clog pores, making it harder for other active ingredients to penetrate.
She also advised leaving honey on for a shorter time than described in the viral post, noting that honey is slightly more acidic than the skin barrier itself and can irritate sensitive skin if left on too long. For anyone who wants to try it, she suggested combining manuka honey with skin-soothing oatmeal as a five-minute mask, which she said carries incredibly low risk. She said that as much as she loves the idea of a do-it-yourself natural option, there are much easier and safer options than slathering honey on the face daily, and that anyone in doubt should ask a board-certified dermatologist for tips to hydrate skin efficiently and safely, and in the least sticky way.
Source: USA TODAY
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 资料图：一罐蜂蜜与正滴蜜的勺子（Fæ摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经Wikimedia Commons），版面图已裁为16:9，非涉事TikTok视频画面。/ File photo: a jar of honey with a spoon dripping honey (photo by Fæ, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons), cropped to 16:9; not a still from the viral TikTok video.
